Douglas Jacoby Podcast

NT Characters: Samaritan Woman

Episode Summary

Douglas continues his series on New Testament Characters today looking at the life of the Samaritan Woman. Douglas shares what we learn from her life and her story.

Episode Notes

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction: Women and Jesus

• He 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 4:4-42

Other scriptures referred to:

• John 8:48
• Genesis 29:10
• Jeremiah 2:13
• Zechariah 14:8
• Revelation 22:1
• Joshua 8:33
• Deuteronomy 16:16
• John 1:41, 12:21

The woman's dawning realization of who Jesus is

• A Jew (4:9) -- a stranger, a man
• "Sir" (4:11)
• "Prophet" (4:19)
• "Messiah" (4:25-26)

What we learn from this woman

• Don'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.

Further

• The 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.