"The Woman at the Well"

“WOMAN AT THE WELL: A STORY OF REDEMPTION”
Scripture Reading: John 4:4-54
Part 1

1. The Woman at the Well: Redeeming The Church Through Torah [Torah is the Jewish way of saying "The Word of God"]

A. Jesus returned to the LAND given to Joseph by Jacob—the spot of Jacobs Well—where the place Josephs bones were buried (In Ezekiel it is referred to as the VALLEY OF DRY BONES!)

Ezekiel 37:1-2 “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.”

"Dry Bones" is a Hebraic Idiomatic statement for being "separated from Torah: Gods Teaching and Instruction"

B. Jesus came to a town called "Shakar"—meaning "a town of Drunkenness" in Samaria (The Samaritans were the blood descendents of the lost 10 and 1/2 Northern Tribes called "Ephraim" and "The House of Israel" that had intermarried with the Canaanites before the time of Ezra.)

Jeremiah 51:7 says “Babylon was a gold cup in the LORD's hand; she made the whole earth drunk.(the Hebrew word "SHAKAR") The nations drank her wine; therefore they have now gone mad.

Deuteronomy 28:34 says of those who violate the Covenant, “The sights you see will drive you mad.”

C- Jesus came and Sat by the Well of Jacob—which Jacob had given to Joseph many years before. He sat next to this well—and the Samaritan Woman came to "Jacobs Well" to draw water the way she always had—following her fathers ways—while the rest of the Judean Disciples went into town to buy some food. (This was unprecedented, considering Jews and Samaritans were mortal enemies--even though they were distant cousins!)


Genesis 24:43-44 says “See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar," and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'

Zechariah 1:4 says “Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.

D. Jesus makes the first move—He asks her “Will you give me a drink?” Abrahams Servant "Eliezer" meaning "God's Servant" asks another Foreign Girl this same exact question in Genesis 24:45

Genesis 24:45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebeccah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'”

2. JEWS AND SAMARITANS: NO LOVE LOSS THERE!

A. She asks him how can she give Him a Drink—He is a Jew and Jews have NO ASSOCIATION with Samaritans Jesus makes his statement to her that if She only knew the "Gift of God" and who was asking her—then things may be different.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says of the gift of God “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

B. Jesus then states that if she recognized who it was that was asking- If She will only ask—He will freely give her—Living Water

John 5:46-47 says “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

What did she see—a Jew—A Rabbi—the Jewish Rabbi had the Living Water –that the Samaritans had not had access to upon the Altar of God in Centuries. During the Feast of Tabernacles which is called "Sukkot" there was a Festival amidst the Jews that is called “Simchat bet ha Sho'ebhah" - "Joy of the House of Drawing" (water) - or the "Ceremony of Water Libation"—The High Priest Would Pour Water Upon the Sacrificial Alter during the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot—which would ensure the life giving rains would come to the desert land of Israel—but the Samaritans were kept separate—outsiders to this—refused entry into Jerusalem and thus bound to dryness—that meant death in the Middle East.

C. She finds Jesus is not ready to draw water from the OLD WELL—and She asks where she can find this living water—she asks if Jesus is greater than the patriarch "Jacob"—meaning is this water greater than the old ways handed down from her Fathers?

Jeremiah 16:19 says “O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.”

D. Jesus responds—whoever drinks of the Natural water of "Jacob"—meaning expects to be saved by keeping the traditions of the Patriarch "Jacob"--will be left still thirsty --But whoever will drink the water-- the message of the "Living Torah"--Jesus Christ-- led by the Spirit-- will never thirst again. In fact this will become a well the springs up to eternal life for others!

Isaiah 49:10 says “They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

E. So She (Ephraim) asks for this living Water (Spirit led Torah) –but she asks with wrong motives at first—it is to avoid having to do work (like some today that wants Jesus but they do not want to do the Word of God by the Spirit)

James 4:2-3 says “You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

3. The Messiah Tells Her To Do What She Cannot Do

A. Hell tells her to call her Husband (God had divorced her ancestors years ago for their failure to obey his covenants) and come back and she replies truthfully—"I Have no Husband"—as She is not a Bride, nor is She a Widow—but She had become a prostitute.

Jeremiah 3:8 says “I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.

