Christmas at the Well

Prepare your heart for the holidays with this devotion by Heather Hart.

Bible Verse for Today

 “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ)”

John 4:25

Devotion for Today

Christmas at the Well

It was just an ordinary day when the Samaritan woman traveled to the well. It was a trip she made each and every day. She went at noon to avoid the crowd. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the other women, but they didn’t like her. She had a bit of a bad reputation, and she supposed it was well deserved. Life hadn’t been kind to her, and her choices hadn’t helped. It was just best that she went in the middle of the day. It may be hot, but at least she was alone.

Only she wasn’t.

She tried to ignore the man sitting near the well. He was obviously a Jew. A Jew wouldn’t associate with her regardless of her reputation. They usually didn’t even travel through Samaria but took the longer way around. No matter, she would just get her water and be on her way.

“Give me a drink.”

The words startled her. She looked around, but there was no one else. This Jew was speaking to her. Didn’t he know better?

The conversation that followed changed the world as she knew it. Could it be that this was the long-awaited Messiah? Would the Christ come to her?

Dropping her water jug, she ran back to town, bad reputation or not, Christmas had come, and she just had to share the good news. Excitement bubbled out of her. I can see it now, can you?

Do you remember the day that you met Jesus; the day Christmas came for you in a personal way? Maybe you don’t remember the specific moment, but just thinking about how coming to know Jesus has changed your life gives you goosebumps. Knowing that Jesus would love someone like you, even knowing everything you have ever done wrong (and still do wrong on a daily basis), is enough to leave you humbly broken, yet full of indescribable joy.

Yet, when was the last time we were so excited about Christmas that we just couldn’t contain it? Not about the presents or the day on the calendar, but about the Christ? About God become man—the man who lived and died so we could have everlasting life?

Can you picture yourself at the well? In the heat of the day, trying to avoid the disapproving looks of others, just doing what had to be done? Of course, we don’t have to draw our own water here in America, but each of us stand at our own well. We hide our imperfections deep inside, hoping no one will see.

We know our faults, all our fears and failures, and we do everything we can to avoid flaunting them in front of others. But Jesus is willing to meet us at our well. He knows all our baggage, He knows our thoughts, and He knows our hearts.

Whatever fears and failures are assailing us this Christmas season, Jesus knows. Not only does He know, but He’s coming for us anyways. Jesus isn’t scared off by our bad reputations, our lack of decorating skills, or even our sour attitudes. He loves us and is willing to meet us at the well.

This year let’s remember that Christmas is coming. Most of us have already met Jesus. We have seen Him at the well and have a relationship with Him, but maybe for someone in our lives, this Christmas is the Christmas that changes everything. Maybe this Christmas is the one where they leave their water jug, disregard their reputation, and just embrace Christmas at its fullest. And maybe God wants to use our own excitement about Christmas to open the door to their hearts.

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.”

Psalm 139:1-2

Jesus came all those years ago to save us, and He is still coming today. Share on X

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