约翰福音4:5-26

恩惠、怜悯和平安从父神和救主耶稣基督归于你们——时常以心灵和诚实敬拜神的人。阿们。

在今天的福音经文中，主耶稣与一位撒玛利亚妇人在井旁谈话，我们在座的各位可能都比较熟悉这个福音故事。我们先看这位撒玛利亚妇人的情况。圣经没有告诉我们她的名字，就称呼她为撒玛利亚妇人，也意味着她代表了所有有罪的人，更是代表着我们加入教会的信徒归信基督的经历。从今天的经文中我们得知，这位妇人的生活并不光彩。她曾经有过五个男人，而且都没有结婚，用今天的话说就是，跟这个好之后，再跟另外一个好，不结婚，就是随便同居过日子。具体原因是什么，我们不知道，圣经没告诉我们。这样连续6个男人，或者所谓的男朋友，在今天社会中看也是羞耻、不值得夸耀的，更何况在当时那种非常保守的传统社会里面，不仅会被社会排挤，而且大家的闲言碎语就足以把一个女人淹没。当然，从圣经，上帝的话语的角度来看，跟任何时代或文化价值无关，这是犯了淫乱不洁的罪。

我们明白了这位撒玛利亚妇人的生活处境，就知道她选择大正午（午正）时分去井旁打水的原因。事实上，一般取水都不会选择日头高照，正值一天最热的时候去做；耶稣那个时候，一般妇女大水都是集中在清晨或者太阳下山，不仅凉快，而且方便大家攀谈。当时，打水这个事情啊，也是妇人碰头打招呼、闲聊的机会。如果你在农村长大或者了解一些农活的情况，谁会大中午的还在地里干活，或者挑水呢？没有人这样做，都是趁早上凉快以及下午3-4点之后没那么热了再去一次地里干活，中午就是回家吃饭、休息，除非农忙的时候，比如抢着收割庄稼等等。撒玛利亚妇人选择中午12点去打水，虽然更晒得慌、更热、更辛苦，但就是为了避开其他妇人，避开其他街坊邻居的闲言碎语和异样的眼光。

虽然我们的生活经历没有撒玛利亚妇人的这样糟糕，但是我们不也有着类似的经历和感受吗？我们不也或多或少有难以启齿、不想让人知道、不想让人论断的羞耻之事吗？我们有时不也是为了隐藏自己的不光彩而避开人群吗？又或者相反，我们总是期待扎到人堆里，有说不完的话，总是喜欢八卦其他人的事，就是为了隐藏自己的羞耻，不让其他人或者自己注意到我们身上的丑陋？不只是撒玛利亚妇人，其实她周围的其他妇人，以及所有男人都一样。只不过人都喜欢彼此比较，希望用他人的丑陋来美化、高抬自己而已。

或许她之所以有过这么多男人，就是因为深陷情欲、不能满足自己真正的需要，就像井里的水，并不能完全止渴，都是暂时的，甚至越喝越渴。或许我们并没有深陷情欲，但我们不也是想用其他地上的、属世的东西来满足自己真正灵魂的需要，以至于饮鸩止渴吗？有人深陷金钱的欲望：只有挣钱才能带来快乐，数钞票的感觉最好；有人深陷名誉的欲望：处处都是为了让别人说自己好，夸奖自己；有人深陷权力的欲望，永远只能高人一等，随时可以指示他人，对他人发号施令；有人深陷工作的欲望（工作狂），工作就是命根子，没了工作就像丢了魂似的，有工作就拼命地工作，因为只有在其中才能体会到人生的乐趣和价值。

无论如何，主耶稣就在我们的真实光景中与我们相遇，就像他在雅各井旁“偶遇”撒玛利亚人那样。说是偶遇，其实我们知道，万事都在神的掌管之中，是主耶稣亲自寻找每一个失丧的人，他创造了这个机会，让撒玛利亚妇人最不想见人的时候遇见主耶稣。

