Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-02-06
Jesus and the
Woman of Samaria
Sunday School Lesson Tor Pei. ?, 1875
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-John 4:l-42. Memory
verses %, "a.
GOLDEN TExT.-"If any man thirst.
let him come unto me, and drink, John
1887.
T1ME.-Jesus had spent most Of the
summer and autumn In Judea. The incl
dent Mt Jacobs well was probably in
pecember, A. d. y. .cIt was near the
cfoaeS6f the first year Of Jesus ministry,
John stu preachins at Enon. near the
Josvfan. - So
PLACE.-Jacob's well. near sychar, be-
tween Mts. Ilbal and Geriz1m In Sa-
maria.
sCRIPTURAL REFERENCEs.-1. The
soul full Of thirsts Psa. 42:l-3; Matt
&c; 16:26; Rom. 1923. "a: Pisa. 5l:1-10; 63:1-3:
Rev. am. 2. Worldly things cannot sat
isfy the souls thirsts der. 2:13; lisa. 55:2:
Pisa. 1915; Eccl. 1:I2-14: 2:i-1i; Rom.
T:ls-2D. 3. The water of eternal life (Psa.
"A: 42:1; 23:2: Matt. $50; John 4;10, IA:
1897. 3s; lisa. 55:1-S, 1913; 4i:i7. IS; A:3.
35;1, Z; 1913; Rev. 2e:1. 2; Ezek.: 47:12;
36:25).
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. 6. Now Jacobs well was there"
"One of the few sites about which
there is no dispute" 1t is situated in
the fork of the two roads that lead to
Galilee from this region, one run.
northeast to the fords OF the
Jordan. a few miles south of
the lake. the other going to the
northwest by way of the south.
ern pass into the plain of Esdraelon
directly toward Nazareth. The we'll
is rs feet deep, but was originally
much deeper, as the bottom has been
filed UP with rubbish. The we'll is
about seven feet six inches in diane.
<t., I.t ill., r.-,h - "a r..
row neck four feet long, and only
large enough for a man to pass
through with arms uplifted. See Hast
ings' Bible Dict.
Near the place where Christ talked
with the Samaritan woman now
stands a Baptist church. with a regu-
lar congregation of a hundred per
sons."-Jewish Messenger.
Jesus therefore, being wearied
with his journey" lie had probably
been walking several hours, as the
Orientals were accustomed to start
early in the morning, and 1t was now
about the sixth hour" or noon, &C.
cording to Jewish reckoning. 10.
sephus (Antiquities) describes Moses
as sitting weary by a well at midday.
Jesus was weary In his work, not of 1t.
The wise approach by ~courteously
rising n asking a favor that could
easily be granted. The Syriac Cordex
implies that Jesus rose and stood to
meet politely the standing woman,
and this standing was one thing that
caused his disciples to marvel. "Give
inc to drink" Jesus asked for water
because he needed It, but he used the
request as a means Of preparing the
way for his teaching. A useless re.
quest would have defeated his pur.
pose.
13. whatsoever drinketh OF this
water shall thirst again" This water
Gatisfies only bodily thirst, and for
brief %periods-a type Of all worldly
supplies for the deeper thirst OF the
soul.
Every person is full of wants, long
ings, desires. hopes, both of the body
and Of the soul. There are the thirsts
for pleasure. for power, for money, for
respect, for love. for knowledge. There
are thirsts for the friendship and love
OF God, for forgiveness, immortal
life, holiness, happiness. usefulness,
heaven, a larger sphere and broader
life. The larger the soul the more
n greater are its thirsts.
The greatness Of any being is meas.
ured u) by the number OF his de.
sires and thi~sts: (2) by their quail
ity; CD by their capacity, Intensity.
Dead n Living Water.-"The old
creek believed that, before passing
to the Elysian Field, all souls could
drink from the River Lethe, and for.
get the sins and sorrows they had
experienced In this world. The llv.
Ing water which Christ offers dOes not
enable us to forget our sorrows, but II
helps us to bear them. II Is not a
prelude to n life of ease, but a stimu.
lus for the struggle entailed on all
who follow Jesus.
V. 20. Jesus declares to the woman
that he Is the expected Messiah. II
-. am he"
True Worship.-O God wants all men
to worship him, because thus they be.
come like him. neal to him. (2) Thus
every hear may become hallowed
ground. go Worship must be spiritual
rather than formal. (4) 1t must be sin.
cere. CD 1t is the fruit Of love rath.
er than fear. 90 True worship can.
not be separated from morality, while
formal worship can. ca Worship 10
essential TO the religious lie. (8)
Forms and rites are valuable only as
they aid the spirit In its worship. (9)
II Ia mt necpsgarv IN ronn,pco eo,,s-