Reaching across the Lines
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, 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 and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
John 4:7–10
The Jewish people in Jesus’ day regarded the Samaritans with disdain and contempt, which the Samaritans returned in full measure. The Jews regarded them as lesser because their ancestors had intermarried with Gentiles, and because they did not go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. Jewish rabbis would walk miles out of their way to avoid traveling through Samaria. Yet Jesus intentionally routed His trip to Jerusalem through that despised land. Then He went further, taking time to offer eternal life to a woman who was outcast from polite society because of her immoral life.
The Saviour set this example for us, because we need the reminder that all people, regardless of race, religion, social class, or lifestyle need to be saved. There should be no barriers that keep us from sharing the gospel with others. When Peter was sent to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, he expressed the truth that salvation is available to all who believe: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34). There are no people who are off limits or out of bounds when it comes to sharing the gospel.
John 4:7–10
The Jewish people in Jesus’ day regarded the Samaritans with disdain and contempt, which the Samaritans returned in full measure. The Jews regarded them as lesser because their ancestors had intermarried with Gentiles, and because they did not go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. Jewish rabbis would walk miles out of their way to avoid traveling through Samaria. Yet Jesus intentionally routed His trip to Jerusalem through that despised land. Then He went further, taking time to offer eternal life to a woman who was outcast from polite society because of her immoral life.
The Saviour set this example for us, because we need the reminder that all people, regardless of race, religion, social class, or lifestyle need to be saved. There should be no barriers that keep us from sharing the gospel with others. When Peter was sent to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, he expressed the truth that salvation is available to all who believe: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34). There are no people who are off limits or out of bounds when it comes to sharing the gospel.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Every person we meet has an eternal destiny, and we should do our best to point them toward Jesus.
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