Since the Pharisees are getting so riled up, Jesus leaves Judea & heads to Samaria. Now, the Samaritans were cousins of the Jews. After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom divided into two countries: Judah (the line of David & Solomon) & Israel. The kingdom of Israel went their own way & defied God; therefore, they were taken captive & their kingdom was no more. Those left behind became the kingdom of Samaria, they were considered half-Jewish but they were not accepted by Jerusalem. It's pretty interesting that Jesus, a Jew, would even give Samaria the time of day let alone an adulterous woman.
However, there He is, sitting at a well around noon (the sixth hour) when a woman comes by. Jesus shocks her by treating her like an equal & they strike up a conversation. I want you to notice how Jesus witnesses to her - He doesn't beat her over the head with the Word, He isn't forceful, He doesn't shy away. Instead, He intrigues her after opening the door by treating her with respect. Then He tells her the truth.
So, how do we witness to others? By treating them as equals with respect. By speaking truth without judgment. By answering questions with wisdom & knowledge. It's a conversation, not an interview. It's about the person, not about the commitment they make. It's always all about relationship!
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