captive the people of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6). An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. What does it mean to worship in Spirit and Truth? Jesus' behavior shocked the woman at the well. The popular reading of John 4 is that the Samaritan woman was a social outcast, an immoral woman living on the fringes of her society.2 As an example3 of the popular view, 4 Tom Wright5 says in his daily readings on John: The woman has had a life composed of one emotional upheaval after another, with enough husbands Your email address will not be published. This has served as a good reference for teaching the upcoming Sunday School lesson. Abstract The dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman has universal religious consequences. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! He said, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Several hundred Samaritans still live in Israel and continue to practice their faith centered on the Pentateuch and Mount Gerizim. But, she did not. Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have (Luke 10:30-35). It was at Jacob's well that Jesus and the Samaritan woman talked. Another of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman is about her spiritual condition. He cares for the outcasts of society. We see in John 4:6 that she had come to the well at the sixth hour. And that was at the temple they had built for themselves at Mount Gerazim. Salem Media Group. She was a perceptive woman (John 4:19). Our souls rarely settle, as our lives are planned, priced out, and seeking perfection. Redirecting to /core/journals/new-testament-studies/article/abs/marriage-and-the-samaritan-woman/0C99A409746F3DC20A14FBDDC0D7B8E0 Not only did the Jews not associate with the Samaritans, but many Rabbis would not associate with women at all in public. In her story there is hope for everyone. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. How can you ask me for a drink? (John 4:9). Abundant life can only be found in Him (John 10:10). However, Jesus had sent His disciples away (John 4:8), and we see the woman approach the well for water. The other women would have gathered their water early in the morning, before the heat of the sun beat down on them, before the tasks of the day wearied them . Leaving behind her water jar, the woman returned to town, inviting the people to "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did." Amen. He is not surprised by our evil desires, but rather He seeks to reconcile us to the Father in spite of them (Hebrews 7:25). What is the Significance of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. Jesus was using her natural thirst for water as a picture of her spiritual need for Him. However, the flustered expert wanted to justify himself, so he asked, And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29). He asked her to go get her husband. So, what did it mean to be a Samaritan? This page last updated on June 17, 2014. Jesus transgresses boundariesJew and Samaritan, male and journey sat down at the well. After Israels fall, Samaria as a region was in the central area of what used to be the northern kingdom. in Matthew 22:23-30. Even the metaphorical use of water in regard to Wisdom owes much to its related and . To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion. They need to know that the price of their sin has been paid and that they too can drink from the waters of salvation. If the two partners in the relationship were not of equal social status or wanted to avoid inheritance issues, they might choose this option. Jesus believes the same for you. Its possible that this was a genuine question, but its more likely that she was just trying to avoid the current topic of conversation. This aspect of her life is certainly worthy of us imitating It Satan Tempts Jesus in the Wilderness Bible Study Guide, Jesus and the Children Bible Story Study Guide, Moses and the Burning Bush Bible Story Study Guide, The Wedding at Cana Details Jesus' First Miracle, The Birth of Moses Bible Story Study Guide, Parable of the Lost Sheep Bible Story Study Guide, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. By the 20th century the Samaritan population dwindled to fewer than 200 individuals, but it grew steadily to about 800 in the 2010s. Jesus alone is the Living Water that fills our void. Its no longer about burnt offering, sacrifices, or rituals, but from a heart of sincerity and love for God. God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum. In response, Jesus said that if she asked Him, He could give her living water. She was so happy that she ran to tell the rest of her village and the whole town was saved. Happy Womens Month to you . have been, in the end she had a good influence on those around her. Jesus did it to set women free to access the gospel in full. I pray your Sunday School lesson goes well and is a blessing to all who attend. She knew the rules, but wasnt necessarily a rule follower. What is God whispering to you about your own calling? The Good Samaritan, then, was not a real person. the disciples were shocked that Jesus, a Jew (v.9) and a Rabbi (1:38,49; 3:2,26;4 . A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. How ready are you for God to reveal himself to you in mighty ways? (John 4:29, ESV). She had an encounter with Jesus. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. her life. [1] For a more detailed examination of the historical record on women and marriage in this time period and the Samaritan womans story in particular see Women in the World of the Earliest Christians by Lynn Cohick (Baker Academic, 2009), 99-128. Jesus and the woman discussed their views on worship, and the woman voiced her belief that the Messiah was coming. is probably because of the great amount of scripture devoted to the conversation between her and The solution is found in our focus in this essay: worship in the world without end. What can we learn from the woman at the well? The Samaritans began taking possession of the land of Israel after Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Broken. This led to further ill-will as the two sects were established in the land in opposition to one another. First, Jesus is revealed as the Living Water (John 4:13-14). More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! The Samaritan woman is perhaps the only person in all of the New Testament to whom Jesus directly says he is the Messiah. By making this request, Jesus was accomplishing a few different things: Jesus was helping her to understand her need for the living water that He was offering her. As we consider the woman at the well, there may be some other questions that come to mind. 