Jesus Christ was the master teacher of all times. He taught in such a variety of ways. While he frequently spoke to the multitudes, he also spent considerable time in one-on-one situations. He gave kindly attention to the individual.
John’s Gospel account reveals one such incident. The record of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, as contained in John 4, is a rich depository of biblical information worthy of the careful attention of any devout student.
The Lord’s travels were not haphazard. They were meticulously orchestrated so as to enhance the greatest advantage for the success of his coming kingdom. Frequently, timing was crucial, for everything must proceed on schedule toward that most important hour on the divine clock (cf. John 7:30; 8:20; 13:1, etc.).
Timing was a factor in the case of the present context. His ministry had been enormously successful, as reflected in the number of conversions being effected by his disciples—eclipsing even the work of John the Baptizer. Because of this success, the Pharisees were beginning to focus a more hostile interest in him. So he decided to redirect his labor from Judea in the south, to Galilee in the north. In so doing, the apostle notes, “he must needs pass through Samaria.” Several observations are in order:
(1) Note that John 4:1 begins with the words, “When therefore the Lord knew …” Here we learn something about the incarnate Lord. Though he was deity in nature, he did not continuously exercise the quality of omniscience. He could, consistent with his Father’s will, exercise supernatural knowledge (cf. Matthew 12:25); at other times, he accessed knowledge the ordinary way (cf. John 11:34).
(2) The success of Jesus aroused the enmity of the Jewish leaders. This jealousy would eventually reach such an apex that they would deliver their own Messiah to the Roman authorities for crucifixion. Even Pilate recognized that on account of envy the Jews had delivered up Jesus (Matthew 27:18).
(3) Men with shriveled souls have but two ways of exalting themselves—they either boast of their accomplishments or tear down those they perceive as rivals. Usually, they do both.
(4) While it may seem natural to take the expression “must needs” as a geographical reference, since Samaria lies between Judea and Galilee, passing through Samaria was not the only route between the two provinces—in fact, it was not the most common one.
Because of Jewish hostilities toward the Samaritan people (which we will discuss later), the Hebrews frequently would travel to the east when they had leisure time (see Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 20.6.1, regarding travel at feast times), cross over the Jordan, and thus skirt the Samaritan territory. Samaria was considered as not belonging to the Holy Land, a strip of “foreign country” separating Judea from Galilee (Edersheim 1957, 12). Such a detour would take longer than the normal three days of travel.
The Lord, however, did not hesitate to traverse Samaritan territory (Luke 9:51-56; 17:11-19; John 4:1ff). Some scholars, therefore, view this “must needs” language as referring to a “compulsion other than mere convenience. As the Savior of all men, Jesus had to confront the smoldering suspicion and enmity between Jew and Samaritan by ministering to his enemies” (Tenney 1981, 54).
Christ’s mission to earth was regulated on more than one occasion by a heavenly “must” (cf. Luke 2:49; 4:43; 19:5; 24:7; John 9:4; 10:16; 20:9).
No comments:
Post a Comment