Perhaps you’ve sat just off to the side of Sychar’s well and listened thoughtfully to the conversation of Jesus Christ with that woman of Samaria. Did you look up with her to “this mountain” where the Samaritan temple had stood until destroyed by the Jews a little over 100 years before? Yes, it sat on Mt. Gerizim, the mount of blessing that stood just over 1 mi (1.6km) geographically from where they sat. But the deep ravine of her sin and a broken law ran in between and cut her off from all its promises. Her way was open to Mt. Ebal, the mount of cursing lay about 1.5 mi (2.4km) behind her. As they conversed its shadow would be creeping backward toward her home in Sychar.
Her need was no matter for religion to solve. No standard Samaritan versus Jew debate would get her anywhere. No glances toward the housetops of Shechem, Abraham’s first stopping place in Caanan, or down into the reflection off the waters in Jacob’s well could bring her blessing. She sat in the presence of the living Son of God who embodied grace and truth. History, tradition, religion, personal merit were all shuttled into the shadows of a light brighter than the noonday sun. Have you sat and listened to Him today?