Christ’s Response to Human Divisions (The Bible’s Answer for Racism, Part 1 John 4)
By Ben Quine
Case Study - John 4
**This article is the beginning of a series helping us navigate this issue of racism in our world from a Biblical perspective. To read all of Ben’s articles on this subject - click on his name above by the date published and it will sort all of his articles in one place.
The charges of racism levied against the United States of America are deadly serious. Many are wounded physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as a result of the division and injustice that come from this sin.
In light of this, the most important questions we can ask are, “What does the Bible say about racism? What is God’s prescription for healing, peace, and reconciliation in our culture?”
Let’s start by reading John chapter 4.
“And He had to pass through Samaria.” (verse 4)
As Jesus and His disciples set out from Judea to return home to Galilee, the fastest and most efficient route was straight through Samaria. But most devout Jews would bypass Samaria altogether to avoid “defilement,” taking the far longer and more arduous route across the Jordan River on the east side.
Why?
“Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” (verse 9)
Samaria was a no-go-zone. There was a huge social barrier. They didn’t mingle, they didn’t socialize, they certainly wouldn’t date or marry. Even talking was forbidden. Why was there such great friction between the Jews and the Samaritans?
“And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD. But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.” (2 Kings 17:24–31)
This division went back hundreds of years to the time of the exile. The Samaritans were a racially-mixed group of people, partly Hebrew and partly Gentile – they were the descendants of the left-behinds during the exile, who intermarried with other peoples. Their ancestors had worshipped false gods and sacrificed their children to them, so the Jews considered them in a constant state of uncleanness. And when the Jews returned from exile (during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah) some Samaritans even opposed their rebuilding of the LORD’s temple!
But Jesus decided to walk through Samaria.
Of course, He knew all of this history. He knew He wasn’t “supposed” to be there. He went anyway. He directed His disciples to join Him, when they undoubtedly would also have chosen to go around. And while they “had gone away into the city to buy food,” Jesus waited at the well for the woman He had come to meet.
Any conversation between them would not be culturally appropriate. They were divided by gender (male/ female), ethnicity (Jew/Samaritan), social standing (Rabbi/”sinner”), religion (worship in Jerusalem/worship on “this mountain”), and they were strangers.
He engaged anyway.
Christ, knowing the personal hurt in her life, went intentionally and sought her out. By divine appointment, He arrived at Jacob’s Well just in time to find her there fetching water on her own, a social outcast. Because of His love for the lost, Jesus crossed the traditional barriers to reach her and bring healing – but not just to her – to her whole town.
“If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (verse 10)
At first, the woman didn’t understand what He was trying to teach her about the gift of God and the living water. The disciples certainly didn’t understand. Jesus Himself is the gift of God, who has come into the world to bring healing! He brought healing and reconciliation to the woman and to her town.
“When the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days.” (verse 40)
Recognizing that Jesus was indeed the Savior of the World, the Samaritan town embraced Him and begged Him and His disciples to stay with them, exploding the social barriers between them. More astounding still, Christ ultimately birthed a reconciliation in the hearts of the disciples that empowered them to return to Samaria preaching the good news of the Gospel after His ascension.
“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.” (Acts 8:4-5)
Jesus has come to bring healing, peace, and reconciliation to all people. He has come to break down the walls of hostility!
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:11-17)
Here is an amazing concept: Scripture speaks truth to us right where we are! It never loses its relevancy, but reaches into our lives and and provides the answers we need for today. So ask yourself, “Where are the no-go-zones in my life? Who are those people I am not “supposed” to talk with or socialize with? How would sharing the gift of God -Christ Himself -make a difference in my relationship with them?”
If you are now thinking, “But our situation is worse. Our racial and social divisions are deeper. There is no hope for reconciliation here,” God’s Word says nothing could be further from the truth. As He taught His disciples, Jesus looked at all the broken relationships and all the divisions and said…
“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (verse 35)
We can understand every one of the divisions the Jews and Samaritans experienced then: tension between men and women, tension between “races” and ethnicity, tension between rich and poor, tension between those of different religions. Our day is so like the world Jesus lived in! He knows all about the division, anger, and hurt in our culture. Jesus alone can feel the pain, brokenness, hurt, and separation you are experiencing. Still, He says when there is pain and brokenness and hurt and separation, that is the time when the fields are ripest for harvest!
Today the fields are ripe for a restoration and reconciliation harvest. Jesus is ready to bring healing to our relationship with God and healing to our relationships with our neighbors in our land, just like He did in the town of Sychar all those years ago.
Join us Monday evenings starting February 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm central for a look at what God’s Word says about Racism, and His plan for reconciliation, as we work through the Answers for Difficult Days Bible study series by Ben Quine.
Check out our Christians Engaged Store to purchase all 4 of the books - Answers for Difficult Days. (4-Book Bundle $40 , shipping not included).
ABOUT BEN
Connect with him at Cornerstone Curriculum
Ben Quine, the second son of David and Shirley Quine, was blessed to grow up with a Charlotte Mason/Dr. Schaeffer/Biblical Worldview education -- a tremendous gift! Through the years, Ben has served as a Cornerstone consultant, assistant, and co-author. He has written several Bible studies for the Answers for Difficult Days series, which equips churches to address the issues our culture is wrestling with today, from the foundation of Scripture. Ben is also the editor of The Worldview Library, editions of classical literature with student helps that afford the reader a deeper understanding of the concepts presented in each work.
Trained as a classical pianist and instructor, Ben is committed to inspiring his students with the love of great music and equipping them with the tools to perform at the highest level. This training has resulted in his students' successful performances from local festivals and competitions to Carnegie Hall.
Ben loves Shakespeare, Dickens, photography, listening to recordings of "the great pianists", running, biking, and spending time with his wife Julie and their three sons.