February 22, 2023
Perfect Timing
“There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink. For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore, the Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” John 4:7-9 (NASB)
Many times, in life there are people we would rather not associate or deal. Some may even be from our own families. I would say most come from associations we had with people in our past. These people might have caused a problem or are somewhat of an embarrassment for us to be around. They might have done something or said something which would cause us to keep ourselves from them. They might even be someone who is not “like” us or “think” like us. The following story gives some insight into breaking norms of the way we associate with people. Jesus breaks those norms, and His timing is impeccable.
“For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” As we discovered from yesterday, Jews would take a longer, more coastal route than travel through Samaria. This was to avoid those called Samaritans. Their hatred of these people had a long history. The schism occurred back to 10 B. C. with Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. As a result of his son’s actions the kingdom was split into two; the northern (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah). The northern kingdom fare much worse as the years progressed. In 721 B. C., the Assyrian empire took Israel. Many of the Israelites were taken into captivity. Some remained though and intermarried with Assyrians. These became half-Jewish, half-Gentile people known as the Samaritans. When the remainder of the Jews were allowed to return in the 5th century, these Samaritans opposed the work of rebuilding Jerusalem and Nehemiah’s efforts. These Samaritans began their own religion which the Jews considered heresy. So, this schism was well founded in the Jewish mind and caused them to have no dealings or associations with them. They were unclean and half-breeds.
“For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” The word, sugchraomai; means to associate with.[1] Not only deal with the person, but not even associate with. When Jesus met with the Samaritan woman at the well, He was well aware of the Jewish view. He was also aware of who would be coming to the well. Jesus knows all. His arrival was at a perfect time, and He knew who He would associate. Just one woman. This woman arrived when no one else would normally be there at the well because of her sin. His speaking to her broke from the traditional view of the Jews by not only associating with her, but now even speaking to her. As a step further, Jesus asked for a drink from the well. To top it off Jesus broke from Rabbinic tradition. Jewish rabbis would never associate with a person considered unclean. Samaritans were unclean.
There will be times in this life where you will run into someone you don’t like. Maybe there is a stigma, personal prejudice, or preference you have about the person. Take this example from Jesus today. Go to those who need to hear the gospel, even the tough ones. God views all as sinners in need of salvation. As I close today, a friend this week mentioned he saw a guy he really didn’t like in church Sunday morning. He said “as I watched him, he was listening carefully to the message. Then I realized something. Maybe I was wrong about him all along…”
[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).