Colossians 1:19-20 says: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.. Misty equips, trains and empowers women to discover the source of their strength in Christ. By reaching out to the Samaritans, Jesus showed that his mission was to all people, not just the Jews. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges. DO you think you are greater? By the 20th century the Samaritan population dwindled to fewer than 200 individuals, but it grew steadily to about 800 in the 2010s. To worship in truth means that we worship in accordance with what has been revealed in Gods word. ", Summary of the Story of the Woman at the Well. And yet, she is eager for the eternal abundance Jesus promises. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Image/Nicolaes Roosendael. People in the world, like the Samaritan woman at the well, need to know the consequences of their sin. Jesus transgresses boundariesJew and Samaritan, male and the disciples were shocked that Jesus, a Jew (v.9) and a Rabbi (1:38,49; 3:2,26;4 . For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. Then you can get clean, clear direction to walk in light and life. It could have been that she wanted to come to the well to draw water when she knew she could do it alone. Thank you Rose for sharing . 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. From Tradition we know the name of the Samaritan Woman. The Samaritans had a very unusual history. As we reflect on the woman at the well and what we have observed in her story, there are a few lessons that can be applied. God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum. As far conversation. How can you offer her living water? Only in recent years have men been allowed to marry women from outside the community, although women who marry outside the community remain ostracized. But she quickly changed the direction of the conversation to talking about his prophetic gift and worship. To explain the origins of the Samaritans, we must go back to the days of the kings. We live in a culture where we are highly focused on the next best thing. She wanted to avoid the awkward stares and murmurs that she was sure to encounter if she came with the other women. Then he helped her to understand what it meant to truly worship God. Many were transformed by her testimony. She was an honest woman (John 4:16-18). When she replied that she had no husband, He said, You are right when you say you have no husband. Do you know anyone who bears these titles? What does it mean to worship in Spirit and Truth? He is the Living Water that she needs, the well spring of life. What is the Significance of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. The Samaritans began taking possession of the land of Israel after Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The woman at the well had been searching for fulfillment from people. Let me say YES Give me what I long for. Years ago as I pondered this poor soul we know as the Samaritan woman, I thought this is who I am, rejected, abandoned, full of shame, and longing for a drink of living water, but not even knowing what it was I longed for. Next, Jesus is revealed as a prophet. But it was not altogether for their Him gladly. Here we see Jesus reveal Himself as the Messiah to a woman that, from the cultures standpoint, he shouldnt have even been talking to. 5 Faith lessons from the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus and the rich young ruler 7 modern lessons from an old Bible story, 7 Powerful faith lessons from the prodigal son. There are some scholars who believe that to worship in Spirit means within the Holy Spirit. She could have kept the good news to herself. To be kind is so rare nowadays with all the prejudice and racism painting our lives. Samaritan woman was blessed to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. As Jesus talked with her, he tried to get her to understand the idea of living water. What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? can be observed from the language of the scriptures, that she did not understand what Jesus meant For these next few points, we will look at the woman at the well more closely. (2020, November 7). She unashamedly invited others to know Jesus. Even the metaphorical use of water in regard to Wisdom owes much to its related and . Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Only God knows the fullness of her life and ours, but regardless of what her former life might Like the Samaritan Woman, we are thirsty. Perhaps like the Samaritan woman, we need only acknowledge our place of brokenness, that place where we are attempting find satisfaction: I have no husband.. Samaria was a dessert town and the heat of the day was not the time to be filling up the jars of water. Jesus. Another reason for her familiarity might be the remarkable change that occurred in Her name is Photina. The Samaritan woman is one of the better known women of the New Testament. She is probably remembered by some, more for her moral condition than anything else. revealed to her that He knew she had been married five times. She seeks truth. The Good Samaritan, then, was not a real person. The Samaritan woman in John 4:1-29 reveals this truth about us: that we are blind to our own need until the Anointed one opens our eyes. On its surface, the story chronicles ethnic prejudice and a woman shunned by her community. Then in church a few weeks ago, we meditated on the verses of Jesus encounter with this woman from John 4. How can you ask me for a drink? (John 4:9). He cannot be the Messiah, can he? (4:29). She was ashamed of her past and the way she was living at the time when she talked with Jesus. The other thing was that the Samaritans used only the first 5 books of the Hebrew holy book. In 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, as the walls of Jerusalem were breached, the temple was destroyed, and the city walls torn down. The human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs, or prejudices. As I reflected on the plight of this woman, I began to wonder if in my religious zeal I had become like the disciples who wondered why Jesus would talk to such a woman. There were even Pharisees who were called the bruised and bleeding Pharisees because they shut their eyes when they saw a woman on the street and so walked into walls and houses! (Barclay). suspicion by some rulers of His own nation, here is one of the despised Samaritans who received Who was the Samaritan woman at the well? At this point, the woman realized He must be some kind of prophet. She was weary. Jesus and His disciples had left Judea and traveled north toward Galilee. But in this time period, it was not unreasonable. Do you dismiss certain people as lost causes, or do you see them as valuable in their own right, worthy of knowing about the gospel? Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. Meanwhile those who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices. 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. RELATED: 7 Powerful faith lessons from the prodigal son. She publishes a weekly blog on the website The Single MOM KC as well as freelances for other publications. John 4:7-19 Samaritan Woman. He is not surprised by our evil desires, but rather He seeks to reconcile us to the Father in spite of them (Hebrews 7:25). She seemed surprised that Jesus, being a Finally, we see Jesus revealed as the Messiah. Who told you about Jesus? 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. But He took a shortcut through Samaria. To get her to a place where she could be ready to receive eternal life and to call others to receive their freedom. She decides to take their theological discussion a step further and asks him about the proper place for worship, one of the major differences between Jews and Samaritans. He knows our desires, and yet He still pursues us and loves us (Romans 3:23). What does it mean that the fields are white for harvest (John 4:35). 12 It is remarkable, for example, that in examining the Old Testament background of the expression 'living water' they concentrate on the symbols, Wisdom, Torah, Spirit, and ignore the figurative use of water in regard to women (for which, see below). Jacob's well was there." [1] John's Gospel goes on to describe a conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman (called Photini in Orthodox . of He will never tire of us. Characteristics of Christ's Outreach John 4:1-41 Introduction: Our church is in a new phase of outreach. It was at Jacob's well that Jesus and the Samaritan woman talked. The woman went to tell everyone, and as a result, many Samaritans listened to Jesus and believed. Like all Samaritans, she traces her ancestry back to Jacob. Many of the people of Israel were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. When Jesus chose to engage her in conversation this was new and different. The woman was shocked. Weary from the countless times we have been rejected, hiding in certain areas because of shame, thirsty for living water, oftentimes we come to the well of religion, the well of an empty relationship, the well of work and striving in the heat of the day, hoping others wont see or recognize us. She could have chosen to carry on the tradition of hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans. Fact #2: Mary was from the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. Jesus was of Jewish descent, from the lineage of King David. And yet,Jesus, in His divine intentionality sought to meet this specific woman at this specific time. Testament. She did not perceive that Jesus was offering her eternal life. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 10 Life-Giving Scriptures for Every Christian Woman, 10 Christian Dating Advice Tips for Singles Seeking a Godly Relationship, 3 Reasons Why It's Not Good for Christian Men to Be Alone, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. a man to whom she was not legally married. From the fall of the rebellious northern kingdom of Israel, to a mixed idolatrous religion, to a people group hated by the Jews, the Samaritans had a rocky history. However, the contents of this blog post may not be modified, compiled, combined with other content, copied, recorded, synchronized, transmitted, translated, formatted, distributed, publicly displayed, publicly performed, reproduced, given away, used to create derivative works and otherwise used or exploited (including for-profit or commercial gain) without the creators expressed permission. journey sat down at the well. Qualities of Abigail in the Bible lessons from the woman with beauty and brains, 8 Amazing lessons from Mary the mother of Jesus . RELATED: 5 Faith lessons from the woman with the issue of blood. Jesus' behavior shocked the woman at the well. by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:24-29). The Character Study Kit is designed to help you do your own study of any Biblical character. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 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. today. She came in the hottest part of the day, to avoid the accusing glances and harsh words. Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. What can we learn from the woman at the well? The passage tells us that Jesus had to pass through Samaria (John 4:4) as He was going from Judea to Galilee. This woman came for water at an unusual hour and she came alone. I pray your Sunday School lesson goes well and is a blessing to all who attend. The Samaritans were mongrels in the eyes of Jews. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion. Instead, Jesus flipped the question. It was about 6 p.m. when they met. They need to know that the price of their sin has been paid and that they too can drink from the waters of salvation. This was the beginning of a long-lasting hatred between Jews and Samaritans. She was a social outcast. The Samaritans, being a mix of already spiritually corrupt Israelites and pagan foreigners, created a religion for themselves that the Jews considered heresy. Lord, help me to not be afraid to ask questions and search out truth my search for truth will always lead to you because you are the TRUTH. They survived through the time of Jesus, and even, in limited numbers, to the present day. Leaving behind her water jar, the woman returned to town, inviting the people to "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did." Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Who Is the Beast in Revelation 13, and Have We Met Him Yet? They established as their center of worship a temple on Mount Gerizim, claiming it was where Moses had originally intended for the Israelites to worship. 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