The Woman At The Well Series

September 26, 2020

Jesus was becoming very popular and the religious leaders became aware that more people were coming to Jesus and being baptized than were being baptized by John the Baptist. Wanting to avoid controversy Jesus left Judea and headed for Galilee – Scripture tells us that He HAD TO GO through Samaria. The Holy Spirit was leading Him to a divine appointment……. {John 5:19}

Background:

Samaritans were the descendants of foreign captives – brought into the region by the Assyrians – and the remnant of Israel who were living in the region after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC. Over time these groups intermarried and their children adopted a form of the Israelite religion.

Tensions with the Jews began after the return of the exiles in 537 BC {2 Kings 17:24-41; Ezra 4:1-2}. The Samaritans offered to help rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Their offer was refused, so they built a rival temple around 450 BC on Mt. Gerizim mingling the worship of God with the worship of idols. This temple was destroyed by the Maccabees in 110 BC. As a result, the Samaritans sought instruction from the Jews concerning true worship, however, they clung to idol worship and refused to acknowledge that the true and only Temple was in Jerusalem.

By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, Jews and Samaritans despised each other.

Jacob’s Well was located in a valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal – near the ancient town of Shechem. It was the location of significant OT events {Gen. 12:6; 33:18-34:31; Deut. 11:29; 27:4; Joshua 8:30-35; 24:32}.

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It was the heat of the day and Jesus was exhausted by the time His little group came to the town of Sychar, so, while the disciples went to buy food, He rested at Jacob’s Well. Not long after, a Samaritan Woman came to draw water and Jesus did the UNTHINKABLE…. He asked her for a drink.

SW: You’re a Jew. I’m a Samaritan WOMAN --- and you’re asking ME for some water?

J: If you knew WHO it is that is asking for water, you would ask him for the living water he desires to give you.

SW: You don’t have a bucket and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well?

Jesus seemed to have the same problem everywhere He went – being misunderstood. He was talking about the living, purifying, refreshing and transformational water of His GRACE {unmerited favor}, realized through the power of the Holy Spirit that would lead to salvation and everlasting life.

• Isaiah 12:2-3 - Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

• Isaiah 44:3-4 - For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

• JC Ryle {Holiness 317}: Christ is that Fountain of Living Water which God has graciously provided for thirsty souls. From Him there flows an abundant stream for all who travel through the wilderness of this world. There is an endless supply of all that men can need – pardon, absolution, mercy, grace, peace, rest, relief, comfort, and hope. It is His office to receive sinners. It is His pleasure to give them pardon, life and peace. And the words of the text are a proclamation He makes to all mankind – “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink”

All she saw was a weary, thirsty traveler asking for a glass of water….

Jesus didn’t immediately satisfy her curiosity about who He was, but with great sincerity said:

J: Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. As a matter of fact, it will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Finally, He had her attention and her curiosity was aroused. It began to dawn on her that He was not talking about the water found in Jacob’s Well. She still didn’t understand that Jesus wasn’t talking about a glass of “miracle” water that would forever satisfy her thirst, yet with remarkable faith she asked for the water He was offering:

SW: Sir, give me this water so that I won't have to keep coming to the well….

Jesus changed the subject:

J: Go get your husband……

SW: I’m not married

J: You are correct, ma’dam…. The truth is you’ve been married 5 times and the man you are living with is not your husband.