THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL 

THE BACKGROUND OF SAMARIA

Under the rule of King Solomon’s son Rehoboam the kingdom of the Hebrew people was divided in half. See 1 Kings 12.  In the north in 900 B.C.  a rebel named Jeroboam broke from the nation ruled by Rehoboam, establishing the northern kingdom of Israel with 10 of the tribes The ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel are: Asher, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Joseph [2 tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh], Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun. The two tribes of the southern kingdom of Judah are: Judah and Benjamin. Note that Levi is not included because they had no set territory but cities of the Levites were scattered throughout the 12 tribes. Jeroboam would go on to establish their own place of worship versus Jerusalem in Bethel 1Kings12:25 – 33. The Assyrians in 721 B.C. would defeat the nation and take them into slavery. Whilst away the pagan rulers would fill the land with heathens. When the Hebrew people returned they would intermarry in the northern kingdom – Jew with heathen. Thus they were neither one nor the other- Jew nor pagan. For the ‘pure’ Jewish people of the south kingdom this represented why they hated the Samaritans so such – idolatry and schism. *** Even when they returned to the south kingdom in 538 B.C. and built the Temple in Jerusalem they refused to allow the Samaritans to participate in any way.  Ezra 4:2  Ezra 9 and 10  Nehemiah 13 . And so in 400 B.C. the Samaritans built their own Temple on Mount Gerizim.  The Samaritans believed that the Patriarchs at one time worshipped here.  See 1 Kings 16:24 – 24. It was destroyed in the 2^nd century B.C. Thus Samaritans were not pure bloods, they had history of idolatry, schismatic, and although the believed in the God of Israel they for example only accepted the first 5 books of the Law, and no prophetic books etc. To touch them, to even travel in their land made a true believer impure. This is the context of this Samaritan Woman at the Well whom Jesus leads to faith and witness.  

John 4:3 Jesus left Judea and started back to Galilee. 4 But he had to go through Samaria. It appears that often enough even Jesus would have gone around the region of Samaria so as not to become impure. But this time he “ had to “ – meaning that either he had no choice geographically or rather He had no choice – He had to do this work of this day      

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.  Jacob’s well was there. Syhcar or Sichem was the capital city of Samaria Genesis 34.  This land was given to Jacob            ( Israel ) gave to his son Joseph. Genesis 36. Note that the Samaritans believed only the Patriarchs and thus the root of Abraham etc. All things of the Patriarchs were leading to Jesus Christ. This is the moment when Jacob’s Well takes on its true importance.  

Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.  It was about noon. The Gospel of John thus far identified the divinity of Jesus but here He is tired – a human feeling. And yet even feeling tired He did not shrink from His mission. Even at noon day He is not wearied or complaining of the hot sun ** She is there at noon time- the hottest part of the day. Why ? She is a woman, a Samaritan, lower class ( servants did this job) and has had 5 husbands and living now with one. Thus the only time to go to the well is noon. Her sins are very apparent to all – there is no hiding them.   

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. Through the Gospel we do not know her name but each time we see her title – Samaritan woman, thus her religious state is all important. This is one of the longest recorded conversations that Jesus has with some-one – it must be all important ! The conversation is so intense that  He actually never does get the cup of water !                                                                                                              Jesus thirsts for water at noon day but he also thirsts for the salvation for all – on the cross - ‘ I thirst ’.   Jesus interacts with her while no-one else will. Note how this dialogue goes – what can I learn from it ? There is common ground between the Jews and the Samaritans and Jesus uses this in dialogue. His teaching starts here. See how He does it.   She is here below shown that she is ignorant of a. who Jesus is AND b. what He offers ( life-giving water ) 

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God  and     who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”

The well is 100 feet deep and is spring fed. She is proud of the well and her Samaritan history. Deep – faith is deep. You must lower the net within deeply.  Note that now Jesus does not directly answer her – He could have said straight out – I am the Messiah, I am greater than Jacob etc but now see how Jesus continues the dialogue ~ ( He often uses this teaching method eh ) Note that her title for Jesus thus far is – “sir”.  

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; ( meaning – yes – I am greater than Jacob and you agree right that you will get thirsty again )   but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”  She starts to understand – it takes patience to bring about faith **

Conversation regarding her 5 husbands now takes place.  Her title below for Jesus is now “Prophet” Ironically she thinks that Jesus is prophet as to her husbands but actually He is prophet as to the future of faith in the world.    

“I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

This refers to the two places of worship in our introduction.  As she poses this statement to Jesus is as if to test him – if you are a prophet then solve this puzzle. She expects Him to say you must worship in Jerusalem only. But Jesus says – the following – either one is going to be correct. He will then unite the Jews and the Samaritans as He unites Jew and Gentiles; free and slave; men and women.  

Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews.

     The Samaritans sought to worship God without the Jewish lineage of faith and worship. This is also not correct.  

But the hour is coming, ( this is a common phrase in Gospel of St John ) and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Worship God in Spirit ( spiritually ) and truth. This is a ‘third’ kind of worship. One was on mount of Jerusalem; second one on mount of Gerizim; but now third one is in spirit and truth .

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”

She says that I shall know the Messiah because he will clarify all things to me and us … guess what .. that is what Jesus is doing. See how He teaches and leads her on her own fruition.                                                                                                  Jesus said to her,  “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”                                  I AM – the Name of God. Now she is ready for faith.  

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”

First notice the timing – they arrive now , when the dialogue is complete and she now believes – how beautiful the timing of God.  They are astonished – do THEY get this mission of Jesus ? Do they know how to evangelize? Do they know how to treat people ? **

The Samaritan woman leaves the water jar and goes to the town – come follow me - leave everything and follow me.  Because of her testimony many believe in Jesus.  And remember she was the shun of the town! They a. believe in Him b. come to Him c. invite Him to stay.  This is the process of belief.  

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to     believe    in him. When the Samaritans    came to him,    they invited him to     stay    with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Compare Nicodemus – chapter 4 - with the Woman at the Well chapter 5 .               N does not move ahead – does not believe – is by night – tells no one until after Jesus’ death when he helps at the cross.  

SHE MET

SHE LEARNT

SHE CAME TO BELIEVE

SHE WANT TO TELL OTHERS

 QUESTIONS

1.    What if true worship in spirit and truth ?

2.    What does the ‘ teaching method’ of Jesus tell us ?  How have you tried to evangelize ? Is it tiring ( like Jesus was tired )  Filled with patience?

3.    The Woman at the Well was the last one we may think to spread the faith. Do you know of a person who is a surprising source of faith ?

4.    No sin can keep us apart from Jesus – even 5 marriages and now living common law. Comments please.

5.    HOMILY TITLE