I know this all too well. Thats our first clue as to the meaning behind this phrase. A stranger. PHOTINI THE SAMARITAN WOMAN (c. 67) The Samaritan woman at the well is a figure from the Gospel of John, in John 4:4-26. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the kings court whose son was sick. In spite of the fact that He was wearied and probably never got that water He asked for! Many have speculated as to why she was there at this time of day to draw water, but Scripture doesnt tell us specifically;it just records Jesus's encounter with her and the effect that had on her. This woman is not at all insignificant. People Just Like Us - a Study of Biblical Characters; The Woman at the Well. Grab a copy of our Living Water: The Woman At The Well Bible Study. And to complete the teaching by an example, St. John shows how one can work with Jesus by adding to His work. By following the call of God on your life you make a difference and forge a way for other women to also be brave enough to follow their call wherever that leads. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. But the difference between the Old and New Testaments, while great, is chiefly that the one was a preparation and the other its fulfillment. This woman is a Samaritan and Mary is from a town called Magdala. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, Your son lives!, 52-53He asked them what time he began to get better. What you have said is true!' The woman said to him, 'Sir, I see that you are a prophet. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, Will you give me a drink? (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) They will reap this is work. I am so thankful to god I accidentally found this and read the story on the woman at the well. You are our Daddy, Abba, Father. Can you relate to her? Photini went way outside the norms of society in that era. 44For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. This is a refutation of the objection that man can add nothing to the work of God, something certain Protestants will scream and holler in objection to such Catholic beliefs and practices as: the priesthood, devotion to the saints, the sacraments, good works, purgatory, and indulgences. In verse four we are told, And he [Jesus] was of necessity to pass through Samaria. It seems plain, does it not? This post may contain affiliate links, read our privacy policy for more information. Who was the woman at the well in the Bible? - explorefaith Jesus speaking the truth in love to this woman transformed her into a vessel of living water that she brought to others in her town. Samaria and Samaritans have an interesting history in the Bible after Israel split into nations (Judah & Israel), both kingdoms fell into corruption and sin. As the Apostle John records his gospel account he describes the interaction between Jesus and the woman at the well in the first 42 verses of chapter 4. Oh, I am so glad to hear this! Free from the pain weve been dragging around with us and redeem us into a new creation. September 2022 Alberta Vadnais I love finding ways to feel God in my day, whether I'm going to work or cooking dinner. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 54This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. The reason for this journey was to avoid the Pharisees, whose suspicions were aroused by the fact that His disciples were baptizing and attracting many followers even more than St. John the Baptist had. The northern Kingdom fared far worse than the southern kingdom did, and it didnt help the relationship much that the temple where the people were to worship was located in the southern kingdom. Come down! However, the recorded conversation she has with Jesus at the well is the longest dialogue He has with anyone in Scripture. We can also see the virtue of the Samaritan woman herself. Set free, and with a purpose. The God who sees stepped into the middle of her story like the man possessed by demons, and even blind Bartameous not to condemn but to redeem. Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock? Jesus answered,Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. He told her to bring her husband, if she was to have His water. So great was the success of the mission, that the townspeople said to the woman: We now believe, not for thy saying: for we ourselves have heard him, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.. It comes from verse thirty-four: My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, that I may perfect His work. The King James Bible has, finish His work. The meaning is essentially the same. var c={ a:arguments,q:[]};var r=this.push(c);return "number"!=typeof r?r:f.bind(c.q);} 45Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. Salvation cannot come from error. When the Jews returned from the exile of Babylon in 538 BC, God, through the prophet Aggeus, instructed Zorobabel the Prince of Juda and Jesus the High Priest to rebuild the Temple of Solomon. This story is filled with so many important truths for our lives. Weve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. Because, you see, he is a Jew and Jews don't talk to Samaritans, and men don't just talk to women, no one in my town talks to me, and normally, I would not have been there at the well, and if he really knew what I was . In John 4:4-42 we read about Jesus' conversation with a lone Samaritan woman who had come to get water from a well (known as Jacob's well) located about a . Jesuss interaction with her thoroughly overturned that valuation, and He did so not only in this instance but in many others too,putting women on an equal footing with men and calling women to play strategic roles in His Fathers Kingdom. Then our Bad Girl appeared, right on time. It fits in a pattern that we may observe elsewhere in Scripture, especially in the Gospel of St. John: The Father sends the Son to work, and the Son sends His followers to participate in that work. She was honest and admitted she had no husband. Further, they had explicit faith in the coming of the Messias. 9Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? The Samaritan woman's interaction with Jesus also proves that our sins do not define us. 46-48Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. This slight to Jacob which Our Lord utters to the Samaritan woman is only one of many times when Christ clearly shows the superiority of the New Testament over the Old. Hence, to them, a heretic could not baptize or say Mass validly. Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. You can learn more about the importance of Samaria here. Said another way, it is mans work being added to Gods work to perfect Gods work. The woman at the well has a name. They then became her travelling companions in sharing the gospel, going on many missionary journeys with her. He immediately ordered her and her companions to be thrown into a furnace;for 7 days the fire was kept burning and at the end of that time when the furnace door was opened Photini and her companions all emerged unburnt and unscathed. Our Lord turned this fruitless shame into fruitful repentance. 12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Therefore, for all times, salvation is of the Jews.. 28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men. Who Is the Samaritan Woman at the Well and Why is she Alone? This is all the more condemning of Liberalism when one takes into account the fact that the Samaritans did not completely reject the Old Testament. She must have been a born evangelist, for she soon took her family of two sons and five daughters to Carthage to spread the Good News of Jesus. Jesus said, Would you give me a drink of water? (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch. One of the interesting discussions in the book centers on understanding Sam's perception of herself. The two Apologetics sections will show how these verses in St. Johns Gospel can be used to defend Catholic truth against or refute the beliefs of the two groups named. In about 721, the Assyrians invaded the homeland of the ten tribes and scattered them among their other conquered peoples. The first has to do with the silly notion of Sola Scriptura. people are on more vulnerable legal footing, particularly . Its the famous episode in which James and John, the sons of thunder, sought Our Lords permission to command fire to consume His scoffers, who were Samaritans. I make sure I'm connected to Him by listening to Bible stories, sermons, praying, and singing praise songs. The story of a nameless Samaritan woman at the well in the book of John is a short but powerful story in the New Testament. Episode 376: A Musical Pilgrimage to Montserrat, The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Outside the Church there is no Salvation (Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus), Saint Benedict Center in Richmond, New Hampshire, Brother Francis, M.I.C.M. He was on the way from Judea to His home base in Galilee. If you get the chance check out Brian Simmonds' footnotes in the Passion Translation on these verses and the clip of him sharing at the end of this article;they are full of very interesting insights. Draw from my well that never shall run dry. They would not receive Our Lord simply because He was traveling to Jerusalem. Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more-. The woman's story at the well is an important reminder that Jesus' salvation is for everyone, not just the Jews. Where can I flee from your presence? So, while defending the truth of Judaism over the Samaritan religion as the authentic BC religion, Our Lord affirms that even it will be superseded by His new and better AD religion. If such an assertion is anti-Semitic, then Jesus was the first anti-Semite. 21-23Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. 33Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Why Did Jesus Talk To The Woman At The Well? Jacobs well was still there. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; The story of a nameless Samaritan woman at the well in the book of John is a short but powerful story in the New Testament. Whats more, this work is the gathering of fruit unto life everlasting: salvation. Jesus met this woman at the well in the pages of the New Testament where she was, He didnt require her to get cleaned up first. Answer: According to pious tradition, St. Photina was the Samaritan woman to whom Jesus spoke at the well (John 4:4-26). 17:18). A Lesson From The Woman Who Touched Jesuss Hem. This article is organized according to the following outline. [1] Actually, this statement is not completely true. Where can you get this living water? Eastern Christians remember her as a Great Martyr and refer to her as Equal-to-the-Apostles. 4-6To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. As Season One of The Chosen progresses, Mary's story fades into the background and the show becomes more male-dominated, focusing primarily on Simon, Nicodemus, and Matthew. The Samaritans have made up a god of their own design by accommodating the God of Israel to their false worship. Be you,because you are enough to make a huge difference, just like Photini did! She expressed an interest, for such a thing would save her the drudgery of coming to the well daily to draw. The Apostles have entered into their labors; again, another word for work. I think that woman might be me. To this request He replied with a lesson on doing the will of God. Ad Rem A Fortnightly Email Message from the Prior, Sheen rally coming to Illinois aims to reignite his beatification Mass, Study: Abortion Restrictions Led to 9,800 More Births in Texas Over Nine Months, As Pride Month Ends, Children Are Again the Main Victims, U.S. bishops rebuke group of Catholic Democrats vowing to support abortion, Supreme Court rules in favor of Christian postal worker in unanimous religious freedom decision, Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival CD Set, Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival 2005 CD, Episode 380: The Cost of Denying Creation. In His dealings with a woman of a false religion, Jesus shows Himself to be kind and loving; and also, without any contradiction, condemning of false religion. 