The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-05-01
INTERNATIONAL LESSONS.
BY REV. F. II. HARaREAvEs.
May 2.

Lesson 8. Mdy q.
JESUS AT THE WELL.
John iv, 5-26. Golden Text, John iv,
"a. Time, December. a. d., 27. Place,
Samaria, Jacobs well, near Sychar, at
the foot of Mt. Geriziln. Rulers, Tiber-
ius Cesar, Emporer of Rome; Pontiu5
PLATE, Governor of Judea; Herod An
tipas, Tetrarch of Galilce.
Tired with His journey the Master
stops to rest. His disciples push forward
II mile and half to the busting town of
/ Sychar to buy food, but the Savior rests
in the cool shade by the side of jacobs
we'll. 1t was a historic place. On the
! left, Mt. Gerizim; on the right, Mt. Ebal,
rich in their terllced glory of verdure,
fruit anil grain, in their seasons.
Stretching out before Him, the fertile
plain; a mile and and a half away, the
/ busy town. This was Jocobs well, and
the place and neighborhood were full of
memories. Abraham and jacob and
Joseph; and Abimelech and Jushuala and
and Rchobuam aud Jerubomn had all
trodden that ground and this was u
familiar place to them.
The Master rested at or near the place
where these men had lived in the past
'Fhe rich beauty of the landscape is
sngularly 5 attractive, and must have
been peculiarly 80 to one who bad u
divine appreciation of the beautiful.
We can well imngine that the memories
of past events and the glory of the
natural surroundings were not withuut
effect upon the mind of the weary
Traveller.
A woman approached. She car lie
the usual watcrpot and cord to draw
water with. Jesus asks her for drink
This request is u suiprile to her, for the
Jews had no dealings with the Samari-
tans, and Jesus was Jew. She 50 ex-
presses herself, when oUr Lord, by an
easy transition, tells her of that living
water drinking which, we shall never
thirst" The perpleXity of the woman and
her evident desire to learn withal, and
the tender teaching Of the Master, here
form n picture of unrivaled excellence.
He was far above the petty striies and
prejudices which cmbiltered the Jews
and Samaritans. Indeed, He always
showed sympathy and love for this people.
1t was II Samaritan, being one Of the ten
lepers which He had healed, who re-
turned to give glory to God. And it was
II Samaritan whom He selected as the ex-
ample of brotherly love in that wonder
ful parable which is familiar to us a..
And here we find Him preaching the
sublime truths Of His kingdom to poor
Samaritan woman. In the last verse OF
the lesson He makes His first direct
| declaration that He is the Messiah:
Jesus saith unto her, | that speak unto
| thee am He" The first news of His
advent to this world was told to the
humble shepherds of the plain, and now
the first direct statement of His divine
character is told to this poor Samaritan
woman. lie was far above caste and
prejudiccs local strifes. He came to all
the world, poor as well as rich, small as
well as great. But more: He chose u
woman to whom to reveal His true
character. Why not Rabbi? Woman
was not held in high esteem in those
days. She was inferior in the social
scale. "Let the words of the Law be
burned" says Rabbi Eleazer, rather than
committed to women.n This was the
spirit of the age; it was the lamcntable
condition of women. Jesus rises high
above such terrible injustice, such
fragrant wrong, and admits woman, an
humble woman t. Ills teachings. He
gives her the place in society to which
she has right, ard it is only in the
gospel of Christ that she obtains the
recognition of her just and equal claims
with man. Look at the picture The
Savior of the world sitting on the edge
If Jacobs we'll. Standing near, Samar-
itan WON N. Not, the eager questioning
Of her face, fair index to the pulsating
queries of her heart. Watch the glow
ing n,mation of the Master MS lie tells
her those priceless truths which have
been the joy of humanity ever since that
day. The memories of the past encirclc
that spot with Historic interest and lend
TO it Il poteAt charm, but all these pale
into insigniiicance before this wondruUs
story Of Jcsrs at Jacobs well. Those
may lie iorgtten, but these will live for
ever.
LESSON THOUGHTS.
l. DO,nDt miss an opportunity to dc
| coed IpSpS mayor did