There were a couple of things that this woman believed, didn’t believe or was involved in that prevent many today from desiring Christ as their Savior. But this woman, after learning who Christ was and what he could do for her, left those things in her life that prevented her from receiving him. She left those things behind her when she left her pot at the well.
She left her pot of religion at the well. In v.20-25, we learn that the woman thought highly of religion, but she was still lost. Many today trust in religion and doing, but do not have Christ in their heart. Paul wrote in Romans 10:1-2 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Israel was very religious and zealous in religion, but they did not worship in spirit or truth in their heart.
She left her pot of lust at the well. Jesus was not afraid to point out to this woman in v.16-18 that she was living with a man that was not her husband. Jesus cared for her and wanted her to see her need for Christ. She would only see that need if she could see her sin made plain by God himself. Jesus had to point out to her that her marriages and relationships were failures. Her religion taught her nothing about how to have great communication in marriage. Her religion did not teach her how to have meaningful and godly relationships instead of pursuing her lust. This hit home with the Samaritan as it was this part of their conversation that she remembered most when she got back to town: John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
She left her pot of unbelief at the well. By the time she gets back to Sychar, it is clear that this woman believed on Jesus Christ as her Savior. She realized that her religion had done nothing for her and her lust only caused more problems. The living water that is Jesus Christ changed her from the inside out!
Jesus knew the Samaritan woman would be at that well that day. That’s the amazing thing about an omniscient God. The Samaritan woman came to the well simply to get some water. She had come to that well on the outskirts of town countless times before to get water to drink, cook and perhaps wash things. She expected nothing more on this trip to the well. However, on this trip, she would leave her pots at the well.
What pots do you need to leave at the well? The pot of religion will never be enough to forgive us of our sins, only Christ can do that. And only Christ can give us meaningful relationships by applying his Word to our lives. For example, a great marriage is not based on religion, but an understanding of God's Word and application of it to our daily lives, particularly Ephesians 4 and 5. Do you pursue lust and addiction? Forsake them and seek Christ! Leave those pots at the well!