51And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. The transcript doesn't specify a name, but the caller says the man was someone she recognized as a public figure. John 4:4-43 Introduction Walking to Galilee from Judea, Jesus had to travel through Samaria. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Before agreeing to give her the water, Jesus told her to get her husband, ostensibly so that He might give it to both of them. Just like Jesus searched out the woman at the well. Inside the Church, there are precious few that see in it a deep and strong assertion of the truths of the Faith they profess. 31In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, Rabbi, eat. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back . Episode 378: Are Taboos a Sufficient Moral Safeguard? Well, Im telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at whats right in front of you. And, as you stated, without us having to clean up our messy lives first. Guest: Chris De Vos. Sir, the woman said, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. 26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. Photini is also recognised as an evangelist whose missionary journeys took her far and wide,to Africa, Egypt, and finally to Rome to appear before Nero himself. This incident recorded in John 4.1-42 was a pivotal moment for Jesus. 1 Who was the Samaritan Woman at the Well? Jesus saith to her: Woman, believe me, that the hour cometh, when you shall neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, adore the Father. Ever since the times of Moses, the social worship of God in the Old Testament was the sacrifice offered to Him through the Aaronic priesthood, and was allowed only in one place: first the tabernacle, and then, from the days of Solomon, the Temple on Mount Moriah (in Jerusalem). The Woman at the Well 4 1-3 Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). McNeil writes, As the God-Man He had certain abilities we dont. Instead of waiting for The woman at the well, Jesus sought her out. Known as Israel, or the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, this was the kingdom which, around 900 BC, followed Jeroboam in his rebellion against Roboam, Solomons son. In the fifth century, there were heretics called Monophysites who denied that Humanity. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee. 43-45After the two days he left for Galilee. They begged Him to stay with them, which He did, preaching to them for two days. He came to Samaria for her. Jack Zavada Updated on November 07, 2020 The story of the woman at the well is one of the most well known in the Bible; many Christians can easily give a summary of it. Digging Deeper Jesus meets this Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well after a morning's journey and disregards social custom by asking her for a drink. 38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans, and this is how we come to meet the woman at the well in the book of John in the New Testament. In participating, they both work out their own salvation and help others to achieve salvation. Your email address will not be published. In fact, they justified their temple on Mount Garizim by the fact that this mount was the mount of blessings mentioned at the time of Moses and Josue (Dt. 37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. Like a woman at the well I was seeking. What Did Jesus Say He Would Give The Woman Of Samaria? The Powerful Story Of The Woman At The Well - Rosevine Cottage Girls Jesus, being the Word made flesh is God and Man. A fine place to wait. 36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. Jesus' love and acceptance of the Samaritan woman, who belonged to an ethnic group despised by Jews, continually teaches us to embrace marginalized people and communities in our midst. The Woman At The Well Shows Us That God Sees Us, The Woman At The Well Is A Reminder That He Will Redeem Us, The Samaritan Woman Is A Reminder That God Seeks Us Out, The Woman At The Well Teaches Us God Has A Purpose For Us. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirstnot ever. Fools miss the sublime truths of Holy Scripture. Woman At The Well. She is known in the Eastern tradition as Photini (the luminous one). Free from the choices that have left us broken and lost. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQYrLAmvlos, (1)https://www.cbeinternational.org/resources/article/mutuality/samaritan-sinner-celebrated-saint-story-first-christian-missionary, http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/photini.htm, https://ishshahsstory.com/2016/11/02/finding-photini-light-on-the-woman-at-the-well/, women in scripture, women in christianity, how God sees women, womens role, christian life, leadership, doubt, discouragement, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQYrLAmvlos, https://www.cbeinternational.org/resources/article/mutuality/samaritan-sinner-celebrated-saint-story-first-christian-missionary. incident recorded in John 4.1-42 was a pivotal moment for Jesus. Samaria itself was the capital of the schismatic Northern Kingdom.