Jews and Samaritans

“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria.” ‭‭John‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

At this time Jesus has been living in Galilee however during this time He needed to go to Judea and because of that, He had to go through Samaria. This may not seem like a big deal to us. However, since the beginning of time (Genesis 43), the Samaritans and the Israelites did not get along. They were known as half-breeders. Half Jew and half Gentile. Because of this, they worshiped God and other gods at the same time. This was inferred to be a result of them growing up with the tradition of worshiping God. Because of this, the Jews hated them. We have results of them crossing the Jorden river just to avoid going into the land of Samaritans as well as many cases of them destroying their temples, and towns, and even killing people. Yet even though all this hatred. Jesus decided to ask for a drink from one of them. “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)” John‬ ‭4:7-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Jesus saw no division of value because of her race nor for the fact that she was a woman. For in His eyes there was,” no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” Colossians‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