John sums it up: [His disciples] were astonished that He was speaking with a woman (John 4:27). And though they were too polite, or intimidated by Him, to ask the woman, what do you want?, or to say to Him, Why are you speaking with her?, their attitude was clear: women aren’t worth His time of day. Sadly, it’s an attitude which men have held against women ever since the beginning. Why would anyone important, ie any man, be talking with a woman? In fact, it’s worse than that, since it reflects a dreadful extension of the consequences of sin: He shall rule over you (Genesis 3:16). And it’s an attitude and a practice which continues to this day, the world over, as men rule over women in awful ways.
Some time ago, I read the book Half the Sky, which documents the plight of women worldwide, particularly in those places where the Name of Jesus isn’t regularly named as Lord and Savior. Women are marginalized, brutalized, even vaporized, routinely. And in those places, as a consequence, the society as a whole suffers. Conversely, in those places where women are honored, protected, and encouraged — places where, most likely, the Name of Jesus is lifted up as Lord and Savior of all — everyone seems to win as the society as a whole prospers.
So, breaking custom here on two counts — talking with a woman, and a Samaritan one to boot — Jesus opens up the Samaritan society to His liberating influence which, if it is received, will bring salvation, not only to this woman, but also, as John shows, to her people as well: many Samaritans from that city believe in [Jesus] because of the woman’s testimony…So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believe because of His Word (John 4:39-41). And then, after welcoming Him into their city, these Samaritans perceived the truth that would take Jesus’ disciples way longer to comprehend: we know that this is truly the Savior of the world (John 4:42).
So today, as you and I pray, may we not only be thinking of individuals in need or in bondage, as was this woman, but may we also be praying that whole groups of people, and particularly women and children, will be saved and encouraged, and that, through their testimony, many more will believe, and, by His grace, the whole world will be saved.
