Ship of Fools: And the Walls Come Tumbling Down

Thread: And the Walls Come Tumbling Down Board: Kerygmania / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Gramps49 (# 16378) on :

John 4:5-42

There is so much to unpack in this story. You can go various ways. What I am struck by it is how many walls have to tumble down.

There is Jesus in the middle of Samaria, a land self-righteous Jews would avoid, has he no respect.

There is the Samaritan woman. Ostracized in her own town because she had been married five times and is now living with another man (why had she been married five times? Could it be because she was barren?), she has to come to the well mid day to avoid the wagging tongues--maybe even spittle.

Jesus in need. Only she can provide the need. The woman in need. Only Jesus can provide that need.

They begin to talk. Jewish men would have been discouraged from talking to a woman in public if she were not married to him, much less a Samaritan woman of ill repute. Yet he respectfully asks her to give him drink. The woman is drawn into the conversation--maybe because Jesus does not revile her.

She sees he is a rabbi, even a prophet, she wonders if there is more to him than just appearances. She asks. He responds "I AM."

She forgets herself. She leaves her water jug at the well, runs into town and announces her discovery.

The people of the village receive her testimony. They check it out for themselves. At their invitation, Jesus stays for two days. There were other places that never invited Jesus to stay with them. I bet there was a whole lot of partying going on. Then Jesus moves on.

All of this because barriers came tumbling down.

I still have to figure out the interaction between Jesus and his disciples about why it all happened.

Any insight will be appreciated.

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :

You might be interested in Spong's view in his The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic.
Brief hints:
The woman represents the Samaritan nation and the five husbands were the nations settled in Samaria : 2 Kings 17:24

quote:
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria in place of the people of Israel; they took possession of Samaria, and settled in its cities.

.

The well is a traditional place for a man to find a wife viz Isaac & Rebecca and others.

In Spong's view of the theme of raising discussions from the mundane/literal to the mystical the need for natural water is raised to the need for living water. I also see this in raising the discussion from the mundane Jerusalem or Gerizim to worshipping in spirit and truth, but Spong does not mention this I think.

Lots of people do not like Spong, so I will just say that he provides an interesting perspective.

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