The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-09

incidentally while he was on his way
10 his great preaching and teaching ex.
perience at Galilee. It was by.pr0duct
pf his very busy life. yet 1t Is one Of
The most famous interviews and one Of
the best, examples Of how to do per.
bonal work that is found in the scrip.
lures. The larger part of the first year
II Ghrist's ministry was spent In Ju-
nea. Jesus did not baptize. but his
disciples did, doubtless for the same
reason, though In less degree, than
why Paul refused to baptize converts
II Cor. 1890. All but one Of the
Disciples Of Jesus were Galileans and
Jesus spent about a year and nine
months Of his ministry In that place.
!. Jesus Rested wv. 49,. To reach
Ealilee from Judea Jesus must needs
10 through Samaria," not that there
Eere not other ways that he might
have Travelled, but rather that it was
Worth while to go out Of his way in
prder to bring the water Of life to this
leedful woman. Jacobs well was at
parting of the roadway near to the
tity Of Sychar. Few places in the land
Iaye Jerusalem had SO much Bible his
lory connected with them (Gen. 1913;
Joshua S:3s; Acts 7:16; i Kings, 12:1,
btc.). The well was originally about
100 feet deep and IA feet in diameter,
but 1t has been filed up with accumu.
ations Of rubbish so It is now only
lbout 70 feet deep. Christ was wearied
b his work, but not Of It, and "sat
lhus' (by) the well; literally, on the
pw wall built around 1t. The sixth
hour was probably about midday
There is comfort in consideration of
Ihe fact that as man Jesus was will
ing to meet this woman Of bad charac.
ter.
u. Jesus Holds Conversation wv. z.
~. Notice the gentle way in which
Jesus speaks, and that he began on the
ground Of their common need. BE
ksks this needed favor that he might
Eonfer greater one, ignoring the pre-
JUDGE which existed against the So.
maritans. Water was the thing upper.
most in the woman's mind. She did not
grant his simple request, and her reply
Indicated that racial differences were
! very real barrier. They hinder our
work even yet. The surprise, perhaps
pleasure, that a Jew should ask favor
pf hefseems to have greatly impressed
the woman, and aroused her curiosity.
In verse 10 Jesus tells the woman that
there are two things she must needs
Know: ~ the wondrous gift of God,
that is the Holy Spirit duke II :13;
Acts 2:23-3s); (2) the wonderful man
who had asked of her "Gtve me to
drink" Had she known these things
she would have asked him for the liv.
ing water. All that was needful was
imply to ask. The Holy Spirit is the
: living water (John $3.50. The woman
does not seem to have comprehended
what Jesus was trying to teach, yet he
was patient, and won her as convert.
He told her that everyone who came
10 that well would thirst again ". 13).
The worlds fountains do not satisfy,
fountains of wealth, fame, pleasure OF
carnal qualification, or even learning,
Hs then tells her Of the living water
Il. 400 of which, the drinker should
nsyer thirst, that 1t would satisfy who
koe Der drinks, and was to be everlast,
Ing (John 7:37-S9l. The one who re.
eelves th9 Holy Spirit within has q
perennial, eternal spring of life, Joy
knd satisfaction springing up within
him. Before the woman received the
water Of which he was speaking there
bad to come conviction Of sin wv.
l6-1el hence his remark, "Go call thy
husband" This was sharp thrust
into her life and heart She tried to
parry the thrust with a technical ques.
ton, yet he comes back with a great
revelation Of the nature Of God and the
worship which God accepts, revealing
his Messiahship tvy. 1926. As is indi.
gated, she does not seem to have com.
pretended the nature OF the request
which Jesus had made ". 15); there.
fore he began this searching Of her life
Ia order to prepare her to receive the
water Of life which he wanted to be.
stow. This knowledge of her secret
lfe by a perfect stranger who had
never even seen her before was an EVIL.
Hence to the woman of spiritual en-.
fowment: "sir perceive that thou
art prophet" She then entered upon
theological argument ". 2O) which
Jesus answered very simply, saying
that the worship o. the Father is not
to be restricted by time or place ". Ply.
At this point the disciples return and
thf5 woman goes into the villege.
Jesus, lifting up bis eyes to the citl-
Gems who were coming out at her invi-
lation, exclaims, Lift up your eyes
and look on the fields, for they are
white already to harvest" thereby en-
phasi2ing stlll further the personal
evangelism" thought which is upper.
most in this lesson.
She thirsted ". 14), she received
wv. Is, 2e), she became a spring wv.
1921 which supplied others ". 89).
The water Of life fully satisfies, and
II is a spring ". 10Y; 1t continually
Iaristies.