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He had to go through Samaria on the way.

Posted by RuthAnn Nicholls , 27 February 2011 · 1626 views

John 4

 

Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, "Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John" (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them-his disciples did). So he left Judea to return to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way.
(John 4:1-4 NLT)

 

I have come to story of the woman at the well. This is an amazing event!

 

It's really great to take my time to study these events in the life of Jesus.

 

In John 4:1 Jesus learned the Pharisees were beginning to pay attention to him because of his popularity, which had now become more than John the Baptist. Evidently Jesus didn't want any political trouble right now.

 

He had been on the eastern side of the Jordan River in Judea and decided to take the trip (walk) back to Galilee.

 

He went through Samaria. Most Jewish people would never travel through Samaria.

 

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Some history: When Assyria deported the Israelites in 722 BC at the fall of the northern kingdom, they resettled the land with captives from other countries.

 

These people had their own gods and they combined their worship with worship of the Lord God and Baal in a perverted kind of religion. When the Israelite descendants returned to the land in 539 BC to renew the worship under the Law, there was a total rift between them and the people in Samaria, religiously and politically.

 

The Samaritans opposed the rebuilding of the Temple.

 

Later during the Maccabean era (about 175 BC), the Samaritans accepted Hellenization to their religion and dedicated their temple to Zeus.

 

By the time of Jesus a very strong rivalry and hatred existed between the Jewish people and the Samaritans.

 

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Interesting, verse 4 states Jesus 'had to' go through Samaria.

 

He had to go through Samaria on the way.
(John 4:4 NLT)

 

I suspect this is part of Jesus' mission; he had to go there.

 

The Greek word used here is ???? or dei. Defined by Thayer as" it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper;"

 

Ever wonder why you are where you are?

 

I think, no, I believe I am placed daily in places where I can serve the Lord.

 

In the mornings I try to remember to ask God to show me where I can serve him, who I can share His love with today.

 

I believe I am put in places just as Jesus had to walk through Samaria.

 

There he shared the Good News with the Samaritan woman!
There he showed her his Love!

 

As my mentor, I know I need to follow in Jesus's footsteps. I too have to go there.






Thank you so much for sharing this blog post. :D
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RuthAnn Nicholls
Mar 10 2011 08:02 AM
Thanks for your comment, Patti. I'm learning so much from studying this gospel. Sometimes I think what God has for me is just for me. But sometimes I think it might strike a cord for another.
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