B. She has had 5 husbands—and her current affair is not her Husband. 5 is the number of Grace—which is required as they are in "Sydon" –the "place of drunkenness" –from the Hebrew root word "SHAKAR"—or to be "drunk." "Ephraim" -- today is coming out of a state of "drunkenness" from Gods wrath in the Nations—in need of Grace!

Jeremiah 51:7 says “Babylon was a gold cup in the LORD's hand; she made the whole earth drunk.(SHAKAR) The nations drank her wine; therefore they have now gone mad.

C. She then admits Jesus is a Prophet—recognizes there is something special about Him--But cannot seem to hear Him clearly—this is many Ephraimites in the Church today.

Zechariah 7:7-12 says “Are these not the words the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills were settled?' "And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.

D. She states that Her Fathers worshipped on this Mountain --or Mount Gerizim—instead of "Mount Ebal" or Jerusalem—following the ways of Ahab of the Northern Tribes in 1 Kings 16:29-33—in other words—they added to the Scriptures and made a "Torah" of their own devoid of any reference to Jews—this is how it had been done for years-- but She states that "Judah says to worship in Jerusalem"—where She as a "Samaritan" could not go—as Ezra had banned the Samaritans at the rebuilding of the Temple from Jerusalem.

Ezra 10:2-8 says “Then Shekinah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it." So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.”

Ephesians 2:12-13 says “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

4. Jesus says the Samaritan Woman worships "what she does not know."

A. Jesus says she worships what she does not know (A Shadow of the Church keeping many of Torahs tenants— which are quoted 85% of the time in the NT) and Jews worship what they do Know (Written Torah—but only academically—not by the Spirit) and that salvation (Jesus) is from the Jews ( meaning the Messiah was from the ancestral tribe of "Judah" like King David before him—Jesus is the living--life giving TORAH comes through "JUDAH" to the Nations of the world!)

Luke 13:22-30 says, "Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

B. Then Jesus says a time is coming—and is now come—when people WHO ARE TRUE WORSHIPPERS-- will have to Worship in "Spirit" and in "Truth" -FOR THEY ARE WHO GODS SEEKS AS WORSHIPPERS!

John 4:23-24 says “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

C. God is Spirit—Jesus says—and those who worship Him must do so IN-- SPIRIT and TRUTH—this means by the REST of Jeremiah 23:6 and following the Torah’s principles as a compass—being led by the Holy Spirit. Torah are books of prophecy—so the portable tabernacle in the wilderness had to happen again—which we celebrated in the Feast of Tabernacles or "Sukkot"—the Tabernacle of God—the portable "Mishkan: Temple" in the wilderness—when He gathers us out of our Egypt--our places of "Bondage"—then we make up Ezekiel’s Temple!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

D. She says—I know one day Messiah is Coming—(This is many in the Church today—she was following the ways of her fathers that were mixed with the pagan nations—but She new Messiah was coming). She says --He will explain everything to us—and Jesus TELLS HER—HE IS THE MESSIAH!

John 4: 25-26 says “The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."


PART TWO

1. Review

A. The Samaritan Woman at the Well is a representation of the secular "Church" Today. She is a Samaritan—the Samaritans and the Judeans will not associate—and haven't since the time of Ezra the Priest.

B. She is coming to the well of Jacob to get water—Just like Rebeccah was getting water when Eliezer was looking for the Bride for the Son of Promise—Isaac—the Son of Abraham. And Just Like Eliezer—Jesus asked the girl for a drink of water—this was the sign that Eliezer had found the Bride for the Son of Promise

C. She left us last week indicating that She new the Messiah was due to be born—and that He would make all things clear—and Jesus says “I AM HE”—meaning—I am the Messiah! She is about to run off to the town and witness to the Samaritans…

D. The Apostles—Judah of the day--had gone into Jerusalem to buy food and had been gone and they return to find Jesus doing something that is just not done by Orthodox Jewish Rabbi’s.


