Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Woman at the Well


"Are there days when you wonder if you have anything to offer? Have you ever wished there were someone who really knew you? Do you long for a closer relationship with the Lord?"
So asks author Emily Freeman in The Woman at the Well, a thoughtful retelling of the familiar New Testament story of Christ's meeting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well.
In this beautiful book, illustrated by noted artist Simon Dewey, author Emily Freeman has brought to life the story of the Samaritan woman, for whom harsh circumstance had led to a parched life. Her slow footsteps take her far out of her way to fill her waterpot, where a seemingly chance meeting would change her life. Her brief encounter with the Savior at the well did not lead to a temporary relief from her thirst but to the healing, living water that the gospel provides.
The Woman at the Well offers a new perspective on this beloved story - how, despite (or even because of) our circumstances, the gospel gives more than physical respite, more than temporary succor. Christ's atonement offers us healng beyond what we deserve and fills our cup to overflowing. In retelling this story, the author shows us our own need for refreshment and tellingly asks, "How thirsty are you?"

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