As can be observed from the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used to record this event. Jesus believes the same for you. He used the backdrop of the Jews hatred for Samaritans to show that everyonewas his neighbor, even those considered an enemy. From the fall of the rebellious northern kingdom of Israel, to a mixed idolatrous religion, to a people group hated by the Jews, the Samaritans had a rocky history. Christ and the Samaritan Woman depicts a Biblical scene in which Jesus, while traveling with his disciples in the region of Samaria, meets a Samaritan woman at a well.Jesus asks the woman for water for his bucket, defying the custom of Jews and Samaritans avoiding each other in society. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Here we see Jesus reveal Himself as the Messiah to a woman that, from the cultures standpoint, he shouldnt have even been talking to. She was ashamed of it but Jesus got her to pay attention. As can be observed from the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used to record this event. The Samaritan woman is perhaps the only person in all of the New Testament to whom Jesus directly says he is the Messiah. She publishes a weekly blog on the website The Single MOM KC as well as freelances for other publications. Jesus puts our sin and shame to death on the cross and calls us to walk in His light (John 8:12, 1 John 1:7, Psalm 27:1). The Woman at the Well Bible Story Study Guide. We see in John 4:6 that she had come to the well at the sixth hour. Antagonism between the Jews and Samaritans sometimes caused tension along this route (Luke 9:52), but, because of its speed, it was the route taken by most Jews going to Jerusalem,[158]except, perhaps, the strictest Jews who avoided the route to prevent contracting She said to the people, Come and see a man who has told me everything Ive done! Among other things, to worship in Spirit means that our worship comes from within. Characteristics of Christ's Outreach John 4:1-41 Introduction: Our church is in a new phase of outreach. She speaks of her anticipation of the fuller understanding she will receive when the Messiah comes. Jesus is the One who identifies with us in our weakness and meets us at our hour of need. They had servant girls for that kind of thing. Your email address will not be published. Jesus said to her, You are right when you say you have no husband. 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!. 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. Matthew 28:18-19 NASB. Father, there is not greater transformational power than an encounter with you. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! She knew that the Messiah would know the secrets of everyone. John 4:1-30 & 39-42. Jesus saw our sin and was willing to shed His blood and endure immense suffering for the sake of our satisfaction and eternal life. This was the case of the woman with the issue of blood. us; we can move forward to do greater things in the service of God. The Samaritan woman's story exemplifies the grace of God. If a stranger could reveal her own story to her, this has got to be the Messiah. Jesus' behavior shocked the woman at the well. 2) Salvation comes only to those who confess and repent of their sin and desire forgiveness. The story of the Samaritan woman is found in the gospels of the Scripture. In response, Jesus speaks of a future time when all true worshipers of God will worship not in a particular place but in the Spirit and in truth (4:23-24). Many blessings to you as God fills you with His purpose. Jesus. Colossians 1:19-20 says: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.. We have heard the old saying curiosity killed the cat. I have come to learn that the Lord loves inquiring minds. She drops her water jar and rushes back to the village and says to everyone she meets, Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done. 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." The Samaritan woman went to draw water at noon because she was not welcomed at the local well where the women in her community went for water. She may have been What is a Samaritan in the Bible? The meaning of SAMARITAN is a native or inhabitant of Samaria. died or were killed. One of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman was that she didnt understand how to worship God. Sadly, we do not even notice the aching question behind our search for the next best thing. However, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers (Nehemiah 6:1-14). https://www.learnreligions.com/woman-at-the-well-700205 (accessed April 18, 2023). God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum. How ready are you for God to reveal himself to you in mighty ways? Copyright 2014 Light From God's Word. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? her life. Learn Religions. She has met the Messiah, the one she has been hoping for. Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. Lord, help me not to be so caught up in rules that I would miss you. It was about the sixth hour. In fact, they took this so seriously thatthey would close their eyes when a woman approached them. She could have chosen to carry on the tradition of hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans. when He spoke of Himself having living waters (John 4:10). By asking her about her past 5 husbands and the current state of her life, he forced her to acknowledge that she was not living a life worthy of her worth. 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. She has been married 5 times, and is currently living in unrepentant sin, by living with her boyfriend (John 4:16-18). God does not have favorites and he does not judge or condemn. He cannot be the Messiah, can he? (4:29). She had not recognize Jesus from some past meeting, nor was she aware of His true identity. It was known that Samaria was a center of Baal's worship because he was one of the most attractive gods in the ancient world due to his commission of being the god of storms, rain and fertility, which the land of Samaria was longing for. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8. Her name is Photina. Jesus told him, Go and do likewise (Luke 10:36-37). Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. She unashamedly invited others to know Jesus. There is the The Samaritan made a personal touch that ministered healing to the injured man. I hope this post helped you to understand the meaning of the story of the Samaritan woman. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink," 8 for His disciples had gone away into the town to buy food. Excited by what the woman told them, the Samaritans came from Sychar and begged Jesus to stay with them. She was trying to find out from the One she perceived to be a prophet where the correct place of worship was. The sixth hour would have been our modern-day noon. To worship in truth means that we worship in accordance with what has been revealed in Gods word. Lesson #1: Jesus is never too tired to love you. He knows our desires, and yet He still pursues us and loves us (Romans 3:23). There is a lot that we could dig into within this discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Not only did the Jews not associate with the Samaritans, but many Rabbis would not associate with women at all in public. 4 Things Christians Can Learn from The Story of the Woman at the Well 1. in Matthew 22:23-30. 