Destination Samaria

Read John 4:4-9, Focus on 4-6

Have you ever wondered about Bible translations and their accuracy? I had that question when reading verse 4. My version states “Now He had to go through Samaria.” Did Jesus really HAVE to go? Was this a correct translation?

How many sermons and teachings have we heard from others about Jews at this time in history avoiding the roads in Samaria? They would purposely go around the country if they needed to travel from Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside up to the Sea of Galilee and all in that area.

There was animosity between the Jews and those living in Samaria. Later in verse 9 of this chapter, the woman in this story even brings this to our attention.

This serves up an interesting awareness in this story. When Jesus and His disciples traveled through Samaria, they were not in a countryside that would welcome them with open arms. Would the Samaritans wonder why these men were passing through? Did Jews travel through this territory very often? If they did, what kind of emotional influences would dictate actions or words? Due to the usual tensions between the Jews and Samaritans, did the Jews truly usually avoid traveling through Samaria?

Back to the original question. Did Jesus really HAVE to go?

It was amazing to find how many versions of the English translations used the word had. There was one translation that used the word behoove. Ok, I needed to look that word up as it isn’t in my regular vocabulary. As I read the definition, what resonated was the word necessity.

Have you ever had an instance in your life where you had some plans to do something, but something came up and you knew you needed to change those plans? You HAD to move in the direction where you were needed. Your attention was required to take care of something, someone. You didn’t have to think about it for a while, but you instinctively knew that you had to go. It was necessary. You went.

Jesus had to go. There was someone He was to meet at a specific time and place, in Samaria.

There was a destination to go to. In a town called Sychar, there was some land that long ago, the patriarch Jacob had given to his son Joseph. On that plot of ground was a well. It was known as Jacob’s well.

A couple of items to note about these details. Isn’t it interesting that a prominent place in Israel’s history, which includes the Jews, was here in Samaria? What history, and what seeds are planted in places we reside or places we choose to visit? And why mention Joseph? There is a rich typology to discover in Joseph’s story that relates to Jesus. But that is for another time.

Jesus was tired and sat down by the well. In those days, the well was an important place for the community to go to get their water. There were various locations of where a well was available to where a town was established. In this instance we know that the disciples went into town to get food, so there was a distance between the well and the town.

In many instances in the Bible, we read where the women would be the ones that would gather the water from the well for their household. This was a regular task. How many women would walk out together to gather their water for the day? What kind of conversations would occur as they did this day after day after day? What kind of comradery would occur? This was a place of community. This was a place where a basic need of life was drawn from each day. The well.

And Jesus was tired as He sat down by that well. Some translations say weary, even exhausted.

Why would John want us to know that Jesus was tired? Did the Holy Spirit prompt him to write this to remind us that even though Jesus was of God, come to earth, He was also dealing with being human? He had to deal with the same issues our bodies experience.

One of the points that the writer of Hebrews wanted us to know is that Jesus has experienced the weaknesses that we deal with. He Knows.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Hebrews 4:15

At this moment He was tired from the journey. We are not told all the elements that created this situation.  Was it the terrain? Was it the atmosphere of them being Jews in Samaritan territory? Were His disciples talking up the situation of being in that area? Were they happy about that? Were they voicing their concerns? Was Jesus dealing with traditional viewpoints and teaching them as they were walking to this destination? Was Jesus tired physically and/or mentally?  He was human, dealing with the same tiredness we deal with.

Think about a time when you were tired. Was it a physical tired that you just couldn’t move another inch? You were ready to sit in that chair and maybe nod off a little bit, just to get a little relief? What about being mentally tired? You have dealt with work issues or home situations that just drained you. If someone wanted you to think up a solution to one more problem, you wonder if you could. You spot that book you want to read, but you know you can’t absorb another word. Even if you tried, you wouldn’t remember what you read the next time you picked it up. You were tired. You were weary.

Jesus was tired.

But He was there for a reason. It didn’t matter that He was tired. There was something He needed to do in that place and in that time. Can we relate? Have we had a situation where we are tired and need to keep going because there is something we HAVE to do? Where is the best place to go to get the strength we need to keep going?

He gives strength to the weary   and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,   and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord  will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

One of the treasures of a faith walk with the Lord is being able to pause for a moment, or more, and reflect on verses such as this one in Isaiah. Pressing into God in our weakness, our tired state, reaching out to Him by our spirit crying out via His Spirit within us. Asking for the strength and energy to keep going. Then we wait for the answer. In that silent moment, we reach out in faith to Him. For we know there is no other purer place to dwell for the true strength we need.

How many times in our tiredness have we reacted in a way we regretted later? How many times have we tried to move forward in our own strength, though there isn’t much left, and what is left is but a vapor that wouldn’t be able to move a fly?

In addition, we have an enemy that would love to provide a solution that would introduce chaos or strife, even if at the time it seemed only a small simple action or word. Wrong influences can be provided for us to grasp as we cling to a life rope that would bring us some kind of energy, strength, or even peace. In our tiredness, we cannot see that the action or word the enemy wants us to do will only bring more strife. Even more fuel to keep us tired.

Oh, how when we are tired and weary it can be so easy to find the easy way out, go take that nap when something else needs to be taken care of. Yet, if we think back on these kinds of situations in our lives, can we see that there is a time of rest? There is a time of refreshing that eventually comes. Even though we can be weary at the time, we are not required to keep that pace up. When we are in concert with the Lord, allowing Him to guide us through the situation we are in, He does provide the timing of our rest.

Sometimes during our weakest state, that is the time that the Spirit of God can move in a mighty way. All that is making us tired, we lay down and put aside. Then we look up and say, Lord, I’m an empty vessel. Use this situation, use me for your purpose. God then fills us up and moves in and through us. Yes, we are still tired, but we can watch Him at work in our situation. We’ve given Him the reins of the situation.

And now it is time for the Spirit to work in the little town of Sychar, Samaria. Though Jesus is tired, He desires to do His Father’s will. This was an appointed time. This was an appointed place. This was a time for the Spirit to move in and through Jesus the Messiah, at a well.

It was the sixth hour. It was about noon.  Was it a pleasant day? Or was the sun beaming brightly, without a wisp of a breeze, leaving one to crave shade and a refreshing drink?

Jesus looks up from His resting place and sees a woman approaching. No one else. No other women to keep her company or carry on a conversation. Here comes the woman, the reason that He HAD to come.