Opening Scripture: John 4:3-26
Background of this story: Who were the Samaritans?
The Samaritans accepted only the five books of Moses and rejected the writings of the prophets and all the Jewish traditions. They dabbled in idolatry and eventually became a core part of their belief and culture. The Samaritans worshiped on a mountain and not in Jerusalem with other Jews. Samaria became a place of refuge for outlaws and excommunicated Jews. Jews and Samaritans did not mingle. Over the years there was a great hatred between the two nations.
- In this story, JESUS identified Himself as THE WELL that came looking for us
Moral of the story: IT’S TIME TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO THE WELL
- JESUS REMOVED BARRIERS TO THE WELL – SOCIAL, POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS
- Jesus was aware of the social, religious barriers separating the Jews from the Samaritans
- Jesus PLANNED this trip to Samaria. “He NEEDED to go through Samaria”
- Jesus INITIATED the conversation: “Give Me a drink”
- JESUS REMOVED THE BARRIERS TO THE WELL -THE PAST
- The fact that she came alone to the well signifies that she as an outcast
- She was marked by her own people to be immoral
- JESUS WAS NOT CONDONING HER PAST BUT RATHER WAS CHALLENGING HER TO LET GO OF THE PAST, CHANGE HER WAYS AND DRINK FROM WELL
- JESUS REMOVED THE BARRIERS TO THE WELL – THE LOCATION
- This is how Jesus addressed this: Read 21-24
- The bucket is limited by location. The well has no borders, no walls, no conditions
- “The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city” (Verse 28)
- She traded her bucket for the well
- WOULD YOU TRADE YOUR BUCKET FOR THE WELL?
- Why settle for a bucket when you can have the entire well?