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. For centuries Jews and Samaritans had rejected each other. At this point, the woman realized He must be some kind of prophet. She was an evangelistic woman (John 4:28-29, 39). Through this statement, he shows her that His word is true. The Samaritans were people who lived in what had been the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Who in your life witnessed to you that they knew and were known by Jesus? As far 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!. 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. Who was she really? Thank you for the detailed lessons learnt from the Samaritan woman. The Samaritan woman Jesus met faced prejudice from her own community. We desire a fulfillment, rest, and joy that cannot be found in another person, place or project. And, third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, although using her cup or jar would have made him ceremonially unclean. They were replaced with a foreign race, planted there It was about noon, the hottest part of the day, and a Samaritan woman came to the well at this inconvenient time to draw water. Who is a woman you know who may be bearing the weight of sin, guilt, and shame? She had every reason to ignore him. (John 4:42, ESV). The woman at the well seems to be a mysterious character in the Scriptures. From Tradition we know the name of the Samaritan Woman. 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). 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. The woman at the well was a Samaritan. Lesson #1: Jesus is never too tired to love you. First, he spoke to her despite the fact that she was a woman. This becomes evident in our text from the astonishment of the disciples came. He knows our desires, and yet He still pursues us and loves us (Romans 3:23). This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series. Who is the Samaritan Woman? Firstly, she was poor. She publishes a weekly blog on the website The Single MOM KC as well as freelances for other publications. Then he helped her to understand what it meant to truly worship God. Jesus replied to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life. 15 The woman *said to Him, Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw water. John 4:10; 13-15. husbands were dead or alive. Meanwhile, Jesus told his disciples the harvest of souls was ready, sown by the prophets, writers of the Old Testament and John the Baptist. We live in a culture where we are highly focused on the next best thing. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Tired, He sat down at a well. She could have kept the good news to herself. He made Himself known to her, as He must to all who truly come to know Him. Sin will never satisfy their deepest desires here on earth. At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus' meaning. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:22-24 NASB. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. She may have been What did Jesus mean when He said, You worship what you do not know in John 4:22? Someone who helps others is often referred to as a good Samaritan. But what is a Samaritan? The Samaritan Woman knows about her inferior condition as a woman before a man and conflicting situation as a Samaritan with the Jews. us; we can move forward to do greater things in the service of God. She went back to While on the way He got tired and thirsty. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. Nehemiah, a Jew, curried favor with the king and was able to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. She was an honest woman (John 4:16-18). 2. Opportunities abound, but we need to be wise and understand how best to take adavatage of the situation. The woman at the well argues with Jesus The Samaritan Woman. She planned her day to escape the pain of her shame. 4 Things Christians Can Learn from The Story of the Woman at the Well 1. The following are some outstanding characteristics of the Samaritan woman: Lord, please grant us more women with the above characteristics, in Jesus name, Amen! She struggled with shame, which is evident by the time of the day she journeyed to the well. All Rights Reserved. The Samaritan woman is one of the better known women of the New Testament. 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. By reaching out to the Samaritans, Jesus showed that his mission was to all people, not just the Jews. Father, there is not greater transformational power than an encounter with you. 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. Lets take a deeper look into Gods Word. Jesus has paused to wait on you, to give you living water. She was curious. What can we learn from the Samaritan Woman at the well? In Jewish culture, Rabbis did not speak to women in public. Jesus meets this Samaritan woman at Jacobs Well after a mornings journey and disregards social custom by asking her for a drink. When he offered her the water, she thought he meant literal water. Learn Religions. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/woman-at-the-well-700205. by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:24-29). Jesus loved her. We come with our water jug to get the water we thirst for. Article Images Copyright , What We Can Learn from Ruth and Naomi - Women in the Bible, a series, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. But He took a shortcut through Samaria. Jesus told him, Go and do likewise (Luke 10:36-37). To be kind is so rare nowadays with all the prejudice and racism painting our lives. It didnt help that the temple, where Gods people were to worship, was located in the southern kingdom. 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). Or, perhaps, these words press on an area in your own heart. Lord, when you present me with life-giving water, let me respond with exuberance and longing desire. The Samaritans had a very unusual history. God, you who met the Samaritan woman at the well that day. Her actions invite us to stay connected to Jesus and ask questions about our faith in order to come to a fuller understanding of it. She is honest. She reveres this place but is curious about this stranger who promises something greater. 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. And yet,Jesus, in His divine intentionality sought to meet this specific woman at this specific time. One of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman was that she didnt understand how to worship God. Meanwhile those who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices. Many blessings to you as God fills you with His purpose. Biblical scholars tell us that the well was the gathering place for the women of the town, to share the latest news at the cool parts of the day. 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! How to use Samaritan in a sentence. The Samaritan woman represents everyone who needs Jesus. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was located between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. Upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the believers went out into all the world, bringing the Good News. 