NT Characters: Samaritan Woman

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.Introduction: Women and JesusHe never belittles them.He interacts with them in all purity and respect.He notices them -- viewing them as subjects (persons) and not objects. They are neither sex objects nor servants nor "extras" on the set. They are precious to the Lord, and so should they be to us.He was willing to drink from the (ritually unclean) vessel of a Samaritan.He treats them as equals in the area of discipleship. This rabbi "talks theology" with her!Text: John 4:4-42Other scriptures referred to:John 8:48Genesis 29:10Jeremiah 2:13Zechariah 14:8Revelation 22:1Joshua 8:33Deuteronomy 16:16John 1:41, 12:21The woman's dawning realization of who Jesus isA Jew (4:9) -- a stranger, a man"Sir" (4:11)"Prophet" (4:19)"Messiah" (4:25-26)What we learn from this womanDon't write certain people off.Many social distinctions divide; in Christ God brings together.A broken, "damaged" person can still be transformed through the presence of Christ.Sometimes the outsider is the hero of the story.When you truly believe you have good news, you share it.God truly loves all people.FurtherThe origin of the Samaritans dates to the 8th century BC (2 Kings 17), to the time of the the Assyrian invasion and captivity."Samaritan women were judged to bear the ritual uncleanness of the menstruant from their day of birth (mNidd. 4.1; tNidd. 5.1)." Cited in Tai Ilan, Jewish Women in Greco-Roman Palestine (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson, 1995), 103."Talk not much with womankind," said Yose b. Yohanan of Jerusalem (mAbot 1.5).In Eastern Orthodox tradition, this woman is known as Photine (Greek for "luminous [woman]" from phos, light).Despite the openness of Jesus towards women as seen in this story, some readers still criticize Christ and Christianity for being misogynist. After all, it is protested, there were no women among apostles. And yet the 12 apostles are clearly modeled on the 12 patriarchs (all male). To remain above suspicion, the inner circle of the traveling band, who even slept together, had to be male. It appears there were no Judeans or Samaritans among the apostles, yet we know the Lord's heart on the matter.