Doing something new for our Truth Exposed installment, Nathan joins Keith for a live session to discuss today's passage. Weals include inserted comments by our favored old time radio bible teacher, J Vernon McGee. Be sure to check out his ongoing ministry with the link below.

As the passage begins, the ministries of John and Jesus have gone in different geographical directions. But Jesus had been growing more disciples, which got the attention of the religious leaders.

Verses 1-3 (ESV)

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),

3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

Jesus time hadn't come, so the need to move along was in self preservation from the intent of the religious leaders. There were at least 2 routes to take between Jerusalem and Galilee. From where Jesus had been baptizing, he must have figured the route through Samaria was most practical. Not to mention he knew he had a date to reconcile a woman at a well.

Verse 4

4 And he had to pass through Samaria.

Some background on Samaria, and why it was considered so terrible.

The northern kingdom never had a good king, and was taken captive. For a while the Syrians tried to populate the land, but short story, they were attacked by lions. When the Samaritans came back, they also brought back a blend of religious practices, and though pious in their own way, they were considered half breeds with a perverse religion.

Verse 5

5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

This plot of land had direct links to Jacob, the founder of Israel, and Joseph, who technically held the birthright of the kingdom. The well was at the foot of a hill. One of the former locations where the tabernacle had once been set up. In Deuteronomy, Moses had the people gather on two hilltops. From one they shouted blessings, and from the other, curses on themselves, should they fail in keeping God's laws. This was the blessings hill.

Verse 6

6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Jesus was tired, sat by the well, but the hour was all wrong to expect someone to be drawing water. Morning was the time to draw water for the day ahead. It is a proof that this woman might not be accepted among her own people. An outcast of the outcast people.

Verse 7-8

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."

8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

Jesus has a way of looking for refreshment in unexpected places. He might have told his entourage of disciples to uncover the well, and draw from it. For that matter, why did he have to send all his disciples into town for food? Instead, a woman from the polar opposite end of the social spectrum approaches, and Jesus asks her for a drink.

Verse 9-10

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

The woman knew her place on the social ladder. Jews might do business to buy from a Samaritan, but they drew a line and refused to drink from the same cup. Here is Jesus asking to drink from her cup.