Jesus transgresses boundariesJew and Samaritan, male and This, in and of itself, was uncommon for Jews to do, as Samaritans were part Jew and part Gentile, and greatly disliked by both parties. And many believed because of her testimony (v. 39). JOHN 4:7-9 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Initiating a conversation with the woman shows that Jesus wasnt concerned about political correctness. Her actions invite us to stay connected to Jesus and ask questions about our faith in order to come to a fuller understanding of it. Fact #2: Mary was from the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. Jesus didn't erase the Samaritan woman's past but reminded her that her past was not her future. Satan Tempts Jesus in the Wilderness Bible Study Guide, Jesus and the Children Bible Story Study Guide, Moses and the Burning Bush Bible Story Study Guide, The Wedding at Cana Details Jesus' First Miracle, The Birth of Moses Bible Story Study Guide, Parable of the Lost Sheep Bible Story Study Guide, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. All rights reserved. Remember, Your Past Is Not Your Future. The longer she talks with him, the more her understanding grows until she sees the full truth: Jesus is the Messiah. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. After asking the Samaritan woman for a drink, He responds to her by offering her something greater. Let my weariness, my thirst, my longing for truth always bring me face to face with YOU. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. What is for sure is this: nobody could contest her testimony. How can you love her? The woman at the well argues with Jesus The Samaritan Woman. If the two partners in the relationship were not of equal social status or wanted to avoid inheritance issues, they might choose this option. When someone upsets us, or they no longer fulfill our happiness, we walk away, looking for our next relationship. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. She wanted to avoid the awkward stares and murmurs that she was sure to encounter if she came with the other women. They intermarriage with people of the surrounding nations. I relate the Samaritan women to myself, no matter where you come from or what you have done in your past, the Lord forgives and you can still have a purpose filled life! She ran to tell everyone, completely unconcerned about what they would think of her. He made Himself known to her, as He must to all who truly come to know Him. The Opportunities abound, but we need to be wise and understand how best to take adavatage of the situation. Jesus did not tell us whether the How can you offer her living water? The Samaritans began taking possession of the land of Israel after Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians. ? They survived through the time of Jesus, and even, in limited numbers, to the present day. Jesus becomes such a treasure to us, as He had become to the Samaritan woman, that we cant stop ourselves from telling others about the joy He has bestowed in our life (John 4:28-30). The Priceless Woman Virtues of a Godly Woman. Drawing water alone in the heat of the day could only indicate one thing. God is always in the business of rescue and restoration. When Jesus turned the question back to him, he had to say that the law stated that a person was to love God and love his neighbor as himself. Then he helped her to understand what it meant to truly worship God. How do we proceed? Samaritans are first mentioned in the Bible in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5th century B.C. We come to Christ to be filled, to be forgiven; and the void that is filled by Christ in our life overflows so that we desire to proclaim His excellencies (1 Peter 2:9) and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). a man to whom she was not legally married. The 5 husbands of the Samaritan woman remains a mystery because she never addressed it. Learn Religions. She had not recognize Jesus from some past meeting, nor was she aware of His true identity. And, third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, although using her cup or jar would have made him ceremonially unclean. He said, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. I feel this vast amount of scripture . The Samaritan woman speaks to us about kindness and treating people like human beings, even when we ourselves get the rotten end of the stick. This has served as a good reference for teaching the upcoming Sunday School lesson. DO you think you are greater? Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. Her name is Photina. Biblical scholars tell us that the well was the gathering place for the women of the town, to share the latest news at the cool parts of the day. They too were shocked to find him speaking to a woman. Meanwhile those who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices. 9 Then the Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, who am a Samaritan woman?". He conveys these facts without the slightest sense of criticism or condemnation. The woman at the well had been searching for fulfillment from people. He will never dissatisfy. Upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the believers went out into all the world, bringing the Good News. Thank you Rose for sharing . On one occasion, Jesus was passing through Samaria on his way from Judea to Galilee. As she referenced Jacob, she thought Jesus must be a crazy person to think that he could provide such a water that Jacob himself could not. Jesus was telling her that a time was coming when worship would no longer be focused in a specific place, temple, or mountain. What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? From The Fellowship Room, the Daily Nudge asks this morning, What stands out in your mind in the story of Jesus conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well? (cf. As she slighted Jesus for his apparent ridiculous offer, he decided to take things up a notch. She was a logical woman (John 4:11-12). They were hated by the Jews because of this cultural mixing and because they had their own version of the Bible and their own temple on Mount Gerizim. