“When Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went again to Galilee. He had to travel through Samaria, so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give Me a drink,” Jesus said to her, for His disciples had gone into town to buy food. “How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? ” she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” John 4:1-10
So now Jesus really is making and baptizing more disciples than John the Baptiser was. When Jesus realizes that the Pharesees have figured this out, Jesus decides to move on. He decided to go to back Galilee.
Now if you look at a map of Israel from this time, you’ll see it was split into 3 states or districts. The southern district was Judea, where Jerusalem (capitol city) and Bethlehem (where Jesus was born) are located. This is where Jesus was coming from. The northern part was called Galilee and is where Jesus was raised. This was Jesus and company’s destination. The middle part- Samaria, separated the two and was where a mixed-breed of Jews lived. Now the full blooded Galileeans and Judeas were so prejudice of the Samaritains that they’d walk clear around Samaria to get to the othere part of Israel to avoid them! This was not the case with Jesus. Vs 4 says “He HAD to traval through Samaria”. In the original language of the New Testament, the word “had” was very infatic-Jesus had a personal need to go through Sameria-He had a very important appointment there!
He goes to the village of Sychar where Jacob’s well was located. He sits down, hot and thirsty and asked a women who had come to draw water for a drink.
The women’s response is strange to us-she says, “How is it that You, a Jewish man, asks for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” She points out to Him that not only has He asked a Samaritan for a drink, He’s asked a Samaritan WOMAN for a drink, because Jewish men didn’t usually associate with Samaritans, but particuarly with Samaritan women!
This woman was a social outcast: she was a Samaritan, who was a woman, who wasn’t even accepted by her own people! (Vs 6) Why was Jesus talking to her?
The fact was, that Jesus had something specific to talk to her about (we’ll cover that tomorrow), but here’s the deal-Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” WOW-Jesus was saying-you don’t really realize Who you’re talking to!
Here’s the lesson for today. Jesus went way outside of what would have been any other man’s comfort zone or even beyond what was socially acceptable to talk with this woman, when it would have been easier to just do the “normal” thing.
Jesus, being led by Holy Spirit, knew this was an important appointment for Him and even while His disciples were out buying food, Jesus found a way to strike up a conversation with the lady, even by simply asking for a drink of water.
What are you and I willing to do to reach out to the hurting people of the world? We pass by them every day and often ignore them, while Jesus had to make a special effort to go talk to this one!
Are prejudices holding you back? How about worrying about what other Christians will think about you? Allow Holy Spirit to lead you out of your comfort zone to those divine appointments He has for you today!
Think about it!
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