We've left our wayward husband to look into the scene he described: Jacob’s Well, just outside the town. It the afternoon of that same day. A group of women are talking at the well, filling urns with water. They are gossipy, lighthearted and confident. A man enters unseen and sits nearby. He carries himself with the weariness of a constant traveler; a man a long way from home. He sits on a rock and listens to their conversation. So will we.
Esther Deborah, you have the patience of Job. I don't know how you put up with it.
Rachel She has to. We all do. But we have our ways to get back what's ours.
They all laugh
.
Deborah – But you haven’t heard the latest.
Esther – Good news, I hope.
Rachel – Tell us, sister. Don’t leave us waiting.
Deborah – He came home this morning.
Rachel – He just walked right in?
Deborah – Like nothing had ever happened...
Esther – You're not serious.
Deborah – ... and started washing his hands and face.
Esther – That's not all he should be washing. I mean.... he should be washing Deborah’s feet
Rachel – Oh, of course.
Rachel winks and the rest of the women grin.
Deborah – Then he kisses the children and says, "I'm off to work. I'll be home for dinner." Then he takes my hand and gives me those eyes. "We'll talk later," he says.
Esther – So you'll take him back?
Deborah –Of course. He's a good provider. And like you said: we have our ways.
Rachel – Make him grovel, Deborah!
Esther – Like the dog he is.
Deborah – Yes... just like a dog.
Esther – But what about that woman?
Deborah – What about her? Have you seen her lately? She's not what she was when she took my husband, just like she wasn't what she claimed when she came to Sychar. She'll not be stealing many more husbands here. In fact, I don't expect the town will allow her to stay much longer.
All – That’s right!
The traveler watches as they gather their
jugs and leave. Mary enters shortly after carrying her urn.
She looks around to see if she's alone and then begins filling the urn.
The traveler observes her quietly for a moment, and smiles as
though recognizing a long-lost relative. He calls out to her.
Traveler – May I have a drink?
Mary – Oh! I didn't see you there. Wait.... You’re a Jew, aren’t you? I am a Samaritan. You are not supposed to be talking with me. How can you ask me for a drink?
Traveler – If you knew who I was and what I can offer you, you would have asked me and I would have given you living water.
Mary – I don’t understand. You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where would you get this living water? (Proudly) Just who do you think you are, anyway. Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?
The traveler comes over to the well and
looks down into its depths. He shrugs, unimpressed.
Traveler – Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks my water will never thirst again. If fact, my water will become in him a spring of water overflowing with eternal life.
Real prophets are in short supply in Palestine,
but Mary knew they are capable of great miracles.
Mary – (mumbling to herself) If I can win his favor, he might be able to get God to give me my own well. I would never have to come here again. I could open my own inn. I could leave this town. (angrily) I wouldn't need anybody ... not even a husband!
Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.
Traveler – First, go get your husband and come back.
Mary – I ... I have no husband.
Traveler –Yes, I know. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. It's quite true, isn't it.
Mary has often been unclothed in front of a man,
but she has never felt naked as she did now.
She stammers and tries to change the subject.
Mary – Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.
Searching for lost piety, she grasps for a fig leaf.
Mary – Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem...
Traveler – I am too weary to continue this dance. Listen to me. Soon you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans really don't know what you worship, but we do, for salvation comes from the Jews. But today true worshipers are worshipping the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
She believes she is safe now, hidden behind a
false robe of religion. It is time to close
this conversation and move on. There will be be no
miraculous provision this time. Or so she thinks.
Mary -- I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.
Traveler– The Messiah is talking to you now.
When confronted by real power, it often takes a moment
to come to full acceptance. It takes Mary a full five seconds.
She gasps and stares, open-mouthed,
not realizing that the Traveler's friends are approaching.
They are surprised to find him talking with this
woman and begin to question him about her.
Seeing an opportunity to escape this uncomfortable
moment, she flees, leaving the very symbol of her
shame and imprisonment in Sychar: her water jar.
She runs for the marketplace
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