Originally posted 3/13/14
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. (John 4:4-6)
Read: Deuteronomy 3:21 – 5:33
Relate: The first three words in today’s verse really do raise my eyebrows. I find it really eye opening to see John writes that Jesus had to go through Samaria on the way. For most Jews of His day, the mentality would be that they had to go around Samaria. There is no way any good Jew from Galilee would travel the straight line unless dire necessity forced it on them. But Jesus was compelled by love. He was on a mission and there was no avoiding it.
Normally, when leaving Jerusalem to head back to Galilee every Jew would take the Jericho road from Jerusalem east to Jericho. From that city they would cross the Jordan River into Perea. There they would travel north along the eastern side of the Jordan River right up to Mount Tabor. Once that mountain could be seen, they would cross back over to the west side of the river and continue their way to wherever their home was from there. This was the road everybody would take. By going through Samaria, Jesus was walking a different road.
React: What road am I on? Am I going the same way everyone before me has gone? Am I so entrenched into a Christian subculture that avoiding the “lost” and the “sinners” seems to be the right way to go? Who are the spiritual “Samaritans” in my life and do I feel any compulsion at all to go to them? For Jesus, it was not an option. Love compelled Him. Does it pull me the same way?
Respond:
God, I want to follow You in walking a different road. I want to be obedient in following You wherever that might take me. Let me be a bringer of Your Kingdom to my world, even to those places and people that most avoid. Create divine appointments for me. Prepare the ears of those You have called me to speak to. Let Your Kingdom come on earth just as it has in heaven. And let me be about the business of bringing it.
THE RIVER WALK 
What road am I on? What a beautiful way to conclude from the story. If the Jews had to pay today’s prices for gas I think they would have wised up and taken the shorter road too.
I doubt it. Racism can be quite expensive.
Reblogged this on RG's 2 Cents and commented:
Something I never thought of before, from “The River Walk”.
I believe there is a deep reason for his compulsion to go through that route. Maybe it had to do with His assignment and the individuals He met when He got there. Interesting take. VW
You’re getting a little ahead of me on this one. I think you might possibly already know the story that is coming up in John 4, don’t you. 😉
🙂 Hope you touch on the tribe of Gad:)
THANK YOU! For sharing the worship and wisdom. I’m adding Citipoint to my playlist.
Reblogged this on Don't Forget the Eyeliner.
Great and convicting message. I find myself getting too scared to rock the boat (especially living in a Muslim country) but this is a great reminder to let LOVE overcome fear and compel me to reach out even if it is counter to the norm or in my case, counter cultural.
Living in Turkey, I fully understand.
“Caritas Christi urget nos ! The love of Christ impels us, woe to me if I do not announce the Gospel!”
Pingback: From The Vine | Introduction ~ Meet Me At The Well | Emerge Beautiful
Following Jesus and his word. I love this precious reminder.Thanks for the post.
Joy to you