If a person is going from Judia (Jerusalem) to Galilee the direct route is to travel along the flatlands along the Jordan River. The last route they would take is in the highlands of Samaria. Nevertheless, Jesus had a task greater than reaching Galilee at some appointed time. He wanted to reach people society had forgotten. The Samaritans were outcasts to the Jewish people in the region. They were mixed race folks to whom the Jews not only ignored, but distained.
When Jesus arrived in Sychar, he was weary from the journey and he went to find Jacob's well. It was noontime and not an opportune time to visit the well, when a woman comes to draw water. Jesus asks a very simple question, "Didomi moi pino?" (which means Can you give me a drink?) The woman, being Samaritan, is amazed that a Jew would even acknowledge her, no less ask for her help. This begins a discourse between Jesus and this woman that not only leads to her believing He is Messiah, but her entire village believing as well. |
