John 4:1–26

Read the passage.

Moreso than most stories, the cultural context of Samaritans in first-century Judea is important for understanding why Jesus and the woman from Sychar say what they say. Samaritans were descendants of the northern kingdom of Israel, conquered by the Assyrians in 721 b.c.. When the Assyrians were themselves conquered by the Babylonians, the Israelite kingdoms were reunited. At some point, however, a schism arose and the northern tribes built their own temple to the Lord and followed their own interpretations of the Law of Moses, rather than listening to scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem. The animosity between these two groups was so bad by Jesus’s time that Jewish travelers would often avoid Samaria altogether and cross the Jordan River twice to get from Jerusalem to Galilee. Jesus defies this trend and goes straight through Samaria, but He gets tired in the middle of the day and stops to rest at Jacob’s well.

Cultural norms go almost completely out the window when the anonymous woman comes to the well. While drawing water was seen as the woman’s role, it is strange for her to be here in the heat of the day. Perhaps she is avoiding the other women of the town, who would normally be there around sunrise. It is strange that Jesus, a Jewish man, would speak to her at all, much less ask her for a drink. Samaritans were not as strict about ritual cleanliness as the Jews, so Jews would not use the same eating and drinking utensils as Samaritans as to maintain purity. (This makes me wonder what the disciples’ shopping trip in the town looked like.)

In His typical fashion, Jesus responds to her surprise with cryptic allusions that make sense in the context of the whole Gospel but which she takes literally. Eventually, though, He reveals His supernatural knowledge of her past and present circumstances, and she becomes convinced He is the Messiah. We must not be distracted from the truths Jesus teaches her, though. He tells her that the hour is coming that it will no longer matter where someone worships God because they will be worshipping in spirit and in truth. The Jews (are supposed to) know of the promised salvation that comes from their people, but it won’t matter what your background is as far as receiving that salvation is concerned. The Father seeks out those who would worship Him in spirit and truth.

Let us all worship You as You deserve, for You are exalted.