Shadowing Jesus, Part III

Lenten Series

Woodstream Church
Sunday, March 19, 2017
John 4:1-10  HCSB

Due to cultural differences, we don’t appreciate how shocking the incident between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well was to the people of that time.  Not only was social contact between Jews and Samaritans unheard of, but a holy man, a prophet, would not associate with a woman with a poor reputation.  Also, in that culture, a single man meeting a woman at a well indicated courtship intended for marriage.  Abraham’s servant met Isaac’s future bride Rebekah at a well, Jacob met Rachel at a well, and Moses met his wife Zipporah at a well.  While the wives of the patriarch’s were virgins, the Samaritan woman was far from that, having had five husbands, and was currently living with a sixth man who was not her spouse.  Jesus asked her for water, but His main interest was in redeeming her soul from judgment.

Jesus Is Thirsty.  As we shadow Jesus in this 40 days of Lent, we understand that God wants us to share His thirst to save souls from sin. We are reminded as we fast and pray during Lent, not to thirst for water, but for souls.
He Teaches Us How To Draw Water From A Rock.  The relationship between Samaritans and Jews was rocky at best, stone cold at worst.  They were divided over spiritual matters including pedigree, rival temples, priesthoods and scriptures.  Jesus came to Jacob’s Well in Samaria, and drew waters of faith from a lowly outcast at the well.
Jesus Offers His Bride A Nuptial Bath.  The Jews believed that the Messiah would institute a new covenant to restore Israel, God’s Old Testament bride, from the judgment due to Israel’s infidelity.  In keeping with pre-wedding rituals of a bride taking a nuptial bath in running waters, Christians viewed baptism as our nuptial bath.  The nuptial waters that flowed from His side at Calvary were confirmed with the nuptial waters of the Holy Spirit being poured upon the Church in Pentecost, purifying us.