Jesus Meets Unlikely People

Bible Passage: John 4:7-42

1. Jesus goes to Samaria (unlikely place) (4:4)

(a) King Omri named the capital Northern Kingdom “Samaria” (1 Kings 16:24)
(b) Assyrian king Sargon II captured Samaria in 722 BC
(c) During Persian time, Samaria was ruled by governors from the family of Sanbalat
(d) Ezra and Nehemiah rejected their offer to join them in the building of Jerusalem Temple
(e) Samaritans erected a rival temple on Mount Gerizim which was destroyed by John Hyrcanus in 128 BC
(f) They developed their religious heritage called “Samaritan Pentateuch”
(g) Herod the Great changed the name of Samaria to “Sebestieh”
(h) Jews of Judah and Samaritans had both political and religious rivalry
(i) Samaritans waited for “the prophet like Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15-18), who was called “Taheb” or “Restorer” who would restore worship of Jehovah in Mt. Gerizim

2. Sixth hour (unlikely time) (4:6)

3. Jesus develops a conversation with a woman (unlikely encounter) (4:7-26)

(a) A Samaritan (historical, religious, and social animosity existed between the Judeans and Samaritans)
(b) A woman with a questionable reputation (five divorces!)
(b1) Lonely with an empty pot
(b2) Religious but devoid of understanding how God works
(b3) Messed-up relationships

4. Jesus offers Himself to her—the Living Water (unlikely demand and offer) (4:11, 13-14)

(a) Empty pot
(b) Empty religion
(c) Empty relationships

5. Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman transforms her life (4:28-30, 39-42)

(a) Compare Samaritan woman with Nicodemus
(b) Samaritan woman introduces Jesus to her own people

6. Jesus tells that this is part of the “harvest”—pre-harvest fruit (34-38)

Take Away

Do not let your prejudices prevent you from reaching out to people around you because, Jesus accepts every one