这是一次奇特的相遇，引发了奇特的谈话。主耶稣走路困乏了，坐在井旁休息，等门徒们买食物回来。撒玛利亚妇人来到跟前，可能想的是，这人是谁啊，我不要理他，赶紧打完水拿着水罐子回家。结果呢？主耶稣先开口了，而且是向她要水喝。主耶稣总是这样让人惊奇。祂来是要给我们赐生命的水喝，就是赐生命的圣灵，然而在寻找人的时候却首先问我们要东西吃，要水喝。因为主耶稣是上帝成为人，他知道我们真正的需要，祂体察我们的软弱，上帝来到人间成为人，就是为了让人可以重新回到上帝那里，而这个拯救的过程都是在人子耶稣基督里面实现的。他也会口渴，走路也会困乏，也需要休息，也需要食物吃，也意味着他知道我们真正生命的需要。

撒玛利亚妇人一下子就明白，这里的问题不仅仅是喝水那么简单，首先是关于两个族群的关系问题。犹太人和撒玛利亚人是不能互相往来的，因为撒玛利亚人在犹太人眼中是不纯正、混杂、不洁的。事实上，上帝因着人的罪不也是不应该跟人有来往吗？但是，上帝出于爱，为了拯救罪人而甘愿成为我们的一员。主耶稣要打破任何种族、地域的界限，什么犹太人、撒玛利亚人，什么希腊人、中东人、北美、欧洲人、白人、黑人、美国人、中国人，主耶稣统统不顾任何的界限；他是上帝，创造万有的，来寻找祂所造却失丧的人。主耶稣是世人的救主，不单是给犹太人，即以色列人的。我们跟随耶稣，不需要成为犹太人，只需要信靠祂，接受祂白白的救恩。

我们跟华人朋友传福音的时候，大家也常常会说，耶稣基督是犹太人，跟我这个中国人有什么关系。我有自己的祖宗敬拜，或者我谁也不拜，就信自己，跟这个犹太人没有关系。但事实上，大家也像撒玛利亚妇人一样，只是本能地拒绝救主耶稣基督。或许，这位妇人以为，指明犹太人与撒玛利亚人之间的罅隙，就可以堵住耶稣的嘴了，自己就可以很快脱身了。罪人是这样，对不对？本能地拒绝跟上帝亲近，就像亚当夏娃犯罪之后马上躲起来那样。

但主耶稣紧追不舍，告诉撒玛利亚妇人他是谁，以及要给人带来什么。“你若知道神的恩赐，和对你说’给我水喝’的是谁，你必早求他，他也必早给你活水。”（约4:10）主耶稣问我们要普通的水喝，为的是赐给我们生命的活水，就像在圣洗礼中，主耶稣向我们借用普普通通的水，来成就他恩赐圣灵、赦罪和生命的大事。这是多么奇特的交换；当然我们知道，万物都属于他，服侍于他。妇人这个时候还是停留在属世的观念上，这活水难道是更深的井打出来的？比老祖宗留下来的井还要好吗？主耶稣并不需要打井，因为他自己就是这赐下活水的井，他自己就是生命，而且恩赐的圣灵本来就属于祂和父上帝的。主耶稣把这活水泉源打开给世人的方式非常奇特，就是磐石被击打，死在十字架上，至圣所的幔子裂开两半，他藉此带来赦罪恩典和圣灵的恩赐。

我们怎么知道撒玛利亚妇人有六个男人的故事？是主耶稣刻意指明出来的。我们与主相遇，并不都是愉快、开心的经历，因为主耶稣要显明我们的罪，把我们的伤口打开，带领我们悔改。他是在我们真实的处境中与我们相遇，但他不愿意让我们留在那里，而是洁净我们，包扎好，使我们得医治复原。何西阿书6:1-2“来吧，我们归向耶和华！他撕裂我们，也必医治；他打伤我们，也必缠裹。过两天他必使我们苏醒，第三天他必使我们兴起，我们就在他面前得以存活。”感谢主，撒玛利亚妇人没有因为主耶稣指出她的罪而忿怒，而是看见了一个事实：耶稣说的对，而且他是从神而来的。要不然没有人会这样指出她的罪，要不然一个外乡人怎么会一下子说出自己最隐私的事情。这位妇人是有福的。她开始问耶稣如何敬拜上帝的问题。这个敬拜问题的本质是关于一个罪人如何能够亲近神的问题。

