Jesus does not even make her feel that she needs him. He sheds his superiority and makes her feel that it is He who needs her help.... She pretends to know more than him. And he lets her have her way initially to make her feel comfortable in his presence, then tries gently to make her understand his point of view. ...
Showing respect to another is not necessarily a sign of inferiority, but a sign of understanding. Christ by showing his dependence on her, let her feel her importance and mildly brings her to understand his point of view, no force, no humiliation, no suspicion but tells her that he has water different from what is found in the well that will take away her thirst once and for all. He accepts her first and now, she accepts him. The table is turned and it is now she who is asking, "Sir, give me this water that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." She now feels that it is she who needs him, while it was just the contrary up to now.
What's more interesting than my joy at finding this interpretation was the literal fight that I had with a guest. After reading all this 'showing respect', 'humility' and what not, I couldn't but argue with him!!
But that argument was good... all because of a communication gap!
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