Jesus having to go to Galilee, made up His mind to pass through
Samaria. It was a long, rough journey, and at last they came near a
town called Sychar. Near by was the well dug by Jacob when he lived in
Shechem. Jesus was so tired that He sat down to rest on the edge of
the well, while His disciples went on to buy food.

[Illustration: Jacob's well.]

While Jesus was sitting by the well, a woman came there to draw water.
Jesus asked her to do something kind for Him, He said 'Give Me to
drink.' The woman was surprised, and said to Him, 'You are a Jew, and
I am a Samaritan. Why then do you ask me for water?'

Jesus said, 'IF YOU KNEW WHO I AM, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME, AND I WOULD
HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER.' Jesus meant the Holy Spirit. He gives
the Holy Spirit to everyone who asks Him.

Then Jesus spoke to the woman about the bad things she had done, and
she tried to make Him talk about something else. But she could not
stop His wonderful words. At last she said, 'I know that the Messiah
is coming. He will tell us all things.' Then Jesus said to her, 'I
THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM HE.'

Just then His disciples came up to the well, and they were very much
astonished to see Him talking to the woman. The Jew men were too proud
to talk much to women, even if the women were Jews; and this was a
Samaritan. But the disciples did not ask Jesus any questions about why
He talked to the woman. They brought Him the things they had been
buying, and said, 'Master, eat.' But Jesus was so happy that He had