Jesus Met the Woman at the Well

You may find it difficult to believe, but there was a time back in the 1950s when black people were required to sit at the back of the bus, sit in a special section at the back of movie theaters, and were not allowed attend the same schools as white children. They were even required to drink from a different public water fountain from the one white people used. Look at this picture—one water fountain has a sign that says "White" above it and the other says, "Colored." You might also notice that the water fountain for white people was much nicer and offered cold water while the one for the "colored" did not.

How do you think Jesus would react to such treatment of people of a different race or color? We don't have to wonder. There is an example in the Bible that tells us exactly what Jesus would have done.

Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee. On the way, he had to pass through the country of Samaria. When he arrived at Jacob's well near the town of Sychar, he was hot and tired. A Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water. Jesus went to her and asked, "Will you give me a drink?"

"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan, why are you asking me for a drink?" She said that because the Jews hated the Samaritans and would have nothing to do with them.

Jesus replied, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is asking you for a drink, you would have asked me, and I would give you living water."

You see, Jesus wasn't concerned about whether she was a Jew or a Samaritan. He only cared that she knew that he could give her what she needed—eternal life.

If we look at this picture from the 1950s, we might say, "Oh, but it is much different today. We don't treat people like that anymore." I wish that were true, but we still see much hatred and prejudice against people of other races and nations. Don't you think it is time that we followed the example Jesus gave us on how to treat others? Dear Father, Jesus set the example, help us to follow it. In his name we pray. Amen.