In the continuing series looking at the underrated figures of the Bible, the Rev Richard Baxter this month looks at the woman at the well as described in John 4:1-42.

THE unnamed woman whose story we consider this month was underrated by those around her because of her gender, race, religion and lifestyle. Her outsider status was comprehensive.

Jesus met the lady at midday by the well outside the Samaritan village of Sychar. He was waiting for his disciples who had gone into the village to find food. She had come to draw water when no-one else was around, in the heat of the day, avoiding the usual early morning crowd.

Jesus’ request for a drink is startling. Firstly, he has initiated conversation with a woman he does not know. Secondly, as a Jewish man, he would not normally be expected to drink from a cup used by a Samaritan, such was the rivalry between the groups. Yet their conversation quickly progresses from the everyday to deeper issues.

Jesus is speaking to a woman, when most rabbis of his day did not do that. He knows she is a social outcast because of the time she goes to the well. He knows she is a Samaritan and therefore different to him in race and religion. All of those factors might have persuaded another teacher to shun this lady and ignore her. Instead, Jesus offers her the water of life, by which he means a transformative, invigorating relationship with God.

As if that was not radical enough, he asks her to bring along her husband. She replies that she has no husband. Jesus reminds her that she has had five husbands and is now with a new partner. Did he have some exceptional knowledge, or had he just overheard the village gossips who came to the well earlier, criticising the actions of an absent neighbour? We don’t know. However, that he recognises her unorthodox lifestyle, and still makes this offer of living water to her, is all the more striking. The point seems to be that regardless of their differences of gender, race and religion, despite her chequered past, Jesus refuses to underrate the woman or treat her as a person of no account.

Instead, Jesus offers her the water of life, by which he means a transformative, invigorating relationship with God.

That he is right to do so is shown by her reaction. She goes to tell the whole village about the remarkable man she has met. She does not care about the possible mocking comments which must have followed her announcement .“Not another one!” “Whose husband is it this time?” But she poses to the villagers the question about who Jesus really is, and compels others to come and hear for themselves. She succeeds in a mission which would have been impossible for Jesus and his disciples.

Normally, everyone in her village treated her like a nobody. She was excluded from the friendly banter and community spirit around the well. The disciples are surprised even to find Jesus speaking to her. Yet starting from a simple conversation about everyday essentials like drinking water, Jesus instinctively demonstrates consideration and respect. He treats her as someone worthy to hear his message, and as someone whose questions and ideas are to be taken seriously.

If the example of Jesus is that gender, race, religion and past life experience are not sufficient reasons to underrate someone or reject them, then there really can’t be many reasons left! And perhaps, for us, that is the point of the story.

The Rev Richard Baxter is transition minister at Glasgow: Wellington.