General Articles by Mrs. E. G. White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 27, 1881

General Articles.

By Mrs. E. G. White

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

As Jesus pursued his way to Galilee, his course lay through Samaria. He embraced every op-portunity to teach as he traveled on foot from place to place. The Saviour was weary, and he sat on Jacob's well to rest, while his disciples went in search of food with which to refresh themselves and their Master. As he sat there alone, a woman of Samaria drew near as if un-conscious of his presence; but his eye was upon her, and after she had drawn the water he asked her to give him a drink.

The Samaritan woman was surprised at this request from a Jew, and answered, "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans." Jesus answered, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." He here referred to the divine grace which he alone could bestow, and which is as living water, purifying, refreshing, and invig-orating the soul.

But the woman's understanding did not com-prehend the meaning of Christ; she supposed that he was speaking of the well before them, and answered, "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself?" She saw before her only a weary, thirsty traveler, wayworn and dusty; and her mind instinctively compared this humble stranger with the great and worthy Jacob.

Jesus did not immediately satisfy the woman in regard to himself, but with solemn earnestness said, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

The woman looked upon him with wondering attention; he had succeeded in arousing her in-terest and inspiring respect for himself. She now perceived that it was not the water of Ja-cob's well to which Jesus alluded, for of this she used continually, drinking, and thirsting again. With remarkable faith she asked him to give her the water of which he spoke, that she might not thirst nor come to draw from the well.

Jesus did not intend to convey the idea that simply one draught of the water of life would satisfy the receiver, but that whoever is united with Christ, has within his soul a living fountain from which to draw strength and grace sufficient for all emergencies. Words and deeds of right-eousness flow from it and refresh the hearts of others, as well as the soul from which it springs. Jesus Christ, the never-failing source of this fountain, cheers the life and brightens the path of all who come to him for aid. Love to God, the satisfying hope of Heaven, springs up in good works unto eternal life.

Jesus now abruptly changed the subject of conversation, and bade her call her husband. The woman answered frankly that she had no husband. Jesus had now approached the desired point where he could convince her that he had the power to read her life history, although pre-viously unacquainted with her. He addressed her thus: "Thou hast well said, I have no hus-band; for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband; in that saidst thou truly."

Jesus had a double object in view; he wished to arouse her conscience as to the sin of her man-ner of life, as well as to prove to her that a sight wiser than human eyes had read the secrets of her life. But the woman, although not fully re-alizing the guilt of her manner of living, was greatly astonished that this stranger should pos-sess such knowledge. With profound reverence she said, "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet." Her personal feelings were now lost in anxiety concerning religious matters. She proceeded, "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."

Just in sight was Mount Gerizim, its temple demolished, and only the altar remaining. The place of worship had been a subject of contention between the Jews and the Samaritans. The lat-ter people had once belonged to Israel, but had become divided from them because of their trans-gressions in neglecting to obey the statutes of God. The Lord suffered them to be overcome by an idolatrous nation, whose religion had gradually contaminated their own. Still preserving their reverence for the true God, they represented him by images of wood and stone, before which they bowed in worship.

When the temple was rebuilt at Jerusalem, the Samaritans wished to join the Jews in its erec-tion. This privilege was refused them, and, in consequence, a bitter animosity sprang up be-tween the two people, which resulted in the Sa-maritans building a rival temple on Mount Geri-zim, where they worshiped according to the cer-emonies that God gave unto Moses, but mingled with their worship the taint of idolatry. But disasters attended the Samaritans, their temple was destroyed by the enemy, and they seemed to be under a curse.

They were forced to believe that God was punishing them for their apostasy. They deter-mined to reform, and solicited teachers from the Jews to instruct them in the true religion. Through this teaching, their views of God and his requirements became clearer, and their relig-ious service resembled more nearly that of the Jews. But to a certain degree they still clung to their idolatry, and there was a lack of har-mony between them and the Jews. The Samar-itans would not respect the temple of worship at Jerusalem, and refused to admit that it was the true place of worship.

