Reading for February 10th

 Read John 4.1-30. In 4.1-42: Water and the quest for eternal life. In verses 1-6: Transition. Baptism introduces the theme of water. In verses 1-3: A Jew or Jews (in 3.25) becomes the Pharisees (in 4.1); Jesus' evasive action, the first sign of hostility (anticipated in 1.5, 10-11) explains his movement to the next scene, where the theme of water continues. In verse 4: The most direct route between Jerusalem and Galilee was through Samaria. In verses 5-6: Sychar is probably near Shechem (Gen 33.18-19) at modern Askar. Jacob's well is not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. Noon is not the normal time to draw water. Perhaps this encounter is humanly unlikely but divinely planned. In verses 7-26: The quest for water at the well. The story echoes meetings at a well from the Hebrew Scriptures: Abraham's servant in search of a wife for Isaac (Gen 24); Jacob and Rachel (Gen 29.1-30); Moses and the daughters of Ruel (Ex 2/15b-22), all stories about betrothals that are also quests. Jesus seeks refreshment: the woman comes for water, and her perception of who Jesus is grows (4.9, 12, 19, 25). In verses 7-9: Samaritans had been excluded from the rebuilding of the Jewish nation after the Exile (2 Kings 17.244-34; Neh 9.2). Jewish purity laws made drinking vessels a critical issue. In verse 10: Living water bubbling from a spring symbolizes life-giving power (see 7.37-39). In verses 11-15: Compare 6.30-35. The woman misunderstood. Compare Nicodemus in 3.4, 9. Jesus clarifies his meaning; though the woman still does not fully understand, she requests the gift. Compare 6.34. In verses 16-19: Jesus' insight convinces her that he is a prophet (compare 1.47-49). In verse 20: This mountain: Gerizim, where Samaritans once had a temple (Deut 11.26-30; 27.1-13; Josh 8.30-35). In verses 21-24: Because God is spirit, not tied to a particular place, the place is irrelevant. On truth, see 5.33; 8.32, 40, 44; 14.6, 17; 16.7, 13; 17.17, 19; 18.37, 38. In verses 25-26: The woman awaits the messiah, using the Jewish (not Samaritan) title. In verses 27-30: The attitude of the disciples reinforces the unusual aspect of Jesus' contact with the woman (see 4.9). She leaves without her water jar; she had found the life-giving water. In verses 29-30: The tentative question expresses uncertainty. Compare the first disciples who led others to Jesus (1.41-42, 45-51). Comments or Questions.