RE News
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
John 4:5 - 15
Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well.
Gospel Reflection
The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well is rich in historical and cultural nuance that enhances our understanding and interpretation of this passage. When he asks the woman for a drink, Jesus breaks two cultural taboos: firstly, for a man to speak directly to an unchaperoned woman was somewhat scandalous; secondly, as the woman points out, Jesus is a Jew and directly addresses a Samaritan – another scandal. Jesus successfully gains the woman’s attention by ignoring these social taboos but she fails to fully understand his reference to ‘living water’.
The reference to the woman’s five husbands has often been construed to suggest that she was either a prostitute or a serial widow. However, it may in fact be a reference to the Samaritans binding themselves (wedding themselves) to the five books of the Torah and ignoring the writings of the prophets and other later writings. This reference is followed by another fact that set Jews and Samaritans apart: the Samaritans worshipped God on a local mountain, Mt Gerazim, whilst the Jews held that true worship could only take place in Jerusalem. Jesus dismisses this major difference between Jews and Samaritans by declaring that soon ‘true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth’. He is indicating the much more personal relationship with God that he models; not bound up by ritual, place and law.
Having set the scene for breaking down the walls between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus then reveals to the woman unequivocally that he is the promised Messiah. The woman rushes back to the town to spread the good news about Jesus. She becomes a missionary for him; and a remarkably effective one. The people are convinced by her testimony and flock to Jesus where they have their own personal faith encounter with him.'
Historical Context – Jews and Samaritans
Samaritans descended from one of the tribes of Israel. They held faithful to Mt Gerazim as the first place for the worship of God even when the prophet Elijah declared a new place for worship. In the 7th and 8th Centuries BCE, the Assyrians descended on the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. The Samaritans in the north assimilated with the Assyrians, whilst the Jews were taken into exile in Babylon. When the Jews returned from exile, the Samaritans offered to assist in the reconstruction of the Temple. This infuriated the Jews and led to centuries of distrust and animosity.
Gospel Focus – Transformation
The woman has obviously come to the well to draw water for herself. Her encounter with Jesus is a moment of transformation for her. At first, she fails to comprehend his reference to ‘living water’ and never being thirsty again. However, in the end ‘the woman put down her water jar and hurried back to the town.’ Leaving her water jar behind was a sign of the transformation that had taken place within her. She had indeed drunk of the living water of Jesus and no longer paid attention to the need for water that had brought her to the well.
By Greg Sunter