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Plus, he was talking to her without anyone else around! His request was very appropriate. This post want enlightening as well as informative. Here we see Jesus reveal Himself as the Messiah to a woman that, from the cultures standpoint, he shouldnt have even been talking to. So, it seems most likely that her many marriages were not a result of her choice.[1]. It was known that Samaria was a center of Baal's worship because he was one of the most attractive gods in the ancient world due to his commission of being the god of storms, rain and fertility, which the land of Samaria was longing for. She had five husbands and she was living with a man who was not her husband. Salem Media Group. Like all Samaritans, she traces her ancestry back to Jacob. We also see her kindness when she runs to announce to the entire community that the Messiah had come. Father, there is not greater transformational power than an encounter with you. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Divorce in order to gain a more socially advantageous marriage was also not uncommon, though it is unclear if the Samaritans allowed women to apply for it without a male guardian as the Romans may have. This led to further ill-will as the two sects were established in the land in opposition to one another. She could have kept the good news to herself. [1] For a more detailed examination of the historical record on women and marriage in this time period and the Samaritan womans story in particular see Women in the World of the Earliest Christians by Lynn Cohick (Baker Academic, 2009), 99-128. Above all, the story, which unfolds in John 4:1-40, suggests that Jesus is a loving and accepting God, and we should follow his example. The well is still there and This Bible study of John 4 explores what the story of the Samaritan woman at the well can teach us today. Woman of Integrity in the Bible Abigail, Sermon on Ingratitude - Overcoming Ingratitude*, Sermon on Ecclesiastes 10 - The True Meaning to Life #12, Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God Sermon Outline (Part 1), Naaman Sermon - The Sabotaging Attitudes of Naaman the Leper, Sermon on Infant Baptism | We Don't Practice Infant Baptism, Sermon on Giving to the Lord - Better Attitudes Toward Giving, Sermon on Zacharias | 3 Powerful Lessons You Need to Know. 2. Why would I want to be strong and self-sufficient? Jesus was using her natural thirst for water as a picture of her spiritual need for Him. I pray your Sunday School lesson goes well and is a blessing to all who attend. Tired and thirsty, Jesus sat by Jacob's well while his disciples went to the village of Sychar, roughly a half-mile away, to buy food. Jesus and the woman discussed their views on worship, and the woman voiced her belief that the Messiah was coming. Everywhere He went, Jesus interacted with the poor and outcast. As he pressed the point, telling her that with this water she would never thirst again, her attitude became rotten. Why did Jesus stop to talk to her? Your email address will not be published. It was about 6 p.m. when they met. He cannot be the Messiah, can he? (4:29). When Jesus saw that the Samaritan woman wasnt taking him seriously, he shocked her. At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus' meaning. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband (John 4:17-18). As the story progresses, we learn that this woman regularly comes to the well at this time of day (John 4:15). The Samaritan woman's story exemplifies the grace of God. Only the poor were left. And He knows your purpose too. When she discovers his identity as the Messiah she leaves her water jar, much like the disciples left their nets, and becomes an effective evangelist to her community. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and yet you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one must worship. John 4:19-20 NASB. The Samaritan woman whom Jesus meets at Jacob's Well gleans much from her long conversation with Jesus. Let me say YES Give me what I long for. Because of His magnificent sacrifice, our life should exalt His name (Matthew 5:16). One reason God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum. Im so thankful for all the stories of the Biblical characters who were flawed and rough around the edges. Certainly, five marriages is a high number. On its surface, the story chronicles ethnic prejudice and a woman shunned by her community. It is possible that she had been married five times and all her husbands This was a. fulfillment of the prophecy (Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5-6) Fact #3: Mary was poor and was raised in a small, remote village called Nazareth. This was the case of the woman with the issue of blood. But in this time period, it was not unreasonable. Even the metaphorical use of water in regard to Wisdom owes much to its related and . She knew the rules, but wasnt necessarily a rule follower. Why was the woman at the well? She responds honestly and succinctly, I have no husband (4:17). Nearly all of us are the Samaritan woman. We may have to get our hands dirty. Samaritan tradition claims the group descends from the northern Israelite tribes who were not deported by the Neo-Assyrian Empire after the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel. husbands were dead or alive. She returns to her town and effectively shares her own experience with Jesus, inviting the villagers to come and see if they reach the same conclusion about him. The strict Rabbis forbade a Rabbi to greet a woman in public. Qualities of Abigail in the Bible lessons from the woman with beauty and brains, 8 Amazing lessons from Mary the mother of Jesus . Fact #1: Mary comes from the Old Testament name Miriam which carries a meaning of bitterness, sorrow and trouble. Our lives are always looking to the next thing. Lord, help me know what questions to ask and give me the courage to always ask like a child. He will never turn us away. The Samaritans saw themselves as the true descendants of Israel and preservers of the true religion, while considering the Jerusalem temple and Levitical priesthood illegitimate. RELATED: 7 Powerful faith lessons from the prodigal son. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. journey sat down at the well. In my weakness He is made strong. 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