Page 60 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

Woman at the Well. Jesus and His disciples embarked on a
journey north to Galilee. The normal route north was to cross
over to Jericho, then travel north along the Jordan River. Jews
took this route to avoid passing through the territory of the
Samaritans (the right route). But Jesus insisted in going directly
north from Jerusalem through Samaria (the left route). On the first
day of the journey, Jesus came to a well in Sychar. It was about the
sixth hour or about noon time for us. It would have been the heat
of the day and most people during that time would have been
resting. Most women would come early in the morning or late in the
evening to collect water. However, Jesus had sent His disciples away
(John 4:8), and we see the woman approach the well for water.

As the story progresses, we learn that this woman regularly comes to
the well at this time of day (John 4:15). She has been married 5
times, and is currently living in unrepentant sin, by living with a man
who was not her husband (John 4:16-18). These circumstances point to her desire to avoid the shame
that would come by attending the well when other women were present. And yet, Jesus, in His divine
intentionality sought to meet this specific woman at this specific time.

The woman was a Samaritan and Jesus struck up a conversation with her. Jesus crossed ethnic, moral,
and gender barriers that most of His contemporaries felt should not be crossed. The Samaritans were
considered by Jews as “half-breeds”. They were a mixture of Assyrian and Jewish blood and were
considered impure. They ridiculed each other’s holy places. In fact, the Judeans had destroyed the
temple on Mt. Gerizim nearly two centuries before this
meeting. Samaritan drinking vessels were unclean, so
Jesus’ request for water probably led the woman to think
that He was not a very religious Jew.

In their conversation, Jesus revealed that He was the
source of Living Water. He told her that she was married
five times and that the man she was living with was not
her husband. This shocked her that He knew these things
about her and that she had never met the man. Finally,
she said, I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called
Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus
said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” - John 4: 24-26
This is a very important verse, because it is a direct
statement from Jesus declaring Himself as the Messiah! An ancient well in Sychar

The disciples were astonished to find Jesus talking with this woman. While they said nothing, they
probably had some very harsh thoughts toward Jesus’ actions. Jesus demonstrated to them that He
came to love and save those who are lost.

By reaching out to the Samaritans, Jesus showed that his mission was to all people, not just the Jews.
In the book of Acts, after Jesus' ascension into heaven, his apostles carried on his work in Samaria and to
the Gentile world. Ironically, while the High Priest and Sanhedrin rejected Jesus as the Messiah, the
outcast Samaritans recognized him and accepted him for who he truly was, the Lord and Savior. He

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