At Jacob’s Well
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all that is now hidden shall be revealed. In its light, conscience was
awakened.
She could deny nothing; but she tried to evade all mention of a
subject so unwelcome. With deep reverence, she said, “Sir, I perceive
that Thou art a prophet.” Then, hoping to silence conviction, she turned
to points of religious controversy. If this was a prophet, surely He
could give her instruction concerning these matters that had been so
long disputed.
Patiently Jesus permitted her to lead the conversation whither she
would. Meanwhile He watched for the opportunity of again bringing
the truth home to her heart. “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain,”
she said, “and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to
worship.” Just in sight was Mount Gerizim. Its temple was demolished,
and only the altar remained. The place of worship had been a subject
of contention between the Jews and the Samaritans. Some of the
ancestors of the latter people had once belonged to Israel; but because
of their sins, the Lord suffered them to be overcome by an idolatrous
nation. For many generations they were intermingled with idolaters,
whose religion gradually contaminated their own. It is true they held
that their idols were only to remind them of the living God, the Ruler
of the universe; nevertheless the people were led to reverence their
graven images.
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.
In answer to the woman, Jesus said, “Believe Me, the hour cometh,
when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship
the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship:
for salvation is of the Jews.” Jesus had shown that He was free from
Jewish prejudice against the Samaritans. Now He sought to break
down the prejudice of this Samaritan against the Jews. While referring
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