I think this is a interesting story about this Samaritan woman. First of all knowing that the Samaritans were racially mixed people, with Jew and Gentile blood. Now although they too worshiped the Hebrew's God Jehovah, they were not of the pure bloodline of God's chosen people, so therefore not considered in line for salvation, same as the Gentiles. Though maybe not quite as despised as the totally 'pagan' Gentiles, they were still looked on as dogs and the Jews avoided all contact with them as well. The Jews were so contemptuous of them that they would even take a longer route and go around Samaria rather than going through Samaritan territory.
Now you can see that Jesus is beginning to break down these walls of scorn by not only passing through their territory, but Himself communication with a Samaritan and a woman at that.
John 4:27 At this point his disciples arrived, and they were astonished that he was talking to a woman. Yet no one said, "What do you want from her?" or, "Why are you talking to her?"
So Jesus is teaching the disciples a valuable lesson. And He went so far as to go into the Samaritan town and spending 2 days there (I'm sure the disciples went with Him as well), speaking the truth, by which many believed.
John 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there for two days.
v. 41 And many more believed because of what He said.
Jesus also told the story about the Good Samaritan precisely because the Samaritans were despised by the Jews. The disciples were beginning to learn that God is not a respecter of persons, but it was a process that was slowly being shown to them over time, little by little to change what was so embedded in the Jewish mind. Yes this is the beginning of God setting aside the physical Israel and choosing a spiritual Israel.
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Many are called, but few are chosen, and the last shall be first and first shall be last. Israel was hand-picked of all nations to be God's example of how a nation can be blessed and prosper when they obey and love God. Israel did not pass the test. God proved through Israel, that the carnal mind cannot keep the laws of God, nor can the carnal mind live God and love neighbor. So God is calling out a people who are not in a place of honor in this world. Poor people in the city, farmers, peasants, unlearned, people to a large extent.
As in the bidding to the wedding feast, God said bid the poor, maimed, the blind, etc., to come to the feast (of salvation). Paul said,
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that NOT MANY wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak thing of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and thighs which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to being to naught things that are" (I Cor. 1:26-28).
I know that I fit into this bunch of social rejects. But thank God He is making KINGS out of peasants!
So God is now calling a "spiritual Israel" who obey from the mind and heart, seeing that that is where God has placed His Holy Spirit. And so the "Children of the kingdom" (those who were in line for he throne--Israel) are set aside unto God chooses from the Gentiles a people to bear His Name. And then, Israel of old will be grafted back into the tree of life (Rom. 11), all Israel will then be saved, as well as the rest of Gentile world.
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mercy, peace and love
Kat
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Topic: The woman at the Well (Read 5390 times)