Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-09

pie request. and should have been grant
ed without comment. 1t startled tho
woman. however. Men did not ordinari-
~ speak 10 women. In fact, they paid
no more attention TO them than il they
were slaves or animals. In every coun-
try today where Christ is not known
the condition of woman is about the
same. ON that day Jesus began the
work of lifting woman to her place rs
the equal of man. Every woman ought
10 love Jesus Christ. for He alone has
made her lot bearable.
This woman was the meanest woman
ever made though. She refused thirs-
" man a drink of water simply because
He belonged to another race. She die
not refuse point blank. but in a cantan-
kerous spirit asked Him how il was that
He. as a Jew. would speak to her who
was a woman and n woman of Sa'
maria, Jesus did not answer heI
question. you notice. In fact, in spite OF
all of her efforts TO draw Him into ar
argument He did not allow Himself tc
be inveigled into a futile discussion
But what He did was to arouse wom-
ans curiosity. He said. If you knew
the gift of God and who il is that asked
YOU for a drink. you would have asked
Him and He would have given you hN-
ing water" He succeeded, but cantan-
kerous as she was she came back with a
question of doubt. You have nothing
10 draw WITH she said, and the well
is 100 feet deep. How are you going TO
get that living water? Surely you are
not greater than our father jacob who
gave us the well!'
Jesus did not answer that question
either. or be drawn into any argument
here. He took the next step, and ere
nrf a
..yVhosoever drinks of this water shall
thirst again. but whatsoever drinketh
of the water that 1 shall give he shall
never thirst. but it shall be in him a
well OF water springing up into everlast'
ing life"
Now the shoe is on the other foot
Instead of His asking her she asks Him
sir" she said, give me this water so
that 1 shall never be thirsty again, and
never have to come here to draw water
any more" Her motives were very low
( was laZiness on her part that prompt
ed be- request: but Jsus did not turn
her away simply because her motives
were not the highest. He took that re-
ouest of hers with the low motive and
hogan TO satisfy it. He said to her
eco. call thy husband. and come hltner.
Her face Redeemed: she hung her head Tor
A moment at this startling turn in the
conversation; then suddenly gathering
herself said. u have no husband But
He read into the very depths of her hte
and laid it bare in all its ugly detail
But this woman was not only doubt
81. she was an artful dOdger. she was
not willing TO admit her sin as YET, and
so she said, 81 see you are prophet
Settle this dispute that the Jews and
the Samaritans have been having tor
these many years. Which is the place
where men ought to worship, here or al
Jerusalem7
There was temple on Mt. Gerlzlm'
and Jacobs we'll where they were SIT
ting was at the foot Of this mount
Jesus answered this question. he told
her that worship was spiritual in It's
nature. and the time would come When
il could not be confined to any place but
was determined by the attitude OF heart
Something in His word with reference
10 the time coming made her say, /
know that when the Messiah cometh'
for whom both Jews and Samarltans are
looking. He will tell us all things Then
Jesus revealed Himself TO her. Il that
speak unto thee am He;" He said. About
this time His disciples came up, ana
u1arveIed that he was speaking with a
woman They would have marveled
even more if they had known the char
acter of the woman, and more yet II
they had suspected the character OF the
conversation.