Sunday: The Setting of the Encounter
Daily Lesson for Sunday 27th of October 2024
Read John 4:1-4. What was the background issue that led Jesus through Samaria?
The Pharisees discovered that the disciples of Jesus were baptizing more people than did those of John the Baptist. This situation could create tensions between John’s followers and Jesus’. The disciples of John, quite naturally, were jealous for their master’s reputation and status (compare with John 3:26-30). John’s impressive reply was that he must decrease, but Jesus must increase (John 3:30). Probably to avoid confrontation, Jesus departed Judea to go to Galilee. Samaria provided the most direct route between those two locations, but it was not the only route possible. Devout Jews would take the long way around, going east through Perea. But Jesus had a mission in Samaria.
Read John 4:5-9. How did Jesus use this opportunity to open a dialogue with the woman at the well?
Image © Kim Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Jacob’s well was located right next to Shechem, while Sychar, where the woman was from, was about a mile away (1.5 km). Jesus sat by the well while His disciples went into the city to buy food. He had no access to the cooling water of the well. When the woman came to draw water, He asked her for a drink.
In John 3:1-36, it was surprising that Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews and a rabbi, would lower himself to come to Jesus. He came by night to avoid discovery. But, in John 4:1-54, the woman hides in broad daylight, perhaps avoiding contact with other women who came either at the beginning or end of the day when it was cooler. After all, why did she go such a long way to fetch water, and in the middle of the day when it was hot? Whatever the reason for her being there, meeting Jesus would change her life.
What scene unfolds next? A Jewish teacher is compared to a Samaritan woman of poor reputation. What a contrast! And yet, in this exact context, a remarkable encounter unfolds.
|
What are some of the taboos in your own culture that could hamper your witness to others? How do we learn to transcend them? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath. |
(20)
While the origin on the Samaritans is somewhat disputed. the main narrative suggests that they remained in Palestine while the Jews were deported to Babylon. What is clear is that the biggest cause for division was the Samaritans believed they were the true believers and faithful to their Torah. They believed the Temple should be on Mount Gerizim. The Jews of course think they are the true believers and they Temple should be in Jerusalem. They uphold their Torah which the Samaritans believe is a corrupt translation influenced by Babylon. (Sounds a bit like some of the arguments we have about English translations of the Bible.)
Essentially it was an argument about who had the most original Torah, and where the place of worship should be. The Jews despised the Samaritans and if they had to make the journey between Jerusalem and Galilee would often make the detour through Perea to avoid them.
Incidentally, the Samaritans still exist but are almost extinct. They occupy the same area as they did in Jesus' time.
It is noteworthy that Jesus and his disciples took the route through Samaria. It is also interesting that the disciples were shopping for food locally. This was a deliberate trip and would have been a very "out-of-the-box" experience for the disciples.
Maurice: You mention that the Samaritans still exist. What people group are they known as today, and do they still hold the same beliefs?
Modern Samaritans prefer to be known as Israelite Samaritans in the modern world (probably to avoid confusion with other uses of the word.
There are about 900 in Israel and about 3600 in other parts of the world, mainly Brazil. They still hold that their Torah is the pure Torah and the Israelite Torah is corrupt. And they still hold that Mount Gerizim should be the site of the Temple.
Thanks
My question where was Jesus and his disciples getting financing from to buy food
The Bible does not say anything about their finances. We know that some of the disciples were business people before they followed him and they could have contributed funds. They could also have received support from the general populace.
Thanks God bless you
1.Gender Roles: In many cultures, interactions between men and women, especially in public settings, can be restricted. This can create barriers when attempting to share or discuss the Gospel, particularly stories that involve cross-gender dialogue, like that between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
2.Race and Ethnicity: The historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans highlights ethnic tensions that can still exist today. Taboos related to race may prevent open discussions about inclusivity and acceptance, which are central themes in Jesus's interaction with the Samaritan woman.
3.Cultural and Religious Beliefs: Different communities may have strong adherence to their own belief systems, viewing other religions as taboo topics. Engaging in conversations about Jesus in cultures with entrenched religious views may provoke resistance.
