Jesus meets this Samaritan woman at Jacobs Well after a mornings journey and disregards social custom by asking her for a drink. What do you hear the Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community. She wanted to avoid the awkward stares and murmurs that she was sure to encounter if she came with the other women. Learn Religions. A Rabbi might not even speak to his own wife or daughter or sister in public. Do you know anyone who bears these titles? RELATED: 5 Faith lessons from the woman with the issue of blood. 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. can be observed from the language of the scriptures, that she did not understand what Jesus meant When Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem, they were opposed by Samaritans. I feel this vast amount of scripture . No matter who you are or what your past is, God is interested in you. They did not acknowledge the rest. 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. She is the co-author ofDear Hero and has 200+ bylines in publications ranging fromThe Christian Communicator toKeys for Kids. She came in the hottest part of the day, to avoid the accusing glances and harsh words. He said, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The Good Samaritan, then, was not a real person. If we continue reading the chapter, we find out that she had many husbands. The well is still there and Lord, let me realize my weakness and my need for a Savior day after day. But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 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 . 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Just as the Samaritan woman was looking to men to satisfy her soul, we also look to things outside of Christ to give our hearts meaning and purpose (John 4:14). It would have been the heat of the day and most people during that time would have been resting. The Samaritan woman was considered inferior because of her sex, ethnicity, and relationship history, but none of that mattered to Jesus because he saw her need for salvation. Nehemiah, a Jew, curried favor with the king and was able to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field ethat Jacob had given to his son Joseph. The following are some outstanding characteristics of the Samaritan woman: She was an observant woman (John 4:9). God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum. Salem Media Group. The woman at the well argues with Jesus The Samaritan Woman. Through conversation with the Samaritan woman, we see Jesus reveal Himself three times throughout the story. Perhaps there was a sudden need, or perhaps she was a social outcast, shunned by other women in the community. David Guzik. She was an honest woman (John 4:16-18). After King Solomon ruled over the Israelites Gods people the unwise actions of his son Rehoboam in the tenth century BC led to a schism in which the kingdom was split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, each with its own king. Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have (Luke 10:30-35). John 4:16-19 says: He told her, Go, call your husband and come back.I have no husband, she replied. When someone upsets us, or they no longer fulfill our happiness, we walk away, looking for our next relationship. What is a Samaritan in the Bible? Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. Instead, through her conversation with Jesus, we discover a model for discipleship that is open to discovering a fuller understanding of Gods action in the world. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was located between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. Jesus does not judge this womans history, though many Christian interpreters have. Take time to look at the Samaritan woman inside yourself this week. The Samaritans had a very unusual history. This was the case of the woman with the issue of blood. He broke through the cultural barriers in order to love others. For centuries Jews and Samaritans had rejected each other. She struggled with shame, which is evident by the time of the day she journeyed to the well. Shocked by the truth of His words and exposure of her own sin, her eyes are beginning to open to the truth of who He is. That scenario would certainly be similar to the example used by the Sadducees Jews generally did not associate with these people because their ancestral roots were racially and religiously mixed. The Samaritan woman represents everyone who needs Jesus. Jesus didn't erase the Samaritan woman's past but reminded her that her past was not her future. Very often, meeting the needs of others can be messy. The next of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman is a little less obvious. Many were transformed by her testimony. A knowledge which explains her astonished reaction and unbelief (v. 9). This woman had been living a sinful life but by the time she was finished talking to Jesus, she received salvation in fill. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series. As we consider the woman at the well, there may be some other questions that come to mind. Its possible that this was a genuine question, but its more likely that she was just trying to avoid the current topic of conversation. But one of her outstanding characteristics is that she was kind. Its no longer about burnt offering, sacrifices, or rituals, but from a heart of sincerity and love for God. All of her questions and persistence led her to come face to face with the Living God. They were replaced with a foreign race, planted there I hope this post helped you to understand the meaning of the story of the Samaritan woman. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Image/Nicolaes Roosendael. Let my weariness, my thirst, my longing for truth always bring me face to face with YOU. The following are some outstanding characteristics of the Samaritan woman: Lord, please grant us more women with the above characteristics, in Jesus name, Amen! Just as the Samaritan woman did not fully understand who Jesus was at first, we also need Jesus to open our eyes to the reality of who He is (Psalm 146:8, Ephesians 4:18). As can be observed from the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used to record this event. He made Himself known to her, as He must to all who truly come to know Him. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband (John 4:17-18). Sadly, we do not even notice the aching question behind our search for the next best thing. Your email address will not be published. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.. And boy, does he have a blessing for the ministry that women offer to help others. She struggled with shame, which is evident by the time of the day she journeyed to the well. In response Jesus declares, I am he. In a sudden turn, this woman from whom Jesus earlier asked for a drink, has now found her own thirst for theological understanding quenched. The woman said to Him, I know that the Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us. 26 Jesus *said to her, I am He, the One speaking to you. He cannot be the Messiah, can he? (4:29). He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges. During his encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus broke three Jewish customs. 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. Our lives are always looking to the next thing. She was trying to find out from the One she perceived to be a prophet where the correct place of worship was. Thus, God warned, they would be overtaken by conquerors. One of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman was that she didnt understand how to worship God. Marriage and the Samaritan Woman - Volume 26 Issue 3. It was about 6 p.m. when they met. And He knows your purpose too. What you have just said is quite true.Sir, the woman said, I can see that you are a prophet.. Lord, help me know what questions to ask and give me the courage to always ask like a child. This must have affected her spiritual life since she believed that God was located in only one place. 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? 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. Jesus knew her history but still accepted her and ministered to her. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? I looked with fresh eyes at the characteristics of this woman and instead of shunning her, I thought, Lord, I want to be like her!. Jesus was telling her that a time was coming when worship would no longer be focused in a specific place, temple, or mountain. In summary, Jesus was trying to avoid controversy with the religious leaders over his ministry. Learn Religions, Nov. 7, 2020, learnreligions.com/woman-at-the-well-700205. possibility that she had been divorced five times because of adultery, for she was then living with The ESV Global Study Bible says it this way: The terms Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean anointed. In the NT and early Judaism, Messiah combines many OT expectations about an anointed one who would lead, teach, and save Gods people (John 1:41 study note, cross-referenced from John 4:25). 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. At this point, the woman realized He must be some kind of prophet. 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). Jesus treats people as individuals, accepting them with love and compassion. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. She was a perceptive woman (John 4:19). What does it mean that the fields are white for harvest (John 4:35). 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. When someone upsets us, or rituals, but the sick need, or,. Religious leaders over his ministry Hurting Singles: a Christian Guide to Overcoming life 's Challenges place worship... The accusing glances and harsh words from the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used to record event! Woman is a little less obvious led her to come face to face with you prophet where the place... 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