Jesus is passing through Samaria on his way from Judea to Galilee when he becomes tired, hungry, and thirsty and sits down by a well to rest. He sends his disciples out to find him food and while he is alone a Samaritan woman approaches the well to draw water. When Jesus asks this woman for a drink a conversation begins that is the longest recorded encounter between Jesus and any person in Scripture. It is a startling encounter in many ways. In that age Jews did not engage in long conversations with Samaritans; unrelated men and women did not speak to one another; and Rabbis did not talk to "compromised" people. Yet Jesus throws off these social conventions to reach out to this woman. What is Jesus doing with this woman he meets by a well? He is doing the work of his Father. He has come to this well because he is thirsty for a relationship with this woman. He has seen who she is and he wants to replace her thirsty life, with the thirst quenching water of the Holy Spirit of God. This is a very happy story.