Jesus answered the woman by saying that the time was at hand when they should neither wor-ship the Father in that mountain nor in Jerusa-lem. Said he, "Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Fa-ther in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

This was a plain statement that the Jews were more nearly correct in the principles of their re-ligion than any other nation. Jesus also alluded to the faith of the Samaritans being amalgamated with the worship of graven images. True, they held that these idols were only to remind them of the living God, the Ruler of the universe; but nevertheless, the people were led to reverence these inanimate figures.

Jesus who was the foundation of the old dis-pensation, identified himself with the Jews, sanc-tioning their views of God and his government. He opened great and important truths before this woman. He declared to her that the time had arrived when the true worshipers need not seek a holy mountain nor sacred temple, but were to worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Re-ligion was not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies, but was to be throned in the heart, purifying the life and actuating to good works.

The words of truth that fell from the lips of the divine Teacher stirred the heart of his listener. Never had she heard such sentiments, either from the priests of her own people or the Jews. The impressive teachings of this stranger carried her mind back to the prophecies concerning the promised Christ; for the Samaritans as well as the Jews looked for his coming. "I know that Messias cometh," said she; "when he is come, he will tell us all things." Jesus answered, "I that speak unto thee am he."

Blessed woman of Samaria! She had felt dur-ing the conference as if in the presence of divin-ity; now she gladly acknowledged her Lord. She required of him no miracle, as did the Jews, to prove his divine character. She accepted his assertion, feeling perfect confidence in his words, and not questioning the holy influence that ema-nated from him.

The disciples, returning from their errand, were surprised to find their Master conversing with a Samaritan woman; yet they did not inquire her errand, nor ask Jesus why he talked with her. The woman left her water-pot, forgetting her errand to the well, and went her way into the city, saying to all whom she met, and the men of the city, "Come, see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?"

This woman, though so sinful, was still in a more favorable condition to become an heir of Christ's kingdom than those of the Jews who made exalted professions of piety, yet trusted their salvation to the observance of outward forms and ceremonies. They felt that they need-ed no Saviour and no teacher. But this poor wo-man hungered and thirsted after righteousness. She was eager for instruction, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and ready to accept the Sav-iour when he was revealed. Jesus who ex-plained not his character to the proud and skepti-cal Pharisees and rulers, declared himself to this humble person who was ready to believe on him.

As yet he had not taken the refreshing draught that he desired, nor tasted the food that his disciples had brought him. The salvation of per-ishing souls so absorbed his attention that his physical wants were forgotten. But his follow-ers anxiously entreated him to eat. Still contem-plating the great object of his mission, he an-swered them, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of." His disciples were surprised, and began to wonder among themselves who could have brought him food in their absence. But Jesus explained, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work."

Jesus saw a field of labor among the Samari-tans. Before him lay the fields of grain, their tender green lit by the golden sunlight. Viewing the beautiful scene, he employed it as a symbol, "Say not ye there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." He here referred to the gospel field, to the work of Christianity among the poor, despised Samaritans. His hand reached out to gather them into the garner; they were ready for the harvest.

It was not merely the fact that Jesus told her concerning the secrets of her life which inspired the confidence of this woman in him, but it was also his look and his solemn words that reached her soul and convinced her that he was a superior being. At the same time she felt that he was her friend, pitying and loving her. This is the char-acter of the world's Redeemer; while he con-demned her life of sin, he directed her to his divine grace as the sure remedy. The pitying love of the Saviour is not confined to sect or party.

As the woman of Samaria hastened back to her friends, publishing as she went the wonder-ful news, many left the highway and the town to go and ascertain if she indeed spoke the truth. Numbers of the citizens left their employments and hastened to Jacob's well to see and hear this remarkable man. They surrounded Jesus and listened attentively to his instruction. They plied him with questions, and eagerly received his ex-planation of matters that had perplexed their understandings. They were like a people in great darkness tracing up a sudden ray that had pierced their gloom and which they were eager to follow to its source, that they might bask in the light and warmth of day.

