Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-02-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY S.
Subject: Jesus mt Jacobs Well. John iv"
5-14-Goiden Text, Rev. xii, IL
Memory Verses, 13, 14-Commentary
on tho DAYS Lesson.

Subject: Jesus Mt Jacobs Well. John w..
5-14-Goiden Text, Rev. xii, "
| Memory Verses. IL, 14-Commentary
on tho Days Lesson.
l. Jesus at the well Tvs 5-S), 5. Then
cometh He" Our Lords route lay
through historic ground He, doubtless,
passed through Gibeah, the ancient capital
of the kingdom of Saul; through Bethel.
where Jacob had his dream of the ladder
and the angels; near Shiloh, the first
dwelling place of the tabernacle, and the
ark in Canaan and the scene OF the down
! fall of the house of Eli. At the end Of
that journey three objects OF special inter.
est occur in succession: Jacobs well,
Joseph's tomb and the ancient city of
| Shechem, between the mountains of Gerl.
zm and Ebal "Sychar." Formerly She
chem, at the foot OF Mount Gerizlm. be-
tween Gerizim and Ebal. 1t is noted in
the Scriptures as the pace where Abraham
! first stopped on his coming from Haran TO
Canaan; where God appeared to him and
| promised to give the land 10 his seed, and
where he first built an altar to the Lord.
| In the fourth century, about b. Z. 332,
| Sanballat erected temple on Gerizim in
| opposition to the Jewish temple. Parcel
! OF ground" Purchased OF the children of
| llamor (Gen. 33: l9). and given to Joseph
| (Gen. 1929.
g. jacobs we'll" The well Jacob dug
| The word for well in the Greek means
fountain The we'll has been filled with
| rubbish until ii is only about seventy five
feet deep. Formerly it was thirty feet
deeper 1t is about eight or nine feet in
| diameter and is walled with masonry.
"Jesus--beiug wearicd,' He was a man,
as well as God, and became weary and
hungry. lie journeyed on foot, sharing
| with His disciples the fatigues and hard
sb tb, Vt IN
a difference of opinion here. According to
the Jewish reckoning this would be noon,
| but many learned men think John used
| Roman method of reckoning and thai it
was p. M.
l. ''Of Samaria" She was not from the
! city of Samaria seven miles away, but
! from the country of Samarla; one OF Sa-
water" She probably brought her line
and bucket (leathen or crockery),. for
! Orient wells are not provided with these.
! Note how our Lords choice of hearer
| breaks down rabbinlc prejudice all around.
| Give Me to drink" Jesus used His thirst
as a means of approach to the wonans
| heart, and turned the conversation from
/ the living waters Of Jacob we'll to the llv'
ing waters of salvation. Let us follow our
Savour's example by doing good in our
| hours OF relaxation. s: disciples
gone" The story throughout reads so
| much like the words of an eyewitness that
/ some have thought John remained with
the Saviour while the rest went to the VII
lage Meat" Food not necessarily fish
III. The Samaritan woman ". 81. y.
"How is it, etc. In Oriental manners
| there were many strict regulations against
women conversng with men, especlaiiy
strangers. But these restrictions we're less
regarded at the wells and fountains than
| in other public places (Gen, "a: 1924;
Exod 2l6, ~. Jesus rejected all re.
straints of caste. His disciples were them
| selves surprised that He should converse
with the woman, but they did not feel at
she know He was Jew? By His dress
and BY His dialect. The word Jew Is
here used broadly to describe the race
which flied both Judea and Gahlee. She
probably recognized Him as a Galllean
also. "No dealings A remark throw u in
by the writer TO give the reason for her
surprise, They have no dealings of friend.
" intercourse This i'll will, however, did
not extend beyond familiar intercourse, tor
! in such matters as buying and selling inter.
course was allowed. They. were. excluded
! by the Jews from the temple at Jerusalem.
! "Thc Samaritans" The Samarltans were
the descendants of the Ethiopian and
! Babylonish colonlsts upon whom the Assy.
! rian coHqueror of the ten tribes bestowed
, the lands of the captive lSraeltes (see
/ Kings l7:2l.33). Although of purely heath
/ en- origin, they united the worship OF Jeho'
/ yah with their own doatrles. They bullt
a temple on Mount Geriaim.
Ill. Divine truth impaired Tvs. l0-l4l
! 10. The gift of God" See John BIG
! The Messiah, and the salvation He Is
bringing to man. Thou wouldst have
asked" Spiritually our positions are re.
vcrsed. II is thou who art weary and
tootaore and parched, close to the We'll
yet unable to drink. it is | who can give
thee the water from the we'll and 9uench
thv thirst forever Living water The
! Git OF the Holy Spirit John 7:37,39); also
+ "aIled "the water of life" (Rev q IS; 22:t.
~; clean water" (E2ek. 1920 81. Sec
also Isa. 55:l; SSH. 1t is received ny
! faith (John 6;35), abidcs eternay ". l4l,
is offered freely (Rev, 22:l, ~: Note |.
Its source (John 7;37), ,. Its supply
! (Rev 2l:6). 3. Its freshness. 4. Its sat
isfaction lisa, 2:3). ,,
II. Sir" This might be read My
Lord" 1t was a title OF respect, and
! shows that the woman was reverent and
| serious. "Nothing to draw with" The
well had, probably, no apparatus Tor
! drawing water. This woman no doubt
carried her own line. Prom whence
etc, The woman was quick IN her com, com,
| prehenson, and saw there was some truth
/ "
Jesus was referring.
10. art Thou greater" The question
| proceeds from a feeling that Jesus as
! sumed some extraordinary character, that
| He claimed a spiritual power; perhaps
claimed to be a prophet like Moses, who
| could make fountain of water by MIRA
Gle. "Our father Jacob" The Samaritans
were living in the territory OF Ephralm
| and Nanasseh, sons of Joseph, and grand
sons of Jacob, and although they were not
the descendants of Jacob, yet no doubt
some OF the ancient blood ran IN their
| veins.
I3. "Shall thirst again. Jesus does
not discuss the question of greatness, but
turns her thought toward spiritual truth.
as He did Nicodemus A. Shall never
| thirst" He does not mean that one
/ drau.ht shall satisfy us, but that we shall
have in the soul we'll of living water,
"Saall be in Him" The religion of Jesus
has to do with the inner life. Christ puts
new principles and affections within us.
"a well of water" A fountain of water.
| The supply is cxhaustless. Here is an un'
failing funess of love, joy, peace and sp'r'
! itual strength--a full salvation. Spring
ing up" Whoever has tins living water IN
the soul already has eternal life. The
water of life /. Is given by Jesus. q
| 1t is pure. g 1t satisfies the soul; O.
! There is a never failing supply. D. 1T IA
/ free. s. 1t is for all who thirst. Into
everlasting life" He that receives the liv,
ing water has fountain opened IN his sou'
of spiritual satisfaction, which shall nelth
er be dried up in this life nor the life 70
come. but shall flow on to all eternity.
|