Jesus discovers that his ministry is attracting both positive and negative attention. And his baptizing activity actually grew his popularity, though it was not Jesus who was baptizing, it was his disciples. Jesus felt he needed to relocate for a while and comes to a familiar area of Galilee. His journey to Galilee required a trek through Samaria. Historically, there were some pitfalls to coming through this area, for Jews and Samaritans were not on the best terms. Jesus comes to Sychar near a plot of land that Jacob had given to Joseph, his son. It was to Jacob's well that Jesus made his way. He was tired from this entire walk and he was thirsty. Add to this that the hour was twelve noon, in many areas one of the hottest times of the day and so Jesus asks this Samaritan woman for a drink of water. The disciples were not with Jesus as they had gone into town to visit the taqueria as they were hungry. The woman balks at this request, "You're a Jew and I'm a Samaritan, how can you ask ME for a drink of water?" The Bible includes the footnote in most versions that state that Jews did not associate with Samaritans. They had a history, a long one, of not getting along. Talk about holding grudges!
Jesus counters that the woman does not realize who she's talking to. Nor does she realize that the one to whom she was speaking could offer her a new kind of water unlike the water at the bottom of that well. Jesus could offer her living water, a gift from God. The woman still thinking earthly thoughts does not see a bucket with Jesus so she naturally says, "How would you draw this water with no bucket? Where would you get living water?" She then asks Jesus is he's anything like Grandpa Jacob: "Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself as did his sons and daughters and his flocks and herds, and us all these years?"
Jesus responds that everyone who drinks from Jacob's well still gets thirsty. But the water that Jesus offers, he tells her, is a water that satisfies for all eternity. "Indeed, the water I give the thirsty who ask of me, will receive not only water, but a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman, of course, says, "Give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." Isn't that like you and me? She's still thinking earthly thoughts about work and labor reduction and if this magic water can indeed quench a thirst forever, that would cut down on the trips to this well!" Jesus then counters with a question that catches her where she lives: "Go, call your husband and come back." The woman replies, "I have no husband." Jesus says, "Now you're telling the truth when you say you don't have a husband. In fact, the truth is that you have had five husbands and the man you now have is not your husband. You're telling the truth."
Ouch. She believes Jesus is a prophet, for he knows everything about her. She then tries to get spiritual by saying that worship took place on the mountain near where they were and that she knew that the Jews had a different opinion about worship mountains. Jesus draws her back in by saying that the time was coming when she and others would worship the Father not on the mountain nor in Jerusalem; the difference is that, Jesus said, Jews know Who they worship and the Samaritan do not. What Jesus does know is that the time is coming when people would worship in spirit and truth, for these of the kind of worshipers that God desires. The woman said she knew that the Messiah was coming and it would be the Messiah who would explain all things to all people. Jesus declares, "I am the One, the Messiah."
Just as Jesus is making this declaration the disciples return and they are surprised to find Jesus talking to a woman yet they were afraid to get more information such as "What is she doing here?" or "Why are you wasting time talking to her?" The woman leaves the water jar there to return to her village and invites them to come and see "a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the messiah?" The people follow her to where Jesus is. The disciples want Jesus to eat something but Jesus is still talking spiritual things such as "I have food to eat that you know nothing about," which makes them wonder if someone beat them with the food for Jesus. Jesus explains that his food is to do the will of God. Jesus then tells them about the great work awaiting all who would seek to do the will of God. The harvest is ready and everyone has work to do. The work of reaping is ready for many worked before in sowing the seed and the harvest will come in with those doing the work of God. Meanwhile the village is there listening to Jesus and most because of the woman's testimony. They wanted to learn more so they invited Jesus to stay two more days with them, which he did. Verse 41 says that because of those two days many more came to faith in Christ Jesus. And it was because of his words. Jesus leaves for Galilee but not before telling them that a prophet has no honor in their own country.
Upon Jesus' arrival in Galilee the people there welcomed him. They remembered all Jesus had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival for he had been there. Jesus makes his way to Cana where he had performed his first miracle of turning water into wine. This time the need was more somber. There was an important royal official whose son lay sick and close to death in Capernaum. The man goes to Jesus and begs for the son's healing. Jesus knows that many will not believe unless they saw signs and wonders. The man counters that his son was dying and Jesus simply tells the man to return home for his son would live. The man believed enough to leave and on the way home, his servants came with news that the boy was living. He naturally asked at what time this healing occurred and it was exactly the same time that he had been speaking with Jesus. This became Jesus' second miracle.
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