Monday 5 January 2026

Psalm 19

Background
As you read our Bible passages this week, you may wonder why today focuses on the adult Jesus, tomorrow returns to one of the birth narratives, and then we are back in the Hebrew scriptures with the psalmist, Isaiah and Ezekiel before moving on to one of the epistles. This week's theme is ‘The Glory of God’, and each passage gives us another way to reflect on what this might mean.

For those of us who over Christmas have been singing 'The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes', today's Bible passage is a reminder that Jesus didn’t remain an unnaturally quiet baby for long: he grew up to be a subversive rule-breaker. He challenges geographical and gender boundaries in one little request to the Samaritan woman: "Give me a drink".

From the beginning of his gospel, John wants us to notice how Jesus questions conventions and upsets the status quo. Luke gives us Mary’s Magnificat, a hymn that celebrates God who brings down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. In this passage, Jesus makes this vision real.

Samaria lies between Judea in the south and Galilee in the north. For over 500 years Jews and Samaritans had argued over the right place to worship God. For a Jew to speak to a Samaritan was taboo. It was also taboo for men to speak to women in public. Yet Jesus asks this unknown, foreign woman for some water, in the heat of the day.

John carefully places this story immediately after chapter 3 of his gospel, when Jesus has a conversation with a pharisee, Nicodemus, who visits him by night. Male/female; Jew/Samaritan; named/un-named; night/day; it’s clear John wants us to pay attention to these opposites. In both the conversation with the Samaritan woman and with Nicodemus Jesus uses an ambiguous phrase that invites his listener to notice how the mystery of God can break into the ordinary everyday. He tells Nicodemus he needs to "be born again/born from above" (3:7) which makes Nicodemus wonder how he can technically go back into his mother’s womb. In today's reading Samaritan woman is offered "running water/living water" (v. 10). Although she is puzzled about Jesus’ secret water supply (so why did he ask her for a drink?) she takes this as a way into a conversation about the meaning of life.

Nicodemus, and many other characters in John's Gospel, believe that they already know the answer to their questions. This woman knows that she doesn’t know, so is open to wherever this unexpected encounter with Jesus might lead.

To Ponder:

• Jesus is sitting by a well when a woman comes to draw water. What significant encounters have you had when you were just hanging around doing nothing?
• Jesus asks for a drink of water. How comfortable are we with asking for something rather than giving something? What might happen if we allowed ourselves to be helped by someone else?
• We live in an increasingly polarised society. Who are the Samaritans in your neighbourhood? Do you ever chat with them?

Prayer
Conversational God, allow your playful, creative, mysterious spirit to overturn my assumptions and challenge my certainties. May I listen out for your invitation and your questions. I long for your living water. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Val Reid
Val Reid is a retired presbyter who lives in Salisbury. She is a reflective supervisor and spiritual director, and has recently trained as a mediator with Place for Hope.