Jesus Did the Unthinkable

Lesson #64

In our last lesson we concluded that Jesus left Judea and departed for Galilee for some purpose. Hopefully that purpose will become clear in this lesson. When traveling from Judea to Galilee, most Jews would choose a longer route that would take them around Samaria because of their dislike of the Samaritans and their desire to avoid them. The Samaritans were Jews that had earlier in history married people of another race who had settled in the area of Samaria. This intermarriage created a people group that was considered ceremonially unclean and racially impure by the true Jew and were to be avoided. To understand this consider the fact that back in the early history of our country, whites and blacks would not drink from the same drinking fountain or use the same restrooms.

“So [Jesus] came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour” (John 4:5 – 6 ESV). We find Jesus, wearied from traveling, sits down on the stone ring around the well opening to rest. It was about noon, the sixth hour. “A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)” (John 4:7 – 8 ESV). As you look carefully at these two verses what observations can you make? He felt led to go to Samaria with his disciples because that is where he is now. He sent all of the disciples away to buy food leaving him alone at the well. He sat on the edge of the well to be easily noticed. And fourth he asked a woman who came to the well to draw water, who in the eyes of a Jew was to be avoided, for a drink.

Here we find Jesus doing the unthinkable of pursuing a relationship with a woman who is considered of little to no value and is to be avoided. A powerful example of this is the documentary “Veil of Tears” (See official movie trailer). All people are created by God in his image and even though fallen they all have value in his eyes. It is our responsibility to approach each person as a possible choice God has made for salvation. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17 NASB). We must not forget that and as Jesus opens conversation with this woman his desire is for her to respond spiritually. The question is, Will she?

Prayer

Lord, your conversation with an undesirable about spiritual things sets an example for me to share your love with those I am uncomfortable with. Father, I find this similar to loving my enemy and offering forgiveness for my mistreatment. How do I love and forgive those who may persecute me, even if they might take the life of a family member? Father, I know from my study of persecution that my brothers and sisters of eastern countries understand this much better than I do. I pray your blessing on them.