John 4 records an absolutely astounding dialogue between Jesus Christ and a Samaritan woman. The context of this whole dialogue is about thirst, both physically and spiritually.
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
The words "our father Jacob" indicate this woman felt a kinship to Israel.
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Samaria was a mixed bag of paganism and worship of God. In 721 BC (approximately), the Hebrews existed in two camps, the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. Assyrians invaded the kingdom of Israel which was located in Samaria. The Assyrians carried off many (not all) of it's inhabitants to their own land. They also sent groups from their country back into Samaria. This introduced five different languages and religious cultures into the Samaritan culture. Conquering kingdoms often did this to keep control of areas they have conquered. This started the mixed bag of worship practices found in Samaria.
24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah (the god Nergal), and from Ava, and from Hamath(the god Ashima), and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. II Kings 17:24
Many theologians have commented on this woman's morals. Others have said she had had 5 husbands die while married to her. Poor woman!! There just might be something deeper here that fits with the whole context of John 4. This woman was obviously respected as she brought practically the whole town back to meet someone she considered to be the Messiah. She herself seemed spiritually thirsty and was obviously a leader as seen in subsequent verses.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. John 4:16-18
Now check out this interesting verse in Isaiah:
Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Could the one that is not her husband, be the God of the Hebrews?
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. John 4:19-22
The beauty of John 4 is in the next verse. Samaria was a hot outreach area in the book of Acts! Regardless of where they worshiped, Judeans, Gentiles and the Samaritan half-breed will be united in the glory of the new birth:
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
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