The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Jan. %, 1soo-John iv, 5-15.

Jesus was transferring the scene of His minis
try from Judea to Gailee. He ignored the preju-
dice of the Jews and gave His Disciples an OBJ
ject lesson by passing through Samaria After
four days journey. at midday being wearied He
sat thus upon the we'll Chrysostom says: Thus
not upon throne or chair or cushion but as a
wayfaring would.
approached. She comes, perhaps, at
this unusual hour because her character made it
impossible for ner to when the pure maids
and matrons of Sychar visited the well. Just as
she lifts the dripping jar to her head the dusty
traveller asks a drink Jesus put himself under
obligations to her at the very start by His re-
quest. I'VE despise not him whose service we
ask"
What magic IN kindness! This obtuse, sinful
woman, used only to epithet and blow-gentile
polteness transmutes her into docile pupil. She
recognizes the nationality of the stranger. a
Jew. but where is the racial prejudice. She
vaguely recognizes the moral superiority of the
person before her and is prepared for the step IL
advance which Jesus leads her to in the next
mark.
Poetry is in large measure the association of
superior ideas with common objects. If that is
so, Jesus was an ideal poet. He takes the COM
monest of objects, water and the Quenching Of
thirst with this natural fluid, to portray the most
uncommon experience or the soul me woman
sees the enigma. While she still loosely holds to
the literal, and talks of the depth Of the well
ana lack OF drawing appliances she yet skirts
the edge of the Savors spiritual meaning, and
knows that He who talks to her is greater than
the patriarch who dug the well.
Jesus let's in new ray of light when He con-
trasts 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 it, 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 suffer thirst is
thing to be desired. AT the same time she has
dawning consciousness that the gift means more
than this.
Like a skillful surgeon Jesus inserts the gleam-
ing lancet of His question. The Incidents of an
adulterous career are laid bare. The thing is not
done, however. in such manner as to make her
cry: Hast thou found me out. mine enemy"
but rather: ''Sir. perceive thou art prophet"
A scared conscience is softened. confession 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 regeneration-the gift is a new
heart. In the joy of her new life she propounds
a practical question. Where shall she worship.
Gerizim at Jerusalem? In answer. Jesus
unfolds the basal principle of Christianity. that
all the earth is holy, and not one spot more so
than another that the item of topography in re-
lgion is henceforth erased. and. further. that
henceforth to spirit-God spirit sacrifices only
shall be made.
The woman, her clouded mind now thoroughly
Illuminated looked up and adorngly exclaimed:
expect from the Messiah himself" Jesus accepts
her loving challenge, and in despised Samaria.
first categorical declaration of Messiahship.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
First-John's gospel is no desultory narrative.
He has a plan. Opens with a prologue. John
Baptist's testimony follows; then the call of dis
cples; next the manifestation of Jesus glory. its
grace at Cana, its severity at Jerusalem; now
the fascinating picture Of Jesus interview with
the lowiest Of women is set over against that of
His conference with Nicodemus
Second-The Samaritan woman may represent
that class who would probably never come to
Jesus of their own accord, as Nicodemus stands
for the inquring class
Third-Two classes, but one gospel for both.
FOuTth--IeSuS went through Samarla OF set pur
pose. to break down the partition wall between
races.
Fifth-Divorce was one of the most fragrant
evils Of both the Jewish and Samaritan nations.
This may have been legally divorced from
all five of her husbands. Divorce is an ulcerous
sore in any nation
Sixth-Nether come all the way hither TO draw.
The hoped to be emancipated from the
humdrum of life. She was and she was not.
Probably to old age she continued the Oriental
woman's most toilsome task. But the mcnoto-
nous task transmitted into joy She had
new motive in life; a secret spring of strength.