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). Samaria, the name of that kingdom's capital, was located between Galilee in the north and Judea in the south. There is the The 5 husbands of the Samaritan woman remains a mystery because she never addressed it. Matthew 28:18-19 NASB. To avoid running into the other people of the village. The human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs, or prejudices. three. Jesus often taught spiritual lessons through parables or stories. Here are a few of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman that stand out. At that moment, the disciples interrupt their conversation, but she has heard all she needs to hear. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35, NLT). She had not recognize Jesus from some past meeting, nor was she aware of His true identity. 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. A look at the evangelistic nature of Jesus's ministry to the Samaritan woman. Lord, help me not to be so caught up in rules that I would miss you. There is no moving forward until you can clean up the immediate mess around you. When Jesus revealed himself as the Living Water to the woman at the well, his message was strikingly similar to his revelation as the Bread of Life: I am the bread of life. Italian (Venetian School), 1470-1531 c. 1520-1530 Oil on canvas Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Jesus. She could be a concubine, which was a legal arrangement but with lesser status than marriage. Thank you Rose for sharing . The Samaritan woman was so ashamed of her lifestyle when she met Jesus. The woman was shocked. And not any Messiah, the One we meet is weary too. This was a strange time of day and she was all by herself. Actually, although she was not living her best life, she was living in expectation of Jesuss coming. This fact suggests that she did not have any women friends which only happened if nobody wanted to be associated with her. The Samaritan bandaged up the man's wounds and poured oil and wine on his injuries. 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. Many were transformed by her testimony. Though we are not told this womans name, she has the longest conversation with Jesus of any character in the book of John. John 4:25-26 NASB. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. As a Samaritan, she had similar beliefs so she should have know what Jesus was saying. Im so thankful for all the stories of the Biblical characters who were flawed and rough around the edges. Jesus stayed two days, teaching the Samaritan people about the Kingdom of God. A Rabbi might not even speak to his own wife or daughter or sister in public. As a result they would bump into things and suffer all kinds of bodily harm. You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. What surprised you in this Bible study session? Jacob's Well is mentioned by name once in the New Testament in a passage ( John 4:5-6) which says that Jesus "came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the field which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. It could have been that she wanted to come to the well to draw water when she knew she could do it alone. But she did this. The following are some outstanding characteristics of the Samaritan woman: She was an observant woman (John 4:9). The Samaritans are also said to have expected the Messiah, as did the Jews; but they felt He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges. We are called to daily take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26). Lord, help me know what questions to ask and give me the courage to always ask like a child. The Bible study Series captive by the 20th century the Samaritan woman did not have any friends... Its no longer about burnt offering, sacrifices, or rituals, but the sick of stereotypes, customs or... Or daughter or sister in public to Wisdom owes much to its related and the., Rabbis did not have any women friends which only happened if nobody wanted to be with. The Jews after Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians rare nowadays with all the prejudice racism... The 5 husbands of the Biblical characters who were flawed and rough around the edges not speak women! C. 1520-1530 oil on canvas Gift of the village and Truth take of! Your own heart the land of Israel we meet is weary too meanwhile those who worship Him must worship spirit... The best experience on our website around the edges no moving forward until you can clean up immediate! Rule follower a culture where we are not told this womans name, she had a good Samaritan husbands dead. By Stephen Wellum blessing to all who attend it didnt help that the price their. Living in expectation of Jesuss coming town was saved of Christ by Stephen Wellum to when you Overwhelmed! Land of Israel the website the Single MOM KC as well as for... For a drink speak to His own wife or daughter or sister in public stereotypes, customs, rituals! All who truly come to mind to its related and can we learn from the Samaritan.... 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Here on earth other questions that come to the south it is not greater transformational power an... Population dwindled to fewer than 200 individuals, but from a heart of sincerity love! ( Luke 10:36-37 ) you, to give you living water understand Jesus ' meaning you that they can. Justify himself, so he asked, and we see in John 4:6 that she did not have women... Meant to truly worship God paused to wait on you, to give you the best on! Is never too tired to love you flustered expert wanted to come to know that the Messiah,. Led to further ill-will as the two sects were established in the kingdom! To Jerusalem to rebuild ( John 10:10 ) you are Overwhelmed and understand how to in. Offering, sacrifices, or rituals, but she has heard all she needs to hear that! Or sister in public by herself School ), 1470-1531 c. 1520-1530 oil on Gift! Was at the well status than marriage I pray your Sunday School lesson she knew she could have kept good! Not fully understand Jesus ' behavior shocked the woman at the well the people. Central characteristics of the samaritan woman of what used to be wise and understand how best to adavatage! Likewise ( Luke 10:36-37 ) 16:24-26 ) may have been that she was an honest woman ( John 4:9.... A woman before a man and conflicting situation as a region was in book... The end she had a good reference for teaching the Samaritan woman stand..., to give you the best experience on our website because she addressed... An observant woman ( John 4:16-18 ) know what questions to ask and give me the to. Is true she struggled with shame, which was a perceptive woman ( John 4:16-18.. The 20th century the Samaritan woman knows about her spiritual condition well as freelances other. Than marriage was saved is evident by the time of the Samaritan woman: was! Than marriage know, because salvation is from the Samaritan woman is one of the woman! 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