An Intimate Moment with a Woman at a Well (John 4:4-30, 39-42)
You know, after two thousand years, things really haven't changed too much in life. This story of the Samaritan woman brings that vividly home. Let me share just a little bit of background for those who may be reading this and not be familiar with the Samaritans.
Finally the sins of Israel's people caught up with them. God allowed Assyria to defeat and disperse the people. They were led into captivity, swallowed up by the mighty, evil Assyrian empire. Sin always brings discipline, and the consequences of that sin are sometimes irreversible. You can read about the king of Assyria in 2 Kings 17:24, "The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sephar-vaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. " My footnote for this verse states, "Moving the Israelites out and moving foreigners in was Assyria's resettlement policy to prevent revolt. Spreading the captives across Assyria prevented their uniting, and repopulating Israel with foreign captives made it difficult for the remaining Israelites to unite as well. This mixture of peoples resettled in Israel came to be known as Samaritans. They were despised by the Jews, even through the time of Christ." Because of the intermarriages between the foreigners the remaining Jews, the pure Jews hated the Samaritans believing the remaining Jews had betrayed their people and their nation when they intermarried.
It is interesting to me that the Jews would avoid traveling through Samaria at any cost. However, Christ had no such cultural restrictions. In John 4:4 it says, "And He had to pass through Samaria." The way this is worded in the Greek means it is a logical necessity, a moral obligation. Christ knew He had a divine appointment!
He arrives at the well around noon, in the heat of the day. The woman who approached had a lot going against her. Not only was she a Samaritan woman but she was living in open sin and she was out in a very public place. Most women would come in the early morning or early evening when it was cooler. This woman came when others would not be around. She is shocked, to say the least, when Christ asks her to give Him a drink. In John 4:9 it states, "...for the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans." The literal translation is "share no cups together."
Christ begins talking with her drawing her out. He knew the gospel is for everyone, regardless of their sin, their race, their social standing. She didn't understand Him at first when He spoke of "living water." And, as He drew closer to her private life, she quickly changed the subject. How often do we do that today? When things begin to get a little uncomfortable we change the subject, redirect the focus elsewhere. He was patient and took the time to lead her back into the main point of His conversation.
He shares with her about how she has not been worshiping correctly. She talked about how important the location to worship was to her in verse 20. Christ shares with her true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. In verse 24 He follows with, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." It is important to understand that if our concept of God is wrong, then our concept of worship will be wrong, too. True truth is intolerant.
Overall, I see three important points to this story. The first is that salvation is the gift of God. I draw this from John 4:10, "...If you knew the gift of God..." The second point that I see is salvation is instantaneous and forever. This comes out of John 4:14, "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." Finally the third point is that salvation is rooted in a person...Jesus Christ. In John 4:25-26 it states, "The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (He who is calle Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'"
One other thing that stood out to me. She didn't immediately believe. But Christ gave her time to think and process the things which He shared with her. I need to remember as I share with others they may need time to process the good news. It is only Christ and His Word that can save people. And, once she understood and believed, she was quick to go and share with others. Even if there are sins in our past which we think are monumental Christ brings change into our lives.
I love how Gire puts it at the end of the meditation section, "To her, this stranger was first simply "a Jew"...then "Sir"...then "a prophet." Now she sees Him for who He really is---"Messiah." What a divine encounter that day!
Finally the sins of Israel's people caught up with them. God allowed Assyria to defeat and disperse the people. They were led into captivity, swallowed up by the mighty, evil Assyrian empire. Sin always brings discipline, and the consequences of that sin are sometimes irreversible. You can read about the king of Assyria in 2 Kings 17:24, "The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sephar-vaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. " My footnote for this verse states, "Moving the Israelites out and moving foreigners in was Assyria's resettlement policy to prevent revolt. Spreading the captives across Assyria prevented their uniting, and repopulating Israel with foreign captives made it difficult for the remaining Israelites to unite as well. This mixture of peoples resettled in Israel came to be known as Samaritans. They were despised by the Jews, even through the time of Christ." Because of the intermarriages between the foreigners the remaining Jews, the pure Jews hated the Samaritans believing the remaining Jews had betrayed their people and their nation when they intermarried.
It is interesting to me that the Jews would avoid traveling through Samaria at any cost. However, Christ had no such cultural restrictions. In John 4:4 it says, "And He had to pass through Samaria." The way this is worded in the Greek means it is a logical necessity, a moral obligation. Christ knew He had a divine appointment!
He arrives at the well around noon, in the heat of the day. The woman who approached had a lot going against her. Not only was she a Samaritan woman but she was living in open sin and she was out in a very public place. Most women would come in the early morning or early evening when it was cooler. This woman came when others would not be around. She is shocked, to say the least, when Christ asks her to give Him a drink. In John 4:9 it states, "...for the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans." The literal translation is "share no cups together."
Christ begins talking with her drawing her out. He knew the gospel is for everyone, regardless of their sin, their race, their social standing. She didn't understand Him at first when He spoke of "living water." And, as He drew closer to her private life, she quickly changed the subject. How often do we do that today? When things begin to get a little uncomfortable we change the subject, redirect the focus elsewhere. He was patient and took the time to lead her back into the main point of His conversation.
He shares with her about how she has not been worshiping correctly. She talked about how important the location to worship was to her in verse 20. Christ shares with her true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. In verse 24 He follows with, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." It is important to understand that if our concept of God is wrong, then our concept of worship will be wrong, too. True truth is intolerant.
Overall, I see three important points to this story. The first is that salvation is the gift of God. I draw this from John 4:10, "...If you knew the gift of God..." The second point that I see is salvation is instantaneous and forever. This comes out of John 4:14, "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." Finally the third point is that salvation is rooted in a person...Jesus Christ. In John 4:25-26 it states, "The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (He who is calle Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'"
One other thing that stood out to me. She didn't immediately believe. But Christ gave her time to think and process the things which He shared with her. I need to remember as I share with others they may need time to process the good news. It is only Christ and His Word that can save people. And, once she understood and believed, she was quick to go and share with others. Even if there are sins in our past which we think are monumental Christ brings change into our lives.
I love how Gire puts it at the end of the meditation section, "To her, this stranger was first simply "a Jew"...then "Sir"...then "a prophet." Now she sees Him for who He really is---"Messiah." What a divine encounter that day!
posted by Pilot Mom at
8:39 AM
1 Comments:
First, THANK you for telling me why Samaria is such a bad place to find yourself in! I had no idea.
Also, I loved the way Gire ended this chapter, too. I felt that same way when I started reading the bible again. At first, I felt like He was a person, then a little more than that, and finally, God himself. It DOES take time to make that connection in your brain when no such connection has ever had to be made before.
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HeyJules, at 3:30 PM
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