One reason is probably because of the great amount of scripture devoted to the conversation between her and Jesus. The Samaritans are also said to have expected the Messiah, as did the Jews; but they felt Both kingdoms devolved into corruption and sin, despite repeated warnings from prophets sent by God. The sixth hour would have been our modern-day noon. The history of Samaria reminds us that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is Good News through Jesus Christ. A religious man wanted to limit who a neighbor was, and thus justify himself. She was an honest woman (John 4:16-18). The northern kingdom fared worse than the southern kingdom, with a long line of wicked rulers. There is no moving forward until you can clean up the immediate mess around you. She had every reason to ignore him. First, he spoke to her despite the fact that she was a woman. Matthew is hostile to Samaritans, Mark ignores them altogether, and Luke keeps his distance. 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 . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As Jesus talked with her, he tried to get her to understand the idea of living water. Ashamed. 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. Are you a woman who desires more out of life? The Samaritan Woman in the Bible Was Living in Adultery, Jesus Conversation with the Woman at the Well, Do Your Own Bible Study of the Woman at the Well, The Samaritan Woman at the Well Commentaries, The strict Rabbis forbade a Rabbi to greet a woman in public. True worship will be done, If you would like to do your own in-depth study and learn more about the, How to Use the Inductive Method of Bible Study. Thus, God warned, they would be overtaken by conquerors. We have been given a command and commission from Jesus Himself to go and tell the world what He has done for them. There is the This aspect of her life is certainly worthy of us imitating The characteristics of the Samaritan woman have so so so many lessons for faith and life. Photo credit: Guercino [Public domain] via, 4 Amazing Things We Can Learn from the Woman at the Well. 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). She could have kept the good news to herself. The Jews thought that God could only be worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem. The 5 husbands of the Samaritan woman remains a mystery because she never addressed it. But it was not altogether for their She has met the Messiah, the one she has been hoping for. Her current research centers on John Calvin, ecclesiology, and feminist theology. Who in your life witnessed to you that they knew and were known by Jesus? Hes especially interested in the ministry to save women. She may have been And that was at the temple they had built for themselves at Mount Gerazim. She models a way of doing this with both conviction about what she has learned in the past and also openness to discovering new things about what God is doing in the world. To read it for yourself, see John 4. First, he spoke to her despite the fact that she was a woman. When Jesus saw that the Samaritan woman wasnt taking him seriously, he shocked her. This history often colors our reading of this episode, so before diving into the rest of her conversation with Jesus, lets look at this aspect more closely. However, as Jesus revealed Himself to her, he sought to show her that He was the never-ending water she was so thirsty for (John 7:38). Meanwhile those who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices. Take time to look at the Samaritan woman inside yourself this week. She was a logical woman (John 4:11-12). She did not perceive that Jesus was offering her eternal life. Qualities of Abigail in the Bible lessons from the woman with beauty and brains, 8 Amazing lessons from Mary the mother of Jesus . Perhaps there was a sudden need, or perhaps she was a social outcast, shunned by other women in the community. David Guzik. He will never dissatisfy. She avoided the well close to home and she went to the well at noon just to avoid the mean women of her community. Amen. 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.. Ashamed. So he decided to leave Judea and go to Galilee. Lord, help me not to be so caught up in rules that I would miss you. No matter who you are or what your past is, God is interested in you. If you would like to learn more about this Biblical character I encourage you to, first, do your own study of the scriptures, then consult a trusted commentary. As she slighted Jesus for his apparent ridiculous offer, he decided to take things up a notch. have been, in the end she had a good influence on those around her. fastest and most direct, though it required travelling through Samaria. This was around noon-time during the heat of the day. 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. When he left, the people told the woman, " we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the savior of the world." God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum. Jesus wants to satisfy the deepest longings of our soul through a loving relationship with Himself. She was trying to find out from the One she perceived to be a prophet where the correct place of worship was. The Actions and Speech of the Character. John 4:25-26 NASB. (John 4:26, ESV), As the woman began to grasp the reality of her encounter with Jesus, the disciples returned. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field ethat Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Although they had never met before, Jesus revealed that he knew she'd had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Who was the Samaritan woman at the well? (2020, November 7). I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). It may also have been that she was married and divorced five times. He was a symbol. She goes immediately and tells her family and friends. His request was very appropriate. (John 4:19, NLT) Now Jesus had her full attention! 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. How can you love her? Rev. Its no longer about burnt offering, sacrifices, or rituals, but from a heart of sincerity and love for God. This Bible study of John 4 explores what the story of the Samaritan woman at the well can teach us today. Why was the woman at the well? This fact suggests that she did not have any women friends which only happened if nobody wanted to be associated with her. revealed to her that He knew she had been married five times. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the Assyrians took 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 ). 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. Next, the Samaritan woman went to draw water from the well at noon. Learn how your comment data is processed. (John 4:29, ESV). So, there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:4-8). as I can determine, the Samaritans recognized divorce only in cases of adultery. Dustyn Elizabeth Keepers is a Ph.D. candidate in Systematic Theology at Wheaton College Graduate School. 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. 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. He would make Samaria, not Jerusalem, His seat of government. Jesus did it to set women free to access the gospel in full. As a result they would bump into things and suffer all kinds of bodily harm. "The Woman at the Well Bible Story Study Guide." As the story progresses, we learn that this Samaritan woman comes to the well regularly at this time of day ( John 4:15 ).). When Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem, they were opposed by Samaritans. Sin will never satisfy their deepest desires here on earth. The Good Samaritan, then, was not a real person. Even the metaphorical use of water in regard to Wisdom owes much to its related and . The Samaritan woman whom Jesus meets at Jacob's Well gleans much from her long conversation with Jesus. husbands were dead or alive. As we consider the woman at the well, there may be some other questions that come to mind. We come with our water jug to get the water we thirst for. She was an honest woman (John 4:16-18). The woman went to tell everyone, and as a result, many Samaritans listened to Jesus and believed. Dustyn is also an ordained minister of Word and sacrament in the Reformed Church in America and previously served as a pastor at North Holland Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. Here we see Jesus reveal Himself as the Messiah to a woman that, from the cultures standpoint, he shouldnt have even been talking to. Why is her nationality important? But one of her outstanding characteristics is that she was kind. 