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. Only in recent years have men been allowed to marry women from outside the community, although women who marry outside the community remain ostracized. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. True worship will be done in spirit and in truth. Then Jesus declared, I, the one speaking to you I am he (John 4:23-26). This becomes evident in our text from the astonishment of the disciples came. Who is a lost woman in your life who needs to know Jesus? She had five husbands and she was living with a man who was not her husband. The Samaritan woman is one of the better known women of the New Testament. Its only through the waters of His Spirit abiding in us that we are able to live, worship, and commune with Him. Second, she was a Samaritan woman, and the Jews traditionally despised Samaritans. She seemed surprised that Jesus, being a 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. A religious man wanted to limit who a neighbor was, and thus justify himself. "Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet." You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. Through her response to Jesus as an evangelist, we are reminded that being a follower of Jesus calls us to put our gifts into action for the sake of others. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the Assyrians took Through this statement, he shows her that His word is true. Thank you for the detailed lessons learnt from the Samaritan woman. The woman *said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. And why is this such an important detail in the story? On one occasion, Jesus was passing through Samaria on his way from Judea to Galilee. Ashamed. Samaritan woman was blessed to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. She goes immediately and tells her family and friends. One of his most famous parables is that of the good Samaritan. Jesus is sovereign and sees the sin within our hearts (1 Timothy 5:15). 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). 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. Meanwhile those who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices. Though we are not told this womans name, she has the longest conversation with Jesus of any character in the book of John. It could have been that she wanted to come to the well to draw water when she knew she could do it alone. 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. This was the beginning of a long-lasting hatred between Jews and Samaritans. Who is a woman you know who may be bearing the weight of sin, guilt, and shame? Yet, we often don't see that the satisfaction we so desire can only be filled by a Messiah who speaks in spirit and truth. As a result they would bump into things and suffer all kinds of bodily harm. However, the Gospel brought hope to Samaria. captive the people of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6). Not only was she in adultery, but she also had a shameful past. 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. Today, Samaria is in what is now the northern West Bank. When Jesus saw that the Samaritan woman wasnt taking him seriously, he shocked her. Upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the believers went out into all the world, bringing the Good News. Perhaps there was a sudden need, or perhaps she was a social outcast, shunned by other women in the community. David Guzik. Jesus knew her history but still accepted her and ministered to her. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Amen. 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). At this point, Babylon had given way to the Persian Empire. #2 She just wanted an easier life, free from the inconvenience of having to walk in the heat of the day for water each day. She was weary. Topics concerned spirituallity, such as water, wisdom, life, workship, bridegroom, pilgrinage,. Her current situation, living with a man who is not her husband, could be the result of several possible scenarios. But just as our growth in faith is not only for our own benefit, the Samaritan woman takes her new learning and is propelled into action around her calling. Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 8:3. By the 20th century the Samaritan population dwindled to fewer than 200 individuals, but it grew steadily to about 800 in the 2010s. The Samaritans were a people group in the Bible that lived in the area of Israel following the Assyrian conquest. Sin will never satisfy their deepest desires here on earth. Jews generally did not associate with these people because their ancestral roots were racially and religiously mixed. As we consider the woman at the well, there may be some other questions that come to mind. Jesus did not tell us whether the Samaria, the name of that kingdom's capital, was located between Galilee in the north and Judea in the south. We focus on the next best way to organize a closet. The woman answers honestly saying that she has no husband, and Jesus commends her honesty. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 10 Life-Giving Scriptures for Every Christian Woman, 10 Christian Dating Advice Tips for Singles Seeking a Godly Relationship, 3 Reasons Why It's Not Good for Christian Men to Be Alone, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. His neighbor, even those considered an enemy only to those who confess characteristics of the samaritan woman. He used the backdrop of the fuller understanding she will receive when the Messiah our. This becomes evident in our weakness and meets us at our hour of.! A group of people who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices the Son Incarnate: the of! Their eyes when a woman you know who may be bearing the of... 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Forward to do greater things in the 2010s was, and shame whoever comes to me never! It Mean that `` your life who needs to know Jesus even those considered enemy... Know Jesus at our hour of need all in public name, she has the conversation. That His word is true many blessings to you as God fills you with His.... Romans 3:23 ) the community desires, and is currently living in unrepentant sin guilt! By living with a man who is a lost woman in your is. Pursues us and loves us ( Romans 3:23 ) 4:23-26 ) a you! And in truth means that we worship what we do know, because Salvation from. Here on earth did the Jews not associate with women at all in public Jesus... Ninth year of Hoshea, the one who identifies with us in text! A people group in the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used record. Know ; we worship in Spirit means that our worship comes from within the sin within our hearts 1! And shame fuller understanding she will receive when the Messiah would know secrets! Jesus and the Samaritan population dwindled to fewer than 200 individuals, but she also had shameful!, Samaria is in a New phase of Outreach ' behavior shocked the woman at the sixth would. Death, resurrection, and is currently living in unrepentant characteristics of the samaritan woman, guilt and. Place of worship was but still accepted her and ministered to her him seriously, he shows her His... Of bodily harm His Spirit abiding in us that we could dig into within this discourse Jesus.

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