2. The Disciples Return

A. Then the Apostles return—see Jesus with the Samaritan—but say nothing (even though it was not done that way. When THEY SEE HER WITH HIM—Samaria with JUDAH-- Ephraim with Judah—a type and shadow of Christians and Jews together--they say nothing but they watch with great intent—just like Jews today watch us when we speak about the Torah –The Samaritan leaves her water Jar behind—which is a prophecy of Ephraim leaving the ways of their fathers behind to follow Torah

Jeremiah 16:19 says that in the last days Ephraim will say “O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good”

B. Now the Samaritan Woman (Former Prostitute—who now is the Bride) runs off to tell everyone (This is a Shadow of the Church witnessing about Jesus--the living Torah—the Living Water poured out for us on Sukkot--

Acts 1: 8 says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

C. Jesus is the Water of Life—On Tabernacles a water offering was poured out on the altar. It was only during the Sukkot Festival that this was done in fulfillment of Isaiah who had prophesied in

Isaiah 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation”

3. The Temple Ritual on Sukkot

A. Temple rituals at Tabernacles --"Simchat bet ha Sho'ebhah" - Joy of the House of Drawing (water) - Ceremony of Water Libation

B. Every morning of the feast there was a joyous procession to the Pool of Siloam, with music, headed by a priest with a golden pitcher (a little over 2 pints). At the same time there was a procession to the Kidron Valley to collect willow branches which were made into a canopy over the altar of burnt offerings. As the sacrifice proceeded, the priest returning with the water entered through the Water Gate (named for this event). With a threefold trumpet blast he poured the water into a silver receptacle on the altar.

C. The rainy season begins after the Feast of Tabernacles. Rain is needed to soften the ground ready for plowing. This celebration became associated with looking to the Lord for the rains. It also reminded of the water out of the rock in the wilderness, and of messianic promises such as Isaiah 12:3 about "joyfully drawing water from the springs of salvation". It is interesting that this offering of water is made at the end of the dry season when water is scarcer - thus it is an act of faith; trusting in the rains to come.

D. Failure to do so brought about Punishment

Zechariah 14:16-17 says “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.”

4. The Revival comes as the Samaritan’s return

A. The Samaritans make their way out of Gerizim to see Jesus (this is a picture of the "out gathering of the Church" in the last days by their understanding the Torah)

John 4:39-41 says “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.”

B. Meanwhile the Disciples get to talking with Him about food—and Yeshua explains that He has food they know nothing about (the House of Israel’s restoration among the Samaritans) and it is to do the will (Torah) of Him who sent Him –The Disciples--who were all Jews--didn’t understand why He would do it this way—talking to the Samaritans?

John 4:35-38 says “Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

C. Jesus says to them—do you not say there are 4 months until Harvest (The four months until harvest—are the 4000 years from Creation until the Messiahs arrival in Judah)

John 4:35 says “Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

D. The Fields are ripe for Harvest (The Samaritans—the Nations are ripe for Torah and the Testimony of Jesus) Then He mentions the Reaper—the Reaper are Angels by the Spirit of God—the Sower is the Father as the Sower sows the Torah--the Word--and the Spirit does the Harvesting of Souls turning away from the old ways of the Fathers to the new life in Messiah.

John 4:36-38 says “Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

Matthew 13:30 Jesus said “Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

E. He then tells Judah to go forth and reap—he sent them to the Nations with the Torah and the Testimony of a unified Israel—all one in Him.

Matthew 28:18-20 in commissioning Judah—Jesus said “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Ephesians 2:11-13 says “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

5. Many Samaritans Believe and the Royal Son

A. Many Samaritans believed because of the belief of the Woman (a picture of the Church) and Jesus stayed with them 2 days (a type and shadow of the last 2000 years) Because of His words (the Living Torah) many more came to believe

John 4:39-42 says “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."


B. Then AFTER TWO DAYS a certain Royal Officials Son was Sick—Sick is a Hebraic Idiomatic expression for a condition outside the Torah (The royal son with the Child is—a type and shadow of the Jews in the last day). The Royal Official asked Jesus to come and heal his son. (This is Judah asking for forgiveness after Torah breaks out to the Nations

John 4:43-47 says “After the two days he left for Galilee. (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.”

C. He asks Jesus to come down—but Jesus sends Him away with HIS WORD! THE TESTIMONY AND THE TORAH--the Living Word of God. The Royal Official is told His son will live!

John 4: 48-50 says “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

D. The Fever (Sickness—a type and shadow of being separated from the living Torah—Yeshua) left Him in the 7th hour (this is represents the sickness—the Torah separation—Judah’s separation from the Jewish Messiah will end during the 7th year—or the 1000 year millennial reign—the Sabbatical year of the Messiah! Judah will be restored FOLLOWING Torah breaking out among the former Gentile Nations!

John 4:51-54 says “While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.”

Isaiah 2:3 says of the Millennial Reign “Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 4:2-4 says “2 Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.”