The Shepherd’s Voice: Hearing God Every Day

MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2025

TEXT: JOHN 4:1-10

1. The Pharisees heard that Jesus was winning and baptizing more disciples than John.

2. (Actually, Jesus himself did not baptize anyone; only his disciples did.)

3. So when Jesus heard what was being said, he left Judea and went back to Galilee;

4. on his way there, he had to go through Samaria.

5. In Samaria, he came to a town named Sychar, which was not far from the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

6. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by the trip, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7. A Samaritan woman came to draw some water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink of water."

8. (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.)

9. The woman answered, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan---so, how can you ask me for a drink? "(Jews will not use the same cups and bowls that Samaritans use.)

10. Jesus answered, "If you only knew what God gives and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would ask him, and he would give you life-giving water."

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: JESUS’ DISREGARD FOR SOCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Social classification refers to society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power. It creates a social hierarchy within groups, ascribing different levels of privilege. Jesus conducted His ministry within a socially stratified society, where gender and racial prejudice and discrimination were rampant.

The Jews viewed Samaritans as second-class people to be avoided for moral reasons, and women also faced significant social isolation or exclusion. Sinners were treated like lepers. Jesus disregarded all social classifications by travelling through Samaria and talking to a Samaritan woman who was a sinner and a serial polyandrist.

In some African cultures, women are not allowed to eat certain choice cuts of meat that are the exclusive reserve of men. The exclusion of women, the poor, and the voiceless extends to other areas of life, too. This was the case of the woman we saw in this passage. Jesus' approach to her speaks loudly about areas of African culture that must change.

QUESTION: How do you treat the downtrodden in your church?

PRAYER: Have mercy on us Father for inadvertently promoting unhealthy cultures and traditions that negate Your teaching in Galatians 3:28.