Samaria

“Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.” (John 4:4-5)

Through this scripture we learn an interesting fact about Jesus, and about His father and mother. While many stories are told of how the Jewish people avoided Samaria, by taking the road to the east (along the coast) or to the west (along the Jordan River) [which is how people travel from Galilee to Jerusalem today], Jesus and his disciples traveled through Samaria.

The old road through Samaria is for the most part preserved. Today it is known as Israel Highway 60, "Kvish Shishim" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_60_(Israel)). This is the road which Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and this is the road which Jesus often traveled form Galilee to Jerusalem. (Luke 17:11). The road today is difficult and dangerous, it is in the West Bank. In Jesus day, it was the same. Although there was Roman protection, it was dangerous to travel through Samaria.

Highway 60 possibly was a large part of Jesus’ heritage. We know that Jesus’ father Joseph was a carpenter (Greek: Tekton – a worker in wood or any craftsman, or workman). Some people think that Joseph worked in Sepphoris, about 3-4 miles north of Nazareth. Herod Antipas created this city as a capital for his kingdom and a seat of Roman culture. Earlier Herod the Great built Sebaste (or Samaria) about a day’s journey north of Jerusalem on what is now Hwy 60.

The construction of both cities required a number of masons and artisans including carpenters. It is possible that Joseph moved to Sebaste first and then Sepphoris to capitalize on the opportunity to use his trade to make a good living.

Because of his heritage, and because Jesus knew God cared for all people, he was more accepting of the Samaritans. In John 4, we learn that the church is to reach out to all types of people. We are to reach out to women, foreigners, and even the despised people of the world. Acts 1:8 tells us to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus told us to reach out to people who are not like us, because all people have need of the Gospel. He said, “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” (Luke 14:23-24)

Consider: What roads do you travel in your community, and which do you avoid? Why? What people do you commune with and whom do you avoid? Why? How will you reach out beyond your comfort zone so the Gospel can be known by those who need it most?