(A) Introduction. (Read the reference.)

My father would often quote the phrase from the Authorised Version: 'And he must needs go through Samaria.' to illustrate Christ's mission to seek and to save the lost. The woman at Jacob's well was an unlikely candidate for the Kingdom of God - a Samaritan woman of doubtful reputation. She was, however, undoubtedly lost.

The enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans had its origins in the division of the kingdom in the reign of Rehoboam. Israel became the Jewish Kingdom to the north and adopted Samaria as its capital in the reign of Omri. Judea was the Southern Kingdom with Jerusalem as its capital. In 720 B.C. the Assyrians invaded Israel and captured it. They transported many of the conquered Jews to Media and replaced them with other people from Babylon and else where. The displaced population never returned and the remnant of Jews in the Northern Kingdom intermarried with the incoming foreigners. They became a mixed race.

Later Judea was also conquered by the Babylonians. Some of the population was again transported to Babylon. However they retained their identity and in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah returned to the Southern Kingdom. At this time, 450 B.C., the Samaritans offered to help rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. Their offer was spurned because of their dubious ancestry so they built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. In 129 B.C. the Jews attacked Samaria and destroyed the temple on Mount Gerizim. By the time of Jesus, to use John's words: Jews did not associate with Samaritans. v9.

It is likely that by Samaritan standards the religious beliefs and practices of the woman at the well were conventional. She, along with many other people in the district, practised religion without worshipping God.

(B) Jesus recognised a sick religion.

The religion practiced by the Samaritans was:

Traditional. The Samaritan woman may have made pilgrimages to Mount Gerizim, the holy mountain, on which their temple had been built. Perhaps sacrifices were still offered on the site of the sacred place. She certainly kept the Passover. There remains to this day a small Samaritan sect in the Middle East that reveres the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, and observes the Passover.

In England there remain some old folk whose Christianity is essentially a matter of tradition. They attend church at Christmas, Easter and occasionally on Sunday because this is what they were bought up to do. It has become a habit - like shaving first thing in the morning or shopping at Marks and Spencer or playing football after Christmas lunch. There is little merit in it.

Formal. The Samaritan woman may have carefully observed the rules in the Law about cleanliness and diet. Her life was pretty unorthodox but in some respects she could not be faulted. Her 'goings on' may have scandalised the neighbours but no-one made sacrifices more regularly.

I have known principled men who have never surrendered to Jesus or owned him Lord who do not swear, drink, gamble, fool about with woman or under any circumstances work on a Sunday. Such men regularly attend church or chapel, give for the maintenance of the premises and offer practical assistance without ever confessing any love for the Saviour. These individuals are often greatly admired by Christians but they lack real enthusiasm for the Saviour. There is something wrong with their hearts.

Cultural. The Samaritan woman's religion was part and parcel of being a Samaritan. She was very aware of what she had in common with the Jews. She asked Jesus: "Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well?" v12. The woman was also conscious of what separated the Jews and Samaritans: Our fathers worshipped on this mountain but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is Jerusalem. v20.

In the last census conducted in England (2001) 70% of the respondents claimed to be Christian. The majority of these would call themselves members of the Church of England. I can only explain this surprising result by supposing that those filling in the census forms made a cultural response to a religious question. It would seem that most of the population equate being English with being Christian. They would probably espouse certain Christian values like the freedom of the individual, compassion, inclusiveness and even grace.

Emotional. Religion does meet an emotional need. Perhaps the Samaritan woman was able in the festivals and public readings from the Pentateuch to partially satisfy a yearning for something other.

We have been made for worship. Sadly instead of exulting in the glory of God men and women turn to God substitutes and worship them. How else can the adulation shown a football team or a pop group be explained?

(C) Jesus made a penetrating diagnosis.

A few years ago I had a very painful foot. The sole of my right foot was so tender I could hardly stand on it. I began to imagine the worst . Perhaps I had circulation problems and gangrene was about to set in. So I went to see my doctor. He didn't think much of my diagnosis. Dr Oliver said, "You've just trapped a nerve." "Oh," I replied, "and what can you do for that?" "Nothing," the doctor said, "it will get better by itself." And it did!

A good doctor will be good at looking at the symptoms and diagnosing the underlying problem. This is what Jesus did for the Samaritans. He said to the woman at the well: "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews." v22.

Worship is the expression of admiration, gratitude and devotion. It is impossible to make the appropriate expression without knowledge. Very few people knew my father as well as I did. I admired him for his competence, kindness, calmness, endurance and steadfast allegiance to Jesus. Many who met him in the years of his decline would have found it impossible to see him for what he was.

