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ney. (4) He was divine—Hè knew all things. (5) The first revelation of llim self as Messiah was made to an outcast woman. Outline: (1) The Weary Savior, vs. 6-15. ' (2) The Wound of a F riend, vs. 16-26. (3) The W itness fo r the T ruth, vs. -27-30, 39-42. ( i ) THE WEARY SAVIOR, vs, 6-15. The scene is laid a t the well of Jacob, near Sychar (Shechem of thè Old Testam ent) 34 miles northw est of Jerusalem , where Joseph was buried. Jesus was on His way from Judea to Galilee and ' “m ust needs go through Samaria” not because th ere was no other route, bu t because, in Samaria th ere was one soul needing the help which He alone could give. The Sam aritans refused all in te r course w ith th e Jews who passed through th eir te rrito ry on th e ir way to the feasts at Jerusalem , and often way laid them. They were people' of mixed blood,-—Esar-haddon having colonized men of Babylon in Samaria (Northern Israel) when the captivity took place. (2 Ki. 17:5-24; 1 Chron. 5:26.) They had no one to teach them about the tru e God. (2 Kings 1 7 :2 6 .). The Samaritans- did not a t th is time suppose th a t Jesus was retu rn ing from a. feast, so they did not molest Him. A fterwards they refused to h ear Him. (Luke 9:51-53.) When sending out the didciples Jesus speaks of the Sama rita n s as .Gentiles (Matt. 1 0 :5 ). “ T h e s e tw e lv e J e s u s s e n t,f o r t h a n d c o m m a n d e d th e m , s a y in g , G o n o t In to th e w a y o f th e G e n tile s , a n d In to a n y e lty o f th e S a m a rita n s e n te r y e n o t.” This is the most human incident in the history of Christ,—weary, hungry, He sat on th e well, seeking w ater from a Sam aritan woman. Why was she th ere at noon? It was the custom of the women to come in the early morn ing and evening to draw water, but she was an outcast woman, and desired
Introduction: This fourth chapter of John contains many suggestive themes for lessons, besides th e one which we have chosen. For instance: T rue and F alse Worship, vs. 21-24. The object of worship— the Farther, (v. 23.) The m anner of worship-—by. the Spirit. (Rom. 8:26.) The place of worship— anywhere. (1 Tim. 2:8.) The temple of worship— the h eart of believers. (1 Cor. 6 :19 , 20.) Who are to worship? Whosoever will. A Missionary Message, vs. 35-38. (1) The Will of the F ath e r, vs. 31-34. (2) The White Fields, vs. 35-38. (a) • An Invitation to Service, “L ift up your eyes.” (b) An Incentive to Service, “He th a t reapeth r e c e i v e t h wagés.” (c) An Inspiration for Service, “The fields are white to the h arvest.” . ( 3) The Word of Testimony, vs. 39-42. The H ealing >of th e Nobleman’s Son, vs. 43-54. However, the principal lesson and the one we have chosen for exposition is th a t of “The Woman a t th e W ell” whom we have named “Thé Immoral In qu irer” in contrast w ith “The Moral In qu irer” (NicodemUs); in th e third chapter. This lesson gives us five facts about Jesus. (1) He cared for one soul. He "m ust needs go through Samaria.” Why? Because th ere was one woman there th a t needed H is help. (2) He was a soul-winner. (3) He was h u man—He became weary w ith the jo u r (1) F a ith ’s B irth, v. 47. (2) F a ith ’s Trial, v. 48. (3) F aith Perfected, v. 51-53.
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