主耶稣告诉她，因为基督（弥赛亚）来了，在哪里敬拜都无关紧要了，重要的是，“真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。神是个灵，所以拜他的必须用心灵和诚实拜他”（约4:23-24）。这个心灵和诚实不仅仅是说我们敬拜神的态度，要凭信心、要由心发出真实的敬拜，更是说，要在“圣灵和真理”中敬拜（spirit and truth心灵和诚实的另一种翻译）。这个就是敬拜的新位置，我们要凭着真理和属真理的圣灵来敬拜。离开神的话语，我们人的敬拜都是虚假的，是敬拜自己捏造的神。约翰福音15，16章都有称呼圣灵为“真理的圣灵”，要引导我们明白一切的真理。以弗所书1:13，我们信从基督就领受了应许的圣灵为印记。我们所受的水的洗礼，就是重生的洗和圣灵的更新。

主耶稣在约翰福音7章继续说道，“人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝。信我的人就如经上所说：‘从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。’耶稣这话是指着信他之人要受圣灵说的。那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得着荣耀。”虽然我们没有用肉眼看见寻找我们的主耶稣，但他藉着自己的话语，就是我们聆听的道来显明自己，告诉我们他是谁，他为我们做了什么，让我们信他。主耶稣说，“这和你说话的就是他（就是基督，弥赛亚）。”

我们每一次聚会听道都是与主相遇，与主亲近。祂圣洁的灵引领我们，充满我们，呼召我们悔改，恩赐我们信心和圣灵。我们不再需要顾忌人的审判，因为审判我们的是主；让人安慰的是，主既有威严，又有恩慈。就像大卫一样，情愿落在神的手中，而不是人的审判之下。撒母耳记下24:14“我愿落在耶和华的手里，因为他有丰盛的怜悯，我不愿落在人的手里。”感谢主，我们也可以像这位撒玛利亚妇人一样，认识了主耶稣，罪得赦免，羞耻被涂抹，进而欢喜快乐地去给城里的人诉说主耶稣基督的好消息。许多人也因此信了。求主也如此使用我们带领更多的人与主相遇，得着救恩。奉耶稣的名。阿们。

Text: John 4:5–26

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ—to those who worship the Father in spirit and truth. Amen.

In today’s Gospel text, the Lord Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman by the well. Many of us are likely familiar with this account. Let us first consider her situation. The Bible does not give us her name; she is simply "the Samaritan woman." In this way, she represents all sinners, and specifically the experience of us believers who have been called into the Church to trust in Christ. From the text, we learn that her life was not "respectable." She had five husbands, and the man she was with then was not her husband. In modern terms, she moved from one partner to another without the commitment of marriage. We do not know the specific reasons—the Bible remains silent on that—but having six men in succession would be considered a matter of shame even today, let alone in a conservative, traditional society. She faced social exclusion and the weight of public gossip. More importantly, from the perspective of God’s Word, regardless of cultural values, this was the sin of sexual impurity.

Understanding her situation explains why she chose to draw water at the "sixth hour"—high noon. Typically, one does not fetch water during the scorching heat of the day. In Jesus’ time, women gathered at the well in the cool of the early morning or at sunset. It was a social occasion, a time for neighbors to chat. Anyone who has lived in a rural setting knows that you don't do heavy labor in the noon unless it’s an emergency harvest. She chose 12:00 o' clock, despite the heat, specifically to avoid the other women—to escape their whispers and their judgmental glares.

While our life stories may not be identical to hers, do we not share similar feelings? Do we not all have things we find difficult to speak of, things we don't want others to know or judge—our own "shameful matters"? Sometimes we hide from the crowd to conceal our disgrace. Or, conversely, do we sometimes dive into the crowd and gossip about others just to bury our own ugliness so that neither we nor others will notice it? It wasn't just this woman; the people around her were sinners too. Human nature loves to compare, hoping to use the "ugliness" of others to beautify and exalt ourselves.

