Untitled Sermon (2)

Here we see,

Why Jesus travelled, & Where Jesus travelled.

show map

There is 2 reasons as to why Jesus left Judea to go to Galilee

Because He knew that the Pharisees knew He baptized more than John. (v.1)

Jesus likely was just creating space because tensions were getting high

especially because a few days later in ch. 5

Jesus will heal a man in Sabbath and the Jews will want to kill him

2. Jesus left because Jesus NEEDED to go to Samaria

The greek word for (needed “ἔδει”) means to be unavoidably determined”

another word it can be translated to is contingent, (binded)

Jesus is unavoidably determined to reach Samaria

which btw Samaria is right over there… in Some area.

At first when reading that Jesus needed to go there its like

awww sweet Jesus need to go there and reach people

its more than that....

This act by Jesus being a Jew is so controversially iconic

we need to understand who the Samaritans are to fully appreciate

Jesus our Lord and Savior here:

Samaria really has a rebellious history:

they are nasty

1. Did you noticed how in verses 3-6 the Bible narrowed in Jesus exact location

it says first from Judea to Galilee, then on his way there to Samaria, then in Samaria a town called Sychar, to a plot of ground, and in that plot of ground a well, Jacobs well.

this is also the area of OT Shechem

this is the area where

show slide of:

The rape of Dinah (Gen 34),

A place of refuge for all the outlaws of Israel. ( a place full of rebels) (Joshua 20:6-7; 21:21)

The covenant renewal (Josh 24),

The burial of Joseph (Josh 24:32).

Where Abimelech reigns (Judg 9),

Where Rehoboam was coronated (1 Kgs 12:1).

Samaria joined rebellious & idolatrous 10 tribes of Israel (931 BC 1 Kings 12:19)

Shechem is refortified by wicked Israel King Jeroboam, who then lived there (1 Kgs 12:25)

Wicked Israel king Omri made Samaria the capital of the 10 tribes of Israel ( 1 Kings 16)

In 722BC Assyria took captive of Israel and many nations (2 Kings 17)

Assyria mixed the people in Shechem with people from other nations (2 Kings 17)

The Samaritans feared God but also served idols (2 Kings 17:41)

In 500BC: The Samaritans build a Temple to God on Mt. Gerizim

When the Jews returned to Jerusalem (538 BC) the Samaritans offered to help them rebuild the Temple (Ezra 4)

The Jews denied the Samaritans offer to help them rebuild (Ezra 4)

The Samaritans made it difficult for the Jews to rebuild the Temple and city (Ezra 4)

Around 332BC Alexander the Great conquered the Holy Land

The Samaritans denied their Judaism & adapted Greek culture (Hellenism)

Around 113BC the Jews warred against the Samaritans and destroyed the Samaritan Temple on Mt. Gerizim

I actually have been to Samaria,

and climbed mount Gerizim

it takes about 15 minutes to climb

here is a picture of me on Mt. Gerizim praying blessings for the group I co led with the guys next to me.

today there is just the ruins of the temple…

Show picture of mt. Gerizim temple ruins

show them where Mt. Ebal is Dt. 11

The half on mount Gerizim would shout blessing for obeying God

the other half on mount Ebal would shout curses for disobeying God.

To this day the still think that Mt. Gerizim is the holy mountain

I had to listen to the Priest of Samaria lecture me

before they let us climb the mountain

about how their right and the Jews are wrong

after a while of listening to someone speak so much heresy especially at lunch time

you start to see why the Jews hate them.

in addition to all the the reasons listed out.

To the Jews

The Samaritans were rebellious, posers, idolatrous, unclean, blemished, hypocritical, half devoted, lying, & heretical enemies.

Now before we judge them too quickly

are you a more like a Samaritan than you liked to admit?

Your here Sunday morning but a little later

you will be rebellious, idolatrous, half devoted, liar, living like an enemy to Christ

Well then like the Samaritan, you’re a poser of God’s people

The Jews hated the Samaritans for their hypocrisy

which is why they destroyed their temple

Jesus grew up in this environment of hate between the Jews and the Samaritans

However..........

yet verse 4 of John 4 John 4:4

John 4:4 NKJV

4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

Jesus sinless, perfect God.

to the these awful people

and not only that but verse 6 of ch. 4 says that

the travel made Him weary.

Show Map of Holy Land: 1st century

Samaria is 44 Miles from Jerusalem and would take just over an hour to drive

however it is hill country so walking it will take about 12 hours to walk today

so we can understand why in verse 6 it says that Jesus was weary

verse 6 also says it was the 6th hour

when you compare with verses: Matthew 20:1-7; Matthew 27:45; Acts 10:9

the 6th hour is noon

In the noon time in Biblical days

show that John Walton quote from Zondervan OT

“Farmers typically rise at or before dawn to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures. In preindustrial societies and especially in a hot climate like Israel’s, it would be normal to take an afternoon break or siesta during the heat of the day and resume the field work in the later afternoon.’ - John H. Walton Scholar of Ancient Near Eastern backgrounds from the Moody Institute

Noon was a time to rest & eat.

Like with Ruth gleaning in the fields in Ruth 2

They worked much in the morning and evening

but the afternoon was given to reenergize

so with it being around noon

its time to eat

and in verse 8 in John 4

The disciples are looking for food then

So just to paint the picture that

our Jesus

full of righteousness is sitting next to this woman

at the well…

He is tired and hungry.

What an example this is for us.

I struggled listening to the Samaritan Priest hungry...

Colossians 3:2 NKJV

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

that doesn't mean dont eat,

but know that while we are on Earth there is important work to do

like loving on the lost, and hurting

Here is Jesus needing to be in Samaria, tired and hungry

if we jump a little ahead in ch. 4 verse 36 we see that Jesus is fed by doing God’s will.

in other words Jesus is fed by doing what we are about to read right now.

So now you know how radical Jesus was needing to go to Samaria

It gets better: