“Now he had to go through Samaria.” John 4:4
Jesus and His disciples were leaving Judea to go to Galilee. Although the most direct route was through Samaria, most Jewish people would go around Samaria, not through it. However, Jesus had to go through Samaria.
Samaria was an area where many Jews who had been captivity in Babylon had settled when they returned to Israel. Many of these Jews had intermarried with people of other nations. This broke God’s rule to not marry outside of an Israelite. Since this had occurred, they were looked down upon by the rest of the Jewish people as worthless. These people were looked at as worse than dogs (which were despised at that time) because it looked like the rejected God completely.
The reason Jesus had to go through Samaria was more than just to get to Galilee. He had to minister to someone there. The person He had to talk with was also at the bottom of the social ladder, even for Samaria. She was a woman who had been divorced multiple times and was currently living with a man outside of wedlock.
When Jesus met this woman, He revealed to her the need she really had. She was looking for real meaning to life. She saw that Jesus could provide that real life. She grabs onto it and believes Him.
Had Jesus been like the average Jewish person, He never would have met this lady and she never would have found salvation. She would have died in her sinful lifestyle.
God may guide you down a path that does not look or sound good, or make any sense. Yet, that path may be to have you reach out to someone there that needs God.
You must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Be willing to go down the path shown. Be willing to talk to anyone who crosses your path about Jesus. Point people to the living water that Jesus provides.
Do not be concerned about your safety and comfort. God has you here on this earth to have fellowship with Him and bring others to Him. Are you doing that today? Or are you going down a different path?
I pray today that God will reveal the path He has for you; that God will show you the people you need to talk to; that God will give you His boldness to tell others of Jesus; that God will fill you with His love for all people; and that God will use you to build His kingdom.
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