bad blood

John 4:4

"And He must needs go through Samaria."

We are continuing to study the questions that Jesus asked. Last week Jesus was asking His Mother "What Does This Have To Do With Me?" After she asked Him to turn the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. This was the first of what would become many signs and wonders. The Disciples saw greater things, and recorded them for us to read and know Jesus is The Son of God. 

Today we turn to another event related to water. Maybe a little less glamorous than a wedding, but still very important. As today's verse notes, Jesus and His Disciples have entered Samaria. This is earth shaking! Jews did NOT go into Samaria. They would go out of their way to go around Samaria.

The bad blood between Jews and Samaritans goes back some seven hundred years. When Israel was divided into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom, called Israel, and the southern kingdom, called Judah. Their political divisions were so deep that they aligned with other countries, leading to each of their downfalls. 

Assyria conquered Israel. They killed and enslaved many of them. They broke down their Jewish culture and traditions. Making them blend their genetics and their worship with others. The Samaritans were a result of these events. 

Judah was defeated by Babylon. They were carried off into captivity. And seventy years later, they were permitted to return and rebuild Jerusalem. The Samaritans opposed the attempt to reestablish the nation. The full-blooded, monotheistic Jews detested the mixed marriages and worship of their northern cousins. The hate between the two grew as the years went by. Jesus steps out of the rebuilt 'southern kingdom' to reach out to the Samaritans...