Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
Sunday School Lesson for February Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education


CONTEMPLATED the interview with
Nicodemus. Jesus and His disciples made
circuit in Judea. round about Jerusa-
lem. preaching and baptizing John. ui:22)
At the same time John the Baptist was
at Enon. engaged in his usual pursuit
seeking to win men to righteousness.
There thus sprang up certain questions
because the two had acquired extended
reputation. and men desired 10 know their
relation to each other These questions
gave the Baptist occasion TO bear testi-
mony to Jesus and to explain his own
mission as one of preparation Tor Him
But little later the Pharisees began &c
bubble on the subject of His popularity
(verse -. and about the same time Herod
cast John into prison Matt. iv:12). These
two circumstances show that opposition
to the gospel had been awakened. and
that 1t was destined to develop into perse-
cution. Hence Jesus determined TO retire
from Judea and return to Galilee, passing
through Samaria. which lay between
(verse ~.
LOCALITY.-The sun had reached
the meridian. the sixth hour. as the Jews
computed time when Jesus and His dis
ciples approached the little city of Sychar.
or Shechem (verse -, situated in the mar
row valley between Mount Ebal and
Mount Gerizin. The place was one of his
toric interest. There Abraham halted as
he came out of Haran Gen. xii:6). After
the conquest it was made a city of refuge
lisa. xx:D. Not far distant was parcel
Of ground which Jacob gave TO Joseph
Gen.. Xlvii:2O, where that patriarch
had sunk a we'll. which still remained.
although seventeen centuries had passed
away. In eastern countries where water
is scarce. a we'll is highly priced. and the
a Mt
near by and erect a wall SO that one may
rest from the heat. Jesus halted and sat
down under the Shade thus furnished. be-
ing weary while His disciples went away
to the little city to buy food tverse %.
The journey had been performed on foot.
and this proved an acceptable resting
place.
REFRESHMENTS Samar-
ian woman. a resident Of Sychar, drew
near. She came for water, to be borne
away home (verse .. This was deemed
to be proper service for women in those
days. The custom had not materially
changed since Rebekah, the future bride
of Isaac, came out with her pitcher to
draw water while the servant of Abra-
ham sat by the well in Mesopotamia
Gen, xXiv:1O, nearly 1900 years before.
Nor was there any danger in exposing
women to the casual meeting of strang-
ers. The simplicity Of life and the speedy
execution of penalty upon offenders Were
in themselves sufficient protection. Ac-
cordingly. there appears to have been
neither surprise nor timidity when the
woman arrived at the well and found
Jesus there. With much gentleness and
freedom He asked her for a drink. The
secret of the request was that as the wei
was deep and He had no way of draw
ing water He saw in her the only method
of obtaining refreshment. What could be
more acceptable to the weary than a
drink of water? CMatt. KAY
sURPRISE.-This request of Jesus
astonished the woman. She took him
for a Jew, and such He was in all outward
appearance, whereas she was a Samari-
tan, one of a class greatly despised by
the Jews When the ten tribes were
carried away captive into Assyria, people
were brought back and mingled with tins
poor Of Samaria, who were left behind.
producing a mongrel race e Kings xvii
24, whereas the Jew of our Lords time
were the posterity of those who returned
from Babylon under Cyrus ezra, i:3D. and
who brought with them the institutions
Of their ancient religion. They regarded
themselves superior in blood and charac-
ter, and would not permit their northern
neighbors to assist them in building the
second temple ezra. iv:3) That feeling
that might defile was allowed between
Jews and Samaritans (verSe -, hence
the woman was surprised when Jesus
asked for water. How is it that He had
broken over this prejudice? She did not
hesitate to ask Him the question plainly
and bluntly.
PROPOSAL.-There' was an excel
lent opportunity for a protracted and
perhaps heated discussion concerning the
relations subsisting between the two peo-
adroitly introduced himself as suf-
ficient explanation of His conduct verse
100. He told her that she would not have
would have been the seeker, if she had
Known what He was. implying that she
had needs greater than His, which He
could and which He would gladly supply.
In doing this He called himself the gift
of God" after the manner of His con-
versation with Nicodemus John, ii:16).
That which He proposed to give her upon
to bring the truth to the level of her con-
ception. The expression was. however,
highly appropriate and scriptural. lisa,
ID. 1t may be that He hoped to recall
to her mind certain prophetic utterances
DER, ii:13), for the Samaritans were not
wholly ignorant of the word of God.
Figures of speech are always preferable
in dealing with those of limited cultiva-
ton (Psa.. lxxviii:2).
PERPLEXITY. - The expression.
Living water" used by Jesus. had a
spiritual meaning, which the woman
failed to grasp 1t had another everyday