This woman had nothing to offer Jesus whatsoever, just brokeness. Five times she married, hoping each tome that this would be the man who would love and care for her, but five times she was disappointed. So desperate and wretched, the man she is living with now won't even marry her. She was completely dependant on a man who neither cared for her or respected her, but she had no where else to go, and no one else to turn to. The women in the village shun her, and the men mock her. She takes to keeping to herself and avoiding being amongst the hussle and bussle of the village, even though it means walking miles outside of the village on her own, just to get some water. One day, there is a man already at the well when she arrives. But he doesn't mock her, or ignore her, he talks to her. Jesus showed this women more compassion and honour in a few minutes than she had even received in her whole life. She had questions about God and religion and life, and he took the time to explain things to her. He didn't brush her off as too far gone to be saved. He dind't give into the fatigue he was feeling and just stay silent. Jesus took the opportunity to draw this woman close to God. I love the picture of what happens next, when she runs back to the village and tells everyone what had happened to her. I love that this women who had been sneaking out the back door, and trying to go by unnoticed walked straight up to the people who despised her and told them about this man Jesus she had just met. Through this women, that whole village come to believe. Jesus chose her to be the one to carry his message of love and acceptance and forgiveness. I love how God so often choses the most unexpected people to be his messengers. I love how this woman had the courage to respond to what she had experienced and share it with everyone. But most of all I love Jesus' heart for this lonely, wretched woman, who just desperately wanted to be loved.
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