The Woman at the Well: Part 1
The division between Jews and Samaritans was long and bitter (for its historical roots, see 2 Kings 17:24-41). When the exiles returned from Babylon and attempted to rebuild Jerusalem's temple and walls, the Samaritans tried to stop their work (see Ezra 4:7-22 and Neh. 4:1-5). Incidents such as this, as well as the dispute over the true site for the temple, fueled hatred between both groups. On one occasion a group of people tried to insult Jesus by calling Him demon-possessed and a Samaritan (John 8:48).
The most direct and quickest route between Jerusalem in the south and Galilee in the north was through Samaria. However, when making this trip, people would often take a detour around Samaria—despite the inconvenient longer distance in order to avoid their long and bitter enemies.
Look up the following passages in Luke. What do they reveal about Christ's attitude toward Samaritans? What should this tell us about what our attitudes toward those traditionally despised by our own culture must be? Luke 9:51-56, 10:30-37, 17:11-19. 
On more than one occasion the Gospel writers show Jesus traveling directly through Samaria. One time on His way from Judea to Galilee, He stopped at the Samaritan town of Sychar—the site of Jacob's well and near Mount Gerizim, the holy place for the Samaritans, the site of their temple. It was here that He had His famous exchange not just with a Samaritan but a Samaritan woman (see John 4).
Much to the woman's surprise, He asks her if she would draw water for Him to drink. The request shocks her, because Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan and a woman!
As Jesus speaks to this woman, He breaks several cultural taboos. The apostle John says that when he and the other disciples returned, they "were surprised to find him talking with a woman" (John 4:27, NIV). It was not considered appropriate for a man, even a religious teacher, to be seen talking to a woman in public—especially, of all people, a Samaritan woman.
| Jesus did not let social custom interfere with His mission. How do you find the right balance between not giving social offense and doing what is right? |
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