The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-28
The International Sunday School Lesson,

January 20, 1890. John ": 6-15.
Jesus was transferring the scene OF
His ministry from Judea TO Galllee.
He ignored the prejudice OF the Jews.
and gave His disciples an object lesson
by passing through Samaria. After
four days journey, at midday. being
wearied. He sat there upon the we'll.
Chysostos says: Thus. not upon q
throne or chair or cushion" but as a
wayfaring man would.
a woman approached. She comes,
perhaps. at this unusual hour because
her character made it impossible for her
10 come when the pure maids and ma
irons OF Sychar visited the well. Just
as she lifts the dripping jar to her
head, the dusty traveller asks drink.
Jesus puts Himself under obligation to
her at the very start by His request.
We despise not him whose service we
ask"
What magic in kindness! This OBJ
fuse, sinful woman. used only 10 cpl
thet and bIow-gentle po!iteness trans
mutes her into o docile pupil. She rec
oSnizes the nationality OF the stranger.
a Jew but where is the racial preju-
dice. She vaguely recognizes the moral
superiority OF the person before her,
and is prepared for the step in ad-
vance which Jesus leads her In the next
remark.
Poetry is in large measure the asso-
citation of superior ideas with COM
mon objects. II that is so, Jesus was
an ideal poet. He takes the common
est OF objects, water and the .quenchins
Of thirst with this natural fluid 10 por
tray the most uncommon experience of
the soul. The woman sees the enigma.
While she still loosely holds TO the 1T
eral. and talks OF the depth of the well
and lack OF drawing appliances, she
yet skirts the edge OF the Saviors splr-
!tual meaning, and knows that He who
talks to her Is greater than the patri-
arch who dug the well.
Jesus let In 4 new ray OF light when
he contrasts natures water with the
living water. Water Stakes thirst for
only brief period. The gift OF God
IS the transplanting Of a perennial
fountain into the soul.
The poor Samaritan is enamored OF
this gift She asks for II, but in
terms which reveal the fact that the
husks OF liberalism have not all been
stripped Off To be saved the toll OF
coming TO the fountain and yet not SUI
fer thirst is a thing 20 be desired. At
the same time she has 4 damning con-
seriousness that the gift means more
than this.
Like a skillful surgeon, Jesus inserts
the cleaning lancet OF His question.
The incidents OF an adulterous career
are laid bare. The thing Is not done,
however, in such mancr as to make
her cry: Hast thou found me out. o,
mine enemy" but rather: Sir, per-
ceire thou art prophet"
\ scared CONSEQUENCE is softered con-
fcsslon is made. tears OF penitence flow.
She rises now to the high spiritual
plane OF Jesus teaching. and knows
that the water OF which He speaks is
for the washing Of regeneratior-th
Sift is z new heart. In the JOY OF her
new life she propounGs practical
question. Who're shall she worship,
on Gcrizim or at Jerusalem? In an
swcr. Jesus unfolds the basal principle
OF Christianity, that all the earth Is
holy. ard not one spot more so than AL
other: that the item of topography in
religion Is henceforth erased; and fur
Their. that henceforth to spirit-God
spirit-sacrifices only shall be made.
The woman, her clouded mind now
thoroughly Illuminated. looked up. and
adoringly exclaimed: Your teaching is
just like that which we might expect
from the Messiah himself" Jesus ac-
cepts her loving challenge, and in de-
spiSed Sam3ria, and TO 4 woman. ill
late degraded. made His first cateSori-
cal Celebration of MeSS!ahShip