Lent 3 Year A 2026: John 4:5-42
My first grade daughter has been learning about various habitats and the natural homes of various animals. From grasslands to savannahs to deserts, she will excitedly tell you all about what she’s been learning in school. We most often use the word habitat to describe the homes of animals, since human beings can live in almost any habitat. But the habitat of first century Jews and Samaritans is important to today’s lesson from John, which centers around a well. Wells in Jesus’ time served multiple purposes, both physical and social. Wells were hand-dug, stone-lined, and covered with heavy stones to prevent contamination and disputes. Located in the arid Near East, they were crucial for physical survival. Due to limited rainfall, wells were the primary water source for people and livestock, making them central to life. But equally important, wells served as community hubs, meeting places for major life events (like Rebekah and Rachel), and symbols of divine provision and blessing. Wells...