People Jesus Noticed — The Anonymous

There are some people in Scripture whose names are “household names.” Whether that is something positive, like Abraham or Paul, or something negative, like Ahab and Jezebel — these people are known. When we say their names, we know their deeds, their shortcomings, their victories … we know a lot about them. This cannot be said about everyone in Scripture.

Some people in Scripture are read about but never named. They are features in the stories of our Bibles, but their identities are concealed. The astonishing thing about some of these is that, though relatively unknown, they were still treated with personal care by Jesus and offered the greatest blessing — Him.

A person we could highlight is the anonymous woman at the well. We learn little about her. We know she is a Samaritan. We know she was living with a man who was not her husband. We know she had questions about the claims of authenticity by her forefathers and by the Jews. We know that in many circles, much of this would have remained uncovered - she would have simply been reduced to being a Samaritan woman, and thereby avoided by many. We know that, in many circles, when it came to light that her living arrangement was in sin and her worship was without knowledge, she would have been dismissed from conversation. We know Jesus did not treat her in such a way.

Instead, the Samaritan woman, the sinful and ignorant woman, was extended the same graces we are. Jesus taught her about Him and even offered Himself to her. He offered her water, which, if one took, they would never thirst again (Jn 4:14) — His salvation. To this woman, Jesus made Himself known; He even dwelt two days with her and her countrymen (Jn 4:40). Why was that?

Jesus was kind, considerate, and gracious to this woman because, though unthought of by many, she was precious to Him as a soul. Jesus cares for every soul. The soul of the one whose name is known by millions. The soul of the one whose name is known by few. The soul of the one whose name is known only by Him.

The woman at the well helps to illustrate something. That is, even in the eyes of the most high God, a God who is high and lifted up - whose greatness transcends all of mankind — every single soul is invaluable and precious. Many of us walk among the world in anonymity — we are lesser known, lesser regarded. That is not true in the eyes of the God of heaven. You are known. You are loved. You have His attention.