Post #2

1.According to the Bible dictionary, the Samaritan people worshipped Jesus and believed that they had a “share in the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem” (Bible Dictionary, p. 768). The Jews did not allow the Samaritan’s to share in building the temple, so they started a rival temple. This caused bitter feelings between the groups of people. The Samaritan woman at the well was surprised that the Savior, because he was a Jew, was speaking to her. Jesus explained to her that he was the Messiah and “customarily rabbis did not talk to single women.”

2.       The Samaritan people were not a respected class of people. They were looked down upon, but the Savior made a point to not only visit these people, but to also make friends with and teach them. In Colossians 3:25 it says that “he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hast done.”  In the JST the sentence should read as “he that doeth injustice shall receive for the wrong which he hast done.”  The Lord is just and will judge according to the wrong doing however in 2 Nephi 26:33 we learn that the Lord won’t judge one person more harshly that another.  He looks at each person as an equal that is “alike unto God”.  This scripture makes it clear that the Jew and the Gentile will be judged the same.  With this understanding it makes perfect sense why the Lord visited the Samaritan woman.  He viewed her no different than any of his other brothers and sisters.

3.       As the Savior was conversing with the Samaritan woman, his disciples came upon them talking.  They were surprised to find him speaking with her.  Although they did not question what he was doing, the scriptures make it seem as if they were a bit surprised to find a Jew speaking with a Samaritan.  In Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 the scriptures state that the disciples had a mission to preach the word to all nations and people. That would include the Samaritan people.  Without the Savior’s example the disciples may have not known that it was not okay to judge other races and that the requirement would be for them to hear the gospel.

4.       As the Samaritan woman and the Savior conversed, a change could be seen in how she felt about the Savior.  By the end of their conversation the woman believed and could testify that the man before her was the true Messiah.  The change can be seen through the names that she refers to the Savior as.  She starts out in verse 9 by referring to him as “a Jew” in verse 11 and 15 she calls him “sir”, verse 19 “a prophet” and in verse 29 the woman refers to him as “the Christ”. I can relate with the woman’s feelings because as I have grown to know Christ my testimony and feelings have deepened for him.  As I recognize more fully what his sacrifice means for me and my life, I feel forever indebted to him. 

5.       In John 4:14 the Savior teach of the living water.  Elder Wirthlin gave an excellent example of partaking of the living water.  He said “The abundant life is a spiritual life. Too many sit at the banquet table of the gospel of Jesus Christ and merely nibble at the feast placed before them. They go through the motions—attending their meetings perhaps, glancing at scriptures, repeating familiar prayers—but their hearts are far away. If they are honest, they would admit to being more interested in the latest neighborhood rumors, stock market trends, and their favorite TV show than they are in the supernal wonders and sweet ministering of the Holy Spirit.” What a blessing it is to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  Do I take the gospel for granted and merely “nibble” at all great feast that is before me.  I know that there are areas in my life that I can more fully partake of Christ’s living water.  Scripture study is an area of weakness for me. I have these wonderful books before me, just full of gospel knowledge, yet there are times that I fail to pick them up and study them regularly.  Reflecting upon Christ’s living water has given me a chance to think about how I can better my life.