This is Part 1 of an 8-Part Series on Women (and Men) in the Bible
Many people are at least somewhat familiar with the story of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman at the well (See John 4:1-42). Typically, the focus of this story tends to be on the fact that she was a Samaritan woman with what would have been considered a "shady" history with men; the emphasis always seems to be on the moral differences or the implications of her identity as a many times divorced, Samaritan woman. However, there are other, equally as important, implications to this story that have nothing at all to do with morality.
It is the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, and He and His male disciples are traveling from Judea to Galilee, and they have to pass through Samaria on the way. Around noontime, at the heat of the day, they stop in the Samaritan village of Sychar, and Jesus' disciples go into the village to buy some food, leaving Jesus, tired from the walk, sitting alone at Jacob's well (a famous well in Old Testament scripture). Soon, a Samaritan woman comes to the well to draw water, and Jesus, having nothing to draw water with, asks her if she will give him a drink.
"The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, 'You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?" (John 4:9)
Nothing is a "coincidence" with God, and even the fact that this woman encountered Jesus at Jacob's well was significant. Jews and Samaritans shared much of the same religious heritage and history - they both recognized the Old Testament scripture and the historical significance of Jacob's well. However, their culture and traditions surrounding their religious beliefs were very different. It reminds me of the tension at different times in history between Catholics and Protestants; instead of focusing on their shared beliefs, they emphasize and exaggerate the differences in their religious and cultural traditions and doctrine surrounding it. Jesus and the Samaritan woman have some back and forth about this, and Jesus alludes to the fact that He came to put an end to all of this doctrinal squabbling (see John 4:20-21).
Jesus and the Samaritan woman have a conversation about who Jesus is (the Messiah) and the hope, salvation, and abundant life He can bring her. Incidentally, there are those who believe Jesus never really claimed to be the Messiah - the Savior; that He was just a teacher or a prophet. The Samaritan woman even speculates about this as well (John 4:19). But Jesus repeatedly professed to be the Messiah (see John 4:26), and He frequently asked people to affirm that; make no mistake about it, what you believe to be true about who Jesus is, is of the utmost importance to Him. (Mark 8:27-29)
Frequently, we have to have some sort of a personal encounter with Jesus in order to be convinced of who He is, though, and, in this case, Jesus had told this woman details about her life that a mere human being couldn't possibly have known (which is why she and many others, upon first encountering Jesus, wonder if He is a prophet).
I think it's interesting that this particular part of the encounter with Jesus actually came first; the conversation about religious practices came after. She had a supernatural encounter with Jesus, and He told her details about her personal life that no one could have known, and then she quickly shifts the conversation to religious hang-ups. Personally, I don't think that's a coincidence; I think there is a tendency to shift the focus to religious doctrine and start defending our strongholds (whether they are religious, political, cultural, or material) whenever God gets too personal with us.
When this story has been preached in the past, not only has the focus typically been on moral differences as opposed to religious/doctrinal differences, but there typically isn't any mention at all of the male disciples' reaction to Jesus' encounter with her, or if there is, it is usually within the context of the bigger picture: that she was a Samaritan woman of ill-repute.
But while the scripture indicates that the woman herself expressed surprise that Jesus was reaching out to her because she was a Samaritan, the male disciples were shocked that Jesus conversed with her simply because she was a woman.
"Just then His disciples came back. They were shocked to find Him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, 'What do You want with her?' or 'Why are You talking to her?' (John 4:27)
Jesus was very deliberate and intentional about everything He did. At this point in time, Jesus' disciples were all men, and that would have been the cultural expectation at the time. As far as I can tell, this was His first recorded personal encounter with a woman (other than His mother). The apostle John, the author of this particular book of the Bible, wanted to make a very clear point by including verse 27: Jesus' behavior was sending a very distinct message to the men, and it was shocking to them! While the cultural gender roles at that time dictated that Jesus should not have cared about, nor concerned Himself with women, Jesus was contradicting them. As He frequently did throughout His ministry, Jesus was drawing attention to something about the way they had been doing things (especially within the religious community) that needed to change, and setting the example for how things should be done. He was, in essence, demonstrating to His male disciples, "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?" (Isaiah 43:19) By the end of His earthly ministry, He would not only have female disciples, but He would have women who played key roles in accomplishing His mission and His purpose.
© I Lift My Voice, 2022.
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