Sometimes when I pray, I find myself reframing my prayer requests in a way that makes me hopefully look like less of a cosmic, sinful disaster. If I say things with a humble tone or carefully respectful wording, the Lord will somehow look past all of my pride and sinful tendencies and instead just give me what I ask for because I am such a good kid. Then I read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4, and I’m reminded that Jesus knows me totally and loves me fully. He isn’t fooled. 

I love Jesus’s boldness as he talks to the Samaritan woman. First, it was odd for Jesus, a reputable Rabbi, to have a conversation with a woman one-on-one, much less a Samaritan woman. Second, it was unusual that she was even at the well at this time, drawing water during the hottest part of the day instead of in the early morning along with the other women of her town. After we learn more about her story in verse 18, we know she was probably there at that time because she was no longer welcome in that community of women because of the life choices she had made. 

And yet, Jesus made a point to share the Good News with her because he knew her and considered her worthy of salvation. We don’t learn much about this woman from this passage except that she had a messy story and displayed great faith. We learn that despite the town’s treatment of this woman, Jesus treated her with respect and dignity. When the woman ran back into the town to tell everyone what she had heard, her proclamation was simple, “He told me all that I ever did” (John 4:39), and that drew everyone out to meet Jesus. In her short interaction with Jesus, she learned that she was deeply known and deeply loved by Him, and that was life-altering for her. 

The fact that we are deeply, fully known by our Lord should be a source of great comfort and confidence for us. We have nothing we can hide behind when we approach God, and yet, He still rejoices over us and calls us His own.