The Samaritan woman had not recognised or experienced those very qualities of God that would have stirred her heart. The Pentateuch was the only part of the Old Testament that the Samaritans believed was inspired by God. They missed out on the psalms, the books of wisdom and the prophets. The Samaritan woman would have benefited greatly from the psalms of David dealing as they do with man's relationship with God.

It is very hard for men and women to worship God in churches where grace is neither taught nor practiced. Where Christians are in the grip of legalism it is almost impossible for them to express with warmth and sincerity love and gratitude to God. Legalism makes for a joyless religion. Philip Yancey deals with this in detail in his excellent book: 'What's So Amazing About Grace?' Other churches down play the work of the Holy Spirit or the study of God's word or fail to use the gifts of lay people - all to the detriment of worship.

(D) Jesus Suggested a comprehensive remedy.

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: "God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." v24. This seems an extra-ordinary thing to say to a woman with little religious insight - although she probably understood more than at first sight appears.

The little phrase: 'God is spirit,' is not easy to comprehend. Jesus does not say that God is a spirit by which we might take him to mean that God is an immaterial being. It might help us to consider how we use the word 'spirit' in ordinary conversation. One of the things we say is: 'He goes by the letter of the law and ignores the spirit of the law.' The letter of the law is tangible - it is what is written down. The spirit of the law consists of intangible principles that define the purpose of the law, such as, justice. The people of my church might remark, "John is in poor spirits today." What do they mean by that? They are commenting upon an absence of the intangible but essential qualities that make me what I am - cheerfulness, confidence, quickness of wit, wryness, drollness, chirpeness, realism, fieriness and so on.

When Jesus describes God as spirit he is saying that God consists of those intangible qualities that make him what he is - love, light, righteousness, holiness, wisdom and so on.

If God is spirit we must worship him in spirit. This means we must be aware of the way he is. This is possible because we have been made in the image of God and so are able to recognise his attributes.

Jesus also expects us to worship God in truth - according to the way he is. Our worship should be appropriate to those essential characteristics of God that have been revealed to us by creation, the Bible and the Holy Spirit

Some men worship their motorcar. To do so they must be aware of its admirable qualities - the powerful engine, the comfortable interior, the gleaming paintwork. Their worship should be appropriate. Let them polish the shining bodywork and stand back and admire it. We would not expect anyone to kiss his car all over or prostrate himself before its hubcaps.

(E) An application with reference to four of God's attributes

God is great.
If we have some awareness of God's greatness in creation then we will worship him in humbleness and without self-consciousness and pretension. There will be no swagger, showing off, performing, pretence or falseness in our approach to him. We cannot impress God or in any way give him his due. All we can offer is our best. If Christians really believed this then everyone would engage in public prayer at a prayer meeting. Some excuse themselves by saying that they lack the ability to speak in public. Eloquence does not impress God. All that matters is that we pray from the heart as well as we can.

God is gracious.
If we are keenly aware of God's grace - his undeserved goodness to us - then we shall be grateful, generous and joyful in our worship. We shall come before him without reservation, not grudging the time. Our worship will not be passive. Instead we will look forward to participating - sharing the wonderful things that God has done for us. There is no holding back. Sadly, much of what passes for worship is nothing of the sort because the number involved is strictly limited to the professional leading the service. The best times of worship that I have experienced have been in prayer meetings where lots of folk take part. It is uplifting to hear brothers and sisters expressing their joy in the Lord in prayer.

God is holy.
Of all God's attributes this is the easiest to forget. I often forget it. If we recognise God's holiness then we should approach him with reverence. We should take care and prepare for worship. When we meet together to show our love and devotion to him we should concentrate and apply our minds to the exercise. Now I always spend a lot of time preparing for a service that I am going to lead. I spend very little time getting ready for a service that someone else is conducting. This is not quite right! Our worship would be more vibrant and meaningful if we all devoted longer preparing for it.

God is our Father.
Jesus did tell the Samaritan woman something else about God which I find particularly comforting and helpful. It is so easy to overlook as our attention is grabbed and our minds stimulated by Jesus' words: "God is spirit." Jesus also said: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks." v23.

God has the endearing virtues of a loving father. I was fortunate to have a good father. I write about him in An Eulogy. My father was capable, faithful, caring, appreciative, gentle and a comfort. God is like that but more so. His fatherhood should inform our worship with love. We should come into his presence with warm affection, in happy dependence, frankly, gladly and thankfully.