Jesus, Lessons for Life 14
Our Lord next decided to leave Judea and return once more to Galilee. In this journey He chose to go through Samaria. Herein lies an important lesson regarding how God seeks all people, not just the Jewish people.
In his travel through Samaria, he has a remarkable encounter with a Samaritan woman.
John 4:5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
Location of Jacob's Well near Samaria, where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman.
We need to understand that this meeting would have been very unlikely in this time. Jews simply did not want to have anything to do with Samaritans. They would normally go out of their way to avoid Samaritans. You can see that from the text of John 4:9. Yet, our Savior chose to engage.
John 4:9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Undoubtedly the woman was surprised to find a man sitting by the well, particularly a Jewish man. Jesus' initial approach was a simple request for water. One would hardly refuse a drink of cold water to a thirsty traveler in the heat of the day. The request did have a surprising element, however, for no Jewish rabbi would have volunteered to carry on a public conversation with a woman, nor would he have asked to drink from a Samaritan's cup, as she implied by her answer. There was a trace of sarcasm in the woman's reply, as if she meant, "We Samaritans are the dirt under your feet until you want something; then we are good enough!" [1]
Of course, that was not so. Jesus made it clear through his actions and words that the Samaritans were precious to him -- precious in the eyes of God.
Key Lesson — As the story plays out, it is clear that Jesus mission, as demonstrated by such actions, included reaching the lost—all people that are separated from God. Likewise we will see that his intention for us it to take the Good News of Christ to all people.
Blessings,
Larry
[1] Zondervan NIV commentary on John 4
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