The WellSampel

Just like the “Woman at the Well” in John 4, we pray that you’ll encounter the hope of Jesus as you journey through what we call a “Perspectives Study”.

What is a “Perspectives Study”?

A “Perspectives Study” invites us to study a story in the Bible while looking at life from their eyes, putting ourselves in their shoes and their world. In doing so, we can get a better look at what life was like from their perspective, and we can draw out nuggets of gold that are hidden deep within the story.

To understand her story, we must understand her history as a Samaritan. Samaritans were hated by the Jews. Why? Because initially, they had intermarried with people of other faiths, including those that sacrificed their own children (burning them alive). Over time, this division grew, and many centuries later, the division shifted focus from actions to identity. It was no longer about what they did (their sins) and became about who they were (their ethnicity).

Samaritans were deemed “unclean” by the Jews. In fact, when the Jews traveled from Judea to Galilee, they would travel about 150 miles just to avoid setting foot in the land of Samaria (directly through is about 70 miles).

You’ll read several passages regarding the division between the Jews and the Samaritans in a moment. For now, let's fast forward to the story in John 4, and look at verses 1-4:

“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria.”

Why did Jesus have to go through Samaria? Because Jesus knew this Samaritan woman needed hope. He knew that this Samaritan woman was in a “Living Drought” (by this, we mean that she is empty due to despair). Why?

She was rejected by the Jews because of the sin of her ancestors.

She was rejected by 5 husbands.

She was rejected by her own community because of her choices (which we’ll learn about later).

She feels the weight of her past, but what she doesn’t realize: so does Jesus.

It’s intriguing that the Pharisees were concerned about the numbers, but Jesus was concerned for the one. In fact, Jesus is concerned for anyone that’s in a Living Drought, living in despair, losing all hope. In the reading for today, put yourself in the shoes of this woman as you read about the history of division between Jews & Samaritans.

Do you know someone that’s in a Living Drought?

Pray that God would continue to reveal those that are in despair like this woman was, “the least of these” that are in your life. Pray that God would allow you to encounter them, and that when you do, they’ll be able to see the heart of Jesus, who “had to go through Samaria.”

Maybe you’re the one that’s in a Living Drought. We want to encourage you to keep hanging on to hope, because hope is on the way.