Perhaps she sought so many men because she was trapped in lust, unable to satisfy her true need. Like the water in the well, earthly desires provide only temporary relief; they often leave one thirstier than before. Even if we are not trapped in that specific sin, do we not try to satisfy the hunger of our souls with other earthly, worldly things? Some are consumed by the desire for money; others by reputation, power, or workaholism. These are "broken cisterns" that cannot hold water.

Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus meets us in the reality of our condition, just as He "happened" to meet the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. We say "happened," but we know that all things are under God’s sovereignty. It was Jesus Himself seeking the lost. He created this opportunity so that the woman would encounter Him at the very moment she least wanted to be seen.

This was a strange encounter leading to a strange conversation. Jesus, weary from His journey, sat by the well. The woman approached, likely hoping to be left alone. But Jesus spoke first, asking her for a drink. Jesus always surprises us. He comes to give us the water of life—the Holy Spirit—yet He begins by asking us for a piece of bread or a drink of water. Because Jesus is God become man, He understands our true needs. He experiences our weaknesses. God became man so that man might be restored to God, and this salvation is realized entirely in the Person of Jesus Christ. That He was thirsty and weary proves He truly shares our humanity and knows our life's needs.

The woman immediately realized this was more than a request for water; it was a matter of identity and boundary. Jews and Samaritans did not associate, for the Samaritans were seen as "unclean" and "mixed." In truth, because of sin, should God have any association with us? Yet, out of love, God chose to become one of us to save sinners. Jesus breaks every barrier—ethnic, geographical, and social. Whether Jew or Samaritan, Greek or Chinese, Jesus disregards these boundaries to find His lost creation. He is the Savior of the world, not just of Israel. To follow Him, we do not need to become Jews; we need only to trust Him and receive His free grace.

When we share the Gospel with Chinese friends, some say, "Jesus was a Jew; what does He have to do with me? I have my ancestors, or I believe in myself." In reality, they are often like the Samaritan woman, instinctively pushing the Savior away. She tried to use the racial divide to stop the conversation and escape. Sinners do this; like Adam and Eve, we hide when God draws near.

But Jesus pursues. He tells her: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (John 4:10)

Jesus asks for ordinary water to give us "living water." This is much like Holy Baptism, where He uses ordinary water to bestow the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. What a marvelous exchange! The woman was still thinking in worldly terms—was this water from a deeper well? But Jesus does not need to dig a well; He is the Well. He is Life itself. He opens the fountain of living water to the world through His suffering—the Rock that was struck, dying on the Cross, so that the curtain might be torn and grace poured out.

How do we know the story of her six men? Because Jesus pointed it out. Our encounter with the Lord is not always "pleasant" at first, for He must reveal our sin and open our wounds to lead us to repentance. He meets us where we are, but He does not leave us there. He cleanses and binds our wounds. As Hosea says:

 "Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him." (Hosea 6:1–2)

Thanks be to God, the woman did not turn away in anger. She recognized the truth: Jesus was right, and He was from God. This woman was blessed. She then asked about worship—a question that is essentially about how a sinner can draw near to a holy God. Jesus told her:

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23–24)

This "spirit and truth" is not just about our sincerity; it is about the "Holy Spirit" and the "Truth of Christ." This is the new location of worship. Apart from God’s Word, our worship is false—a worship of a god of our own making. But the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of Truth," leads us into all truth. In Baptism, we were sealed with this promised Spirit and renewed.

Jesus says later in John 7:

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’" (John 7:37–38)

Though we do not see Him with our eyes today, He reveals Himself through the Word we hear. He tells us who He is and what He has done for us. He says to us, as He did to her: "I who speak to you am he."

Every time we gather to hear the Word, we encounter the Lord. His Holy Spirit leads us, calls us to repentance, and grants us faith. We no longer need to fear the judgment of men, for the Lord is our judge—and He is merciful. Like David, we say:

"I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but let me not fall into the hand of man." (2 Samuel 24:14)

Like the Samaritan woman, we have met the Lord. Our sins are forgiven, our shame is covered, and we can go joyfully and freely to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ. May the Lord use us to lead many more to this saving encounter.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.