4.Social Status and Class: The Samaritan woman was in a marginalized position within her society. Discussing the acceptance of marginalized individuals can challenge social norms, and this may lead to discomfort in certain cultures that uphold class divisions.
5.Personal Relationships: The woman's marital history (having multiple husbands) may touch on personal or moral taboos in various cultures, making discussions about sin, forgiveness, and transformation sensitive subjects.
6.Historical Grievances: The historical conflicts between different communities (such as Israelis and Palestinians) can complicate discussions around faith and reconciliation, particularly in areas where those tensions are still alive.
Thank you, Simeon, for your food for thought. You gave all of us answers to the last question in today's lesson to help us recognize the barriers that we might need to overcome by faith in His Word. Our prayer: "We can do all things through Jesus Christ, our Lord."
Asking a question to preach a sermon was one of Christ methods to reach people. Look at the exemplification of Christ with the woman at the well. John wrote, He was tired from a long walk and sat down at the side of a well. Along came a women who was going about her daily routine. Jesus asked her may I have a drink? Did she say, here you draw it for your self, no she drew it for him. Then Jesus hit her with another opener, where is your husband? She did not have a husband. He said yes you have had many? She was taken back and said, I believe you are a prophet. Jesus next opened His identity with, you give me water from the well I can give you living water. She was overwhelmed, and and could not contain herself ran to her village and told every one of her experience of meeting a man who knew her history and very thoughts.
So the question today is:
How do you see Jesus using this opportunity to open a dialogue with the woman at the well? What do you get out of this example of witnessing to this woman as she is about her daily task of drawing water from the local well?
It appears that most of Jesus’ ministry took place around the Sea of Galilee. Should His travels lead Him to Judea, He would take the direct route through Samaria. He held no prejudices against the Samarians and probably felt more comfortable going through their land than He felt in Jerusalem or Judea. It is said that “Ancient Israelites often crossed the Jordan River to avoid traveling through Samaria because of centuries-old animosity between the two groups.” [Google AI Overview] Also, going through Perea would add 3 days to their journey.
When reading the story about the 'meeting at Jacob's well' with the Samaritan women, I get the impression that this encounter was anticipated and planed for. The Samarians lived in the area of the ancient southern kingdom of Israel, whereas Judean people occupied the southern part of their ancestral homeland, but Jacob was the father of both people.
I see this encounter as another example of the inclusiveness of the 'Faith of Jesus' - His Way of living. His message is about bringing all peoples together, as shown by the Gospel being preached to all nations. What separated the Samarians from the Judeans is the same which also separates mankind - prejudices, preconceived notions of one's superiority in one form or another. Any prejudices or acts of discrimination based on cultural or ethnical differences give way when accepting that we are all brothers and sisters and equal in the sight of God.
Christ transcends all cultural taboos. What is a taboo to my partner may not be one for me. How can we understand each other, then? I believe that by the grace of God and by the unity in Christ, we can be made as one! (This might be especially true for spouses).
Thank-you JC Zielak it is true for me and my wife also. I was taught long ago that as we draw closer to Christ we draw closer to each other. Good thought JC.
Simeon – thank you for sharing this valuable, detailed analysis regarding the many real-life settings where prejudice and discrimination can prevent people from freely engaging with each other as 'equals'.
Truly understanding and wholeheartedly accepting Jesus as ones Way of Life and Light will result in accepting the 'brother/sisterhood' of all mankind in the flesh; even more so as a brother or sister in the Spirit of Christ which brings about the end of all that divides humanity.
The author of the lesson asked the question, "What are some of the taboos in your own culture that could hamper your witness to others? How do we learn to transcend them?
Praise God that according to Gal. 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Therefore, because of Jesus genuine Christians will transcend all taboos in order to share the gospel and accept all people as equal from every nation, kindred and language.
Let's draw from the well that never shall run dry, Jesus' well. Thanks you Lord🙏
Social class and skin color and education background lead to prejeduce
It is probably better to say that they have the potential to lead to prejudice. We are always going to have different social classes, skin colour and education, but it is the condition of the heart that leads to prejudice. In Christ, these differences do not matter.