We continue in our study of Yeshua’s second discourse(John 4:1-42) in which he offers the Samaritan woman living water. Yeshua's interaction with this woman most likely occurs shortly after the disciples leave him and go into the village of Shechem to purchase some food (vs.8).
Around the sixth hour or 12:00 noon a Samaritan woman approaches the well to draw water and where Yeshua was sitting (vs.6). Yeshua takes the initiative and asks the woman to give him a drink. The woman is stunned that Yeshua who is Jewish would ask a Samaritan for a drink. John then explains to the reader, “For Jews do not associate with Samaritans” (vs.9).
The Greek word συγχραομαι (pronounced sugchraomai) translated “to associate” (NIV) or “to have dealings with” means properly “to use with.” This appears to be the better understanding in this context. It can’t mean that Jews "do not associate" with Samaritans or "have no dealings" with Samaritans because the disciples have just gone into the village to purchase food from Samaritans.
The meaning is, that Jews would not use the utensils or vessels of the Samaritans. This was so because it was thought that to do so would lead to contracting some kind of defilement and being rendered unclean.
It appears that Yeshua does not have a bucket an αντλημα (pronounced antleima) of his own. This would be a skin-bucket that travelers would have with them for their journey. Most likely the disciples took their bucket with them when they went into the village, which would have necessitated that Yeshua use this Samaritan woman’s bucket which sparked her surprise.
Yeshua uses the woman’s comment to begin to bring the conversation around to a higher spiritual plain. He says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink…”
The Greek word δωρεα (pronounced dorea) translated "gift," means “free gift.” John may mean for this word to be understood in two ways. On the one hand, the “free gift” refers to the new life that Messiah provides. On the other hand, Yeshua himself is the free gift. This is reminiscent of John 3:16, “For God loved the world to such a degree that he gave his unique Son…” Yeshua the Messiah the Son is in another sense the free gift given to us by God the Father.
The irony of the situation is that if this woman really knew with whom she was speaking it would not have been Messiah asking the woman for a drink. It would have been the woman asking Yeshua for something far better than merely a drink of water. She would have been asking for and receiving living water.
Later during Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles Messiah will stand up and in a loud voice proclaim, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38). John then reflects and states, “By this he meant the Spirt, whom those who believed in him were later to receive” (vs.39).
In the Hebrew Scriptures, water and living water is associated with the Lord. David writes in Psalm 36:7-9:
“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from our river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
Isaiah 12:3 states, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 55:1 says, “Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…”
Jeremiah 2:13 laments, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
Jeremiah 17:13 reflects, “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.”
Ezekiel the prophet reveals that during the Messianic Kingdom a river of water will gush forth from the Temple and “everywhere the river flows everything will live,” including “fruit trees of all kinds” which will then bear fruit and “will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:9, 12).
Have you partaken of the water that Messiah alone can give? Have you tasted the living water that will “well up unto eternal life?” David invites us all to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:).
LIVE STREAM EVERY SATURDAY MORNING 11 AM - HERE ON YOUTUBE
Write Rabbi Gary At: rabbi@bethariel.org
Visit Our Home Page At: bethariel.org
Don't Forget to Give This Video a Thumbs Up! Make Sure To Subscribe & Enable Notifications.
Thanks For Watching!
0:00 Worship Music
18:10 Liturgy
20:35 Message
1:19:10 Worship
1:25:10 Benediction
1:36:25 Worship Music