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. [Jesus asked,] Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?, The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him.. She was so happy that she ran to tell the rest of her village and the whole town was saved. People in the world, like the Samaritan woman at the well, need to know the consequences of their sin. She has a good grasp on her own traditions beliefs, so she asks, Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well? (4:12). Though we are not told this womans name, she has the longest conversation with Jesus of any character in the book of John. Meet us in this story from Scripture and in our lives this day. She struggled with shame, which is evident by the time of the day she journeyed to the well. Matthew 28:18-19 NASB. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. The Priceless Woman Virtues of a Godly Woman. He gives us new desires and a new purpose, that will not be found in any earthly thing, but only in His kingdom (Colossians 3:4-10, Matthew 6:33, Romans 8:28). Jesus treats people as individuals, accepting them with love and compassion. While on the way He got tired and thirsty. Give me this water and I will never have to come here again. She would have gladly given up her long treks to the well in the heat of the day. "The Woman at the Well Bible Story Study Guide." So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. She had five husbands and she was living with a man who was not her husband. To be kind is so rare nowadays with all the prejudice and racism painting our lives. This was the case of the woman with the issue of blood. What is the Significance of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. Who is a lost woman in your life who needs to know Jesus? Every now and then, God has to do that to us. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was located between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. A look at the evangelistic nature of Jesus's ministry to the Samaritan woman. Also, for providing a wealth of contextual detail. New International Version Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. After all, anybody who knew her was not interested in the icky details of her life. She was curious. 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. At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus' meaning. 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! Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. All this happened approximately seven-hundred years earlier. Understanding properly how worship as it was in the beginning and worship as it is now relate to worship in the world without end helps . She came to draw water at the hottest part of the day, instead of the usual morning or evening times, because she was shunned and rejected by the other women of the area for her immorality. After asking the Samaritan woman for a drink, He responds to her by offering her something greater. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. If you are a Bible study teacher, you are free to allow this content to influence the lessons you teach or the sermons you present. 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. This must have affected her spiritual life since she believed that God was located in only one place. when He spoke of Himself having living waters (John 4:10). Proud member Who was she really? A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. Jesus promises living water that gives eternal life and invites her to bring the rest of her householdspecifically, her husbandto receive the goodness he is offering. What does it mean to worship in Spirit and Truth? Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink," 8 for His disciples had gone away into the town to buy food. They consider Samaritanism to be the true religion of the ancient Israelites and regard Judaism as a closely related but altered religion. (Read Philippians 3:13-14). Jesus needed her to realize that she needed to get out of that mans bed! 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. The Samaritans were mongrels in the eyes of Jews. By reaching out to the Samaritans, Jesus showed that his mission was to all people, not just the Jews. 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. But look deeper, and you'll realize it reveals a great deal about Jesus' character. God is always in the business of rescue and restoration. Actually, although she was not living her best life, she was living in expectation of Jesuss coming. He shall never thirst he shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his souls desires; they are longing, not languishing. Jesus meets this Samaritan woman at Jacobs Well after a mornings journey and disregards social custom by asking her for a drink. One of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman was that she didnt understand how to worship God. The living water that is given to us so freely in Christ becomes the well-spring of our life (John 4:13-14). For centuries Jews and Samaritans had rejected each other. When he offered her the water, she thought he meant literal water. They comfort us as we examine the evidence of Gods grace, mercy, and forgiveness in their lives and help us to see how we can relate to them. She was a social outcast. Jesus used the words living water to refer to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul's desire: This living water was only available through him. ? #1 She just wanted to not have to suffer the indignity of going to the well and having to interact with the very people who treated her badly. Finally, this was not the closest well to where she lived. But as if that weren't enough, he told the woman he could give her "living water" as a gift from God so that she would never thirst again. 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). Her current situation, living with a man who is not her husband, could be the result of several possible scenarios. Although Jesus was a male, Jewish stranger, she was kind enough to grant his request for water. To make their journey shorter, they take the quickest route, through Samaria. her life. It would have been the heat of the day and most people during that time would have been resting. It starts right there where Jesus wants you to see yourself. She reaches out to her community and invites them to join her on the journey. This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series. The Samaritan bandaged up the man's wounds and poured oil and wine on his injuries. See my full disclosure for more details. us; we can move forward to do greater things in the service of God. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Image/Nicolaes Roosendael. Why did Jesus stop to talk to her? First, Jesus is revealed as the Living Water (John 4:13-14). In my weakness He is made strong. Jesus didn't erase the Samaritan woman's past but reminded her that her past was not her future. The Samaritans were a racially mixed society with Jewish and pagan ancestry. And boy, does he have a blessing for the ministry that women offer to help others. Lord, when you present me with life-giving water, let me respond with exuberance and longing desire. The human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs, or prejudices. As can be observed from the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used to record this event. Photo credit: Getty Images/Andrii Yalanskyi. It is possible that she had been married five times and all her husbands Its only through the waters of His Spirit abiding in us that we are able to live, worship, and commune with Him. Jesus has paused to wait on you, to give you living water. We are called to daily take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26). Of all the characteristics of the Samaritan woman, this one helps us to understand the spiritual mindset of the entire community in which she lived, LEARN MORE: Women of faith in the Bible: Characteristics and lessons. 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