Just then [Jesus'] disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?" Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" They left the city and were on their way to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." So the disciples said to one another, "Surely no one has brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world."

We've become accustomed today to hearing such terms as "Women's Lib" and "Feminist Theology." Such terms would have been unthinkable in the world in which Jesus lived. Jesus lived in a totally patriarchal society in which women were regarded mainly as chattels and breeders, totally subject to male masters. Men could divorce women for any reason simply by declaring it, but women could not gain divorce by any means. Generally, women were denied inheritance, qualifying for it only if there were no male heirs. Women stood while men ate, serving them. Women were kept mainly at home and segregated at public worship. They received no formal education, even in Scriptures. Fathers determined whom their daughters married, receiving a bridal price for them.

It's small wonder, then, that in our text today, Jesus' disciples "were astonished that he was speaking with a woman." Not only a woman, but a woman of the despised Samaritan race. Jesus was radically inclusive in the way he treated women. Jesus defied sexist prejudices and vigorously promoted the dignity and equality of women in a male-dominated society. From the very start of his ministry, women were included in his closest circle of disciples, accompanied him on his travels and were taught by him. Liberated by Jesus, the Samaritan woman became a valiant witness, and the Scripture says, "Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony." Liberation! Feminism! All to God's glory. May it be so today as well.