Monday 29 June 2026

Psalm 63:1-8

Background
The story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman is quite well known to some of us and we recognise the radical nature of this – that Jesus is talking with a woman, that he is talking with a Samaritan, and that he asks a Samaritan woman for help. All these actions were against Jewish custom and were remarkable in his day. This would have given the disciples much to talk about, but when they rejoin Jesus they don’t say anything. Perhaps it's because they were amazed, but could be it's John making clear to us the focus is on the Samaritan woman and not letting attention focus on breaking religious rules or any prejudices the disciples may have held.

This unnamed woman then goes off and tells others about her amazing encounter with a man who might actually be the Christ, the anticipated Messiah. She is an evangelist, even if she does not fully understand everything that has just happened to her or what it means.

Some of the people in the town of Sychar believe what they hear, even if the testimony of a woman was considered inferior to that of a man. That leads to Jesus spending a couple of days in Sychar and even more become followers. The Samaritan woman is at the start of a chain of events that she likely couldn’t have imagined. She is simply telling her story, being a witness.

And in echoes of the response to the first witnesses of the resurrection, faith moves for people from hearing about Jesus second hand, to experiencing Jesus themselves. It deepens from hearing about, to knowing. God’s story becomes part of their story, just as we have become part of the same ongoing story.

To Ponder:

• Why at times do we think we need to understand our faith fully before we talk to others about Jesus?
• Are we content to hear about Jesus from others, rather than seeking to know him for ourselves?
• Do we put too much emphasis on training for preaching and leading worship, when the Samaritan woman’s testimony had such an impact?

Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the generations of often unknown witnesses who have shared their experience of you with others. And so the story of salvation has been passed on, so that we today can hear the good news and know your love in our lives. May we too be witnesses in our communities. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Stephen Skuce
The Revd Dr Stephen Skuce is the Superintendent for Growing Churches within the Methodist Church in Ireland.