At Jacob’sWell

EGW, Chapter 18, Desire of Ages

At Jacob’sWell
John 4:1-42
John 4:5-6
THE WELL
Genesis 33:19

v. 19 For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought

from the sons of Hamor, the father of
Shechem, the plot of ground where he
pitched his tent.
Joshua 24:32

v. 32 And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites

had brought up from Egypt, were buried at
Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob
bought for a hundred pieces of silver from
the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.
This became the inheritance of Joseph’s
descendants
1934
2013
SIGNIFICANCE OF
WATER?
“..the sixth hour.”
The Favor of Water
The Favor

The hatred between Jews and Samaritans prevented the

woman from offering a kindness to Jesus; but the Saviour
was seeking to find the key to this heart, and with the tact
born of divine love, He asked, not offered, a favor. The offer
of a kindness might have been rejected; but trust awakens
trust. The King of heaven came to this outcast soul, asking a
service at her hands. He who made the ocean, who controls
the waters of the great deep, who opened the springs and
channels of the earth, rested from His weariness at Jacob's
well, and was dependent upon a stranger's kindness for
even the gift of a drink of water. AD 183.4
“..how is it..?”
Animosity Between Jews and
Samaritans
The Jews and the Samaritans were bitter enemies, and as
far as possible avoided all dealing with each other. To
trade with the Samaritans in case of necessity was indeed
counted lawful by the rabbis; but all social intercourse
with them was condemned. A Jew would not borrow from
a Samaritan, nor receive a kindness, not even a morsel of
bread or a cup of water. The disciples, in buying food,
were acting in harmony with the custom of their nation.
But beyond this they did not go. To ask a favor of the
Samaritans, or in any way seek to benefit them, did not
enter into the thought of even Christ's disciples. DA 183.2
Animosity Between Jews and
Samaritans
“When the temple at Jerusalem was rebuilt in the days of Ezra,
the Samaritans wished to join the Jews in its erection. This
privilege was refused them, and a bitter animosity sprang up
between the two peoples. The Samaritans built a rival temple on
Mount Gerizim. Here they worshiped in accordance with the
Mosaic ritual, though they did not wholly renounce idolatry.
But disasters attended them, their temple was destroyed by
their enemies, and they seemed to be under a curse; yet they still
clung to their traditions and their forms of worship. They would
not acknowledge the temple at Jerusalem as the house of God,
nor admit that the religion of the Jews was superior to their
own.” DA 188.3
Living Water
 The cisterns will be emptied, the pools
become dry; but our Redeemer is an
inexhaustible fountain. We may drink, and
drink again, and ever find a fresh supply.
He in whom Christ dwells has within
himself the fountain of blessing,—“a well
of water springing up into everlasting
life.” From this source he may draw
strength and grace sufficient for all his
needs. DA 187.3
“Sir..”
“Shall Thirst Again…”
“How many thirsting souls are today close
by the living fountain, yet looking far
away for the wellsprings of life!”DA 184.3
 “He who seeks to quench his thirst at the
fountains of this world will drink only to
thirst again. Everywhere men are
unsatisfied. They long for something to
supply the need of the soul. Only One can
meet that want. The need of the world,
“The Desire of all nations,” is Christ. The
divine grace which He alone can impart, is
as living water, purifying, refreshing, and
invigorating the soul. “ DA 187.2
“Shall Never Thirst Again…”
 “He who tastes of the love of Christ will
continually long for more; but he seeks
for nothing else. The riches, honors, and
pleasures of the world do not attract him.
The constant cry of his heart is, More of
Thee. And He who reveals to the soul its
necessity is waiting to satisfy its hunger
and thirst. Every human resource and
dependence will fail.” DA 187.3
“Give me this water..”
“Go call your husband..”
 “Before this soul could
receive the gift He longed to
bestow, she must be brought
to recognize her sin and her
Saviour.”DA 187.5
“..no husband”
“..a prophet”
“…the hour cometh.”
“..salvation is from the Jews.”
God is a Spirit
“Religion is not to be confined to external
forms and ceremonies. The religion that
comes from God is the only religion that
will lead to God. In order to serve Him
aright, we must be born of the divine
Spirit. This will purify the heart and
renew the mind, giving us a new capacity
for knowing and loving God. It will give
us a willing obedience to all His
requirements.” DA 189.2
“This is true worship. It is the fruit of the
working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit
every sincere prayer is indited, and such
prayer is acceptable to God. Wherever a
soul reaches out after God, there the
Spirit's working is manifest, and God will
reveal Himself to that soul. For such
worshipers He is seeking. He waits to
receive them, and to make them His sons
and daughters.” DA 189.2
“..Am He”
 “Jesus had convinced her that He read
the secrets of her life; yet she felt that
He was her friend, pitying and loving
her. While the very purity of His
presence condemned her sin, He had
spoken no word of denunciation, but
had told her of His grace, that could
renew the soul. She began to have some
conviction of His character.” DA 189.3
“..left her waterpot.”
“Leaving her waterpot spoke unmistakably
as to the effect of His words. It was the
earnest desire of her soul to obtain the
living water; and she forgot her errand to
the well, she forgot the Saviour's thirst,
which she had purposed to supply. With
heart overflowing with gladness, she
hastened on her way, to impart to others the
precious light she had received.”DA 191.2
“..the Christ.”
“…meat to eat.”
“He saw her drinking of the water of
life, and His own hunger and thirst
were satisfied. ….. To minister to a
soul hungering and thirsting for the
truth was more grateful to Him than
eating or drinking. It was a comfort,
a refreshment, to Him. Benevolence
was the life of His soul.” DA 190.5
“…not four months.”
“….sower, reaper.”
“…for the saying of the woman.”
 The Saviour did not wait for
congregations to assemble. Often He
began His lessons with only a few
gathered about Him, but one by one
the passers-by paused to listen, until a
multitude heard with wonder and
awe the words of God through the
heaven-sent Teacher. “ DA 194.4
 “The worker for Christ should not feel that he
cannot speak with the same earnestness to a few
hearers as to a larger company. There may be only
one to hear the message; but who can tell how far-
reaching will be its influence? It seemed a small
matter, even to His disciples, for the Saviour to
spend His time upon a woman of Samaria. But He
reasoned more earnestly and eloquently with her
than with kings, councilors, or high priests. The
lessons He gave to that woman have been
repeated to the earth's remotest bounds.” DA 194.4
“As soon as she had found the Saviour
the Samaritan woman brought others
to Him. She proved herself a more
effective missionary than His own
disciples. ….. But through the woman
whom they despised, a whole cityful
were brought to hear the Saviour. She
carried the light at once to her
countrymen.” DA 195.1
 “This woman represents the working of a
practical faith in Christ. Every true disciple
is born into the kingdom of God as a
missionary. He who drinks of the living
water becomes a fountain of life. The
receiver becomes a giver. The grace of
Christ in the soul is like a spring in the
desert, welling up to refresh all, and
making those who are ready to perish eager
to drink of the water of life. “DA 195.2
References

The Holy Bible

https://www.biblestudytools.com/
commentaries/the-fourfold-gospel/by-
sections/at-jacobs-well-and-at-sychar.html

Desire of Ages, Chapter