He needed to pass through Samaria. So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” John 4:4-7 WEB
This passage begins the description of an encounter Jesus had with a woman of Samaria. The event took place as Christ traveled from Jerusalem to Galilee. The primary reason Jesus left Jerusalem and headed back to Galilee was to avoid conflict with the Pharisees. Christ’s disciples had baptized a large number of new disciples in his name and the religious leaders did not like the swelling of attention that Jesus’ ministry was getting.
Samaria lies directly between Jerusalem and Galilee. The city of Sychar lies in what we call today the “West Bank” in Palestine. The inhabitants of Samariawere typically hated by the Jews because the Samaritans had both Jewish and Gentile heritage and religious beliefs. Most purebread Jews would cross the River Jordan and travel north on the eastern bank of the river to avoid contact with the Samaritans.
Rather than go around the region, Jesus traveled through the land with a purpose. His meeting with a woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well in Sychar gave the Lord an opportunity to demonstrate his omniscience as he told her the story of her life without ever having met her. Beyond that, the interaction of Jesus and the Samaritan woman showed that salvation was intended for all of mankind and not just the Jews.
Savior of the World
At Jacob’s well, Jesus asked a woman of Samaria for a drink. In return, he gave her the revelation that he was the Messiah, sent by God as the Savior of the world. Impressed with Jesus’ message and amazed with his ability to describe her life’s story, the woman ran and told her kinsmen that she met the promised Savior. As a result, large numbers of Samaritans came to speak with Jesus. After hearing his teaching, many placed their faith in him.
Unlike most religious Jews of the day, Jesus clearly loved his Samaritan cousins. He says before his ascension recorded in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for offering salvation to any who repent from sin and follow your Son in faith. Thank you for making a way for sinners to find forgiveness. Guide me with your holy word. Give me wisdom to share your love with the world. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Gather Together