The Samaritans were attracted and interested by the teachings of Jesus. But they were not satisfied with this short conference; they were anxious to hear more and to have their fellow-citizens also listen to this wonderful teacher. They begged him to tarry with them and instruct them. For two days he remained in Samaria teaching the people. Many believed on him and accepted his words. Jesus was a Jew, yet he mingled freely with these Samaritans, setting at naught the custom and bigotry of his nation. He had already commenced to break down the parti-tion wall between Jew and Gentile, and preach salvation to the world.

These Samaritan listeners were in darkness and superstition; but they were not contented with their condition, and the words of Jesus relieved them of many doubts and uncertainties that had harassed their minds. Many who had come from curiosity to see and hear this remarkable person were convicted of the truth of his teachings, and acknowledged him as their Saviour. Eagerly they listened to the words he spoke in reference to the kingdom of God. In their new joy they said unto the woman, "Now we believe, not be-cause of thy saying; for we have heard him our-selves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

Christ, at the very beginning of his ministry, openly rebuked the superficial morality and os-tentatious piety of the Jews. He did not conform his life and his work to their customs and regula-tions. He was not influenced by their unreason-able prejudices against the Gentiles. He, on the contrary, sternly rebuked their conceit and selfish seclusion. The Pharisees rejected Christ. They ignored his miracles and the truthful simplicity of his character. They refused to recognize his pure and elevated spirituality and all evidences of his divinity. They scornfully demanded of him a sign that they might know that he was indeed the Son of God.

But the Samaritans asked no sign, and Jesus performed no miracles among them; yet they re-ceived his teachings, were convicted of their great need of a Saviour, and accepted him as their Redeemer. They were therefore in a much more favorable position before God than the Jew-ish nation, with its pride and vanity, blind bigo-try, narrow prejudice, and bitter hatred of every other people on the earth. Jesus, in face of all these prejudices, accepted the hospitality of this despised people, slept under their roofs, ate with them at their tables—partaking of the food pre-pared and served by their hands—taught in their streets, and treated them with the greatest kind-ness and courtesy.

In the temple at Jerusalem there was a parti-tion wall separating the outer court from the inner one. Gentiles were permitted to enter the outer court, but it was only lawful for the Jews to penetrate to the inner inclosure. Had a Samaritan passed this sacred boundary, the tem-ple would have been desecrated, and his life would have paid the penalty of its pollution. But Jesus, who was virtually the foundation and orig-inator of the temple—the services and ceremonies of which were but a type of his great sacrifice, pointing to him as the Son of God—encircled the Gentiles with his human arm of sympathy and association, while, with his divine arm of grace and power, he brought to them the salvation which the Jews refused to accept.

Jesus had spent several months in Judea, giv-ing the rulers of Israel a fair opportunity of prov-ing his character as the Saviour of the world. He had performed many mighty works in their midst; but he was still treated by them with sus-picion and jealousy. In passing through Samaria on his way to Galilee, his reception among the Samaritans, and the eagerness with which they listened to his teachings, were in marked contrast with the incredulity of the Jews, who had misin-terpreted the prophecies of Daniel, Zechariah, and Ezekiel, confusing the first advent of Christ with his second majestic and glorious appearing.

Their blindness was in consequence of their lofty pride and arrogance, looking only for worldly station and emolument. They urged their interpretation of the prophecies upon the Samaritans, who believed that Messiah was to come not only as a Redeemer of the Jews, but of the world. This caused great bitterness toward them from the Jews, who contended that Christ would come to exalt Israel and to bring into sub-jection all other nations. This perversion of the prophecies led the Samaritans to discard all the sacred writings but those of Moses. But their minds were open to enlightenment, and they re-ceived the Saviour's instruction joyfully and accepted him as the promised Messiah.—Great Controversy, Vol. 2.