John 4.9-10:
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (10) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (ESV)
In John 14.6 it is recorded that Jesus spoke to his disciples during their time in the upper room, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (ESV) Since Jesus himself is the truth, everything he said is true, and will stand all testing. The above verses are part of an account of the conversation and events Jesus had with a woman in Samaria, and eventually with her neighbors, at a water well known as Jacob’s well. This event in Jesus’ ministry receives much attention because he talked to a Samaritan, a people group who were looked down upon by the Jews. Many Jewish people believed that the Samaritans were descended from a mix of Jewish people and Assyrians who had come into the country. But the Samaritans did not agree with this belief, and the two groups had further differences regarding the proper following of the Old Testament teachings and the rightful place of worship.
Jesus begins his conversation with this woman in verse 7 by asking for a drink of water from her at the well. She takes note of the fact that Jesus is a Jew and lets him know that she is surprised that he is even talking to her, because she is a Samaritan. Jesus ignored the racial distinction. Jesus was also not going to make all of this conversation about literal water. Jesus is concerned for the condition of her soul. Here at the well they both are seeking actual water to support life, but Jesus is using the occasion of this water well to direct the conversation towards her relationship with God. Jesus’ statement to her in verse 10 is the beginning of the process of revealing to her that he is the Messiah, and that he can give to her spiritual water that imparts spiritual and eternal life.