The Lady At The Well

     The Lady At The Well 

We may have come across many man of God in the Bible, but women of God not that many. This is a story of a woman who was not know for her past good deeds or choices, but the circumstances that she faced during her life didn't stop her from living a life filled with love for God.

This is a fascinating story and in fact one of the longest conversations ever recorded that Jesus had with a woman. (JN: 4). The gospel of John gives a brief discription about her past and present life. But in this, questions arise, weather she was really a sinner? Or Why did she have so many divorces (if she really did) or why did she have more than one husband.

Back in the days Samaritans had a levirate marriage law, so it might have been possible that her husbands did not survive long enough. Also Samaritan women were betrothed in infancy which makes it another possibility that she might have married older men and outlived them. And for her to live and be supported in her everyday life she would have had to have a man to be looked after considering the fact if she had no one else. With a life like this, in society, she would definitely be looked down upon. It is highly unlikely that she had so many divorces because divorces back then were not encouraged and that too five times. But she did live a sinful life.

On her daily routine to get water from a well she meets a complete stranger. Being asked for water by him she surprisingly asked 'how is it that you being a jew ask a Samaritan for a drink.'. Little did she know that she was going to draw living water (salvation) from this man Jesus.

Jesus, knowing her current situation uses it to build a conversation with her. He wanted to use this same woman who was not looked up in society to be His messenger. As soon as she learns who Jesus was, leaves everything and runs to her town telling everyone who Jesus really was knowing everything about her life. Without a doubt people believed her and her testimony. Jesus uses her as a key to enter her town so as to many could believed in Him.

No matter what your life's situation was or even is at the moment, Jesus sees you differently and if you humbly accept Him just like the Samaritan woman things will change drastically for you.
The woman's name nor her life soon after that was not really known. But early records state, the Orthodox believe that she was baptized by the apostles during the Pentecost and took the name Photini meaning the "enlightened one" and also being equal-to-the apostles. She is believed to have converted many people including her five sisters and two sons and journeyed as a missionary to Carthage in North Africa. She later proclaimed of having a vision of Jesus telling her to go to Rome and minister to the emperor.
Nero was emperor of Rome and the most cruel of a person to Christians. Having heard of Photini, he had her arrested and tortured. Including her family and followers. The tortures were too horrifying and graphic. Nero ordered to be brought to him and asked her to bow down to his idols. Refusing give up Christ and obey him, Photini was then martyred by her being thrown into a dry well after her skin was flayed.

In this true story we see that after that day when she met Jesus at the well her life changed. She became devoted to God and served His purpose. In the world's eyes she might not have had an happy ending but she counted it all joy to live for Christ for a heavy reward awaits her in Haven.
Jesus said (Mathew 10:39) "whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."