Historical background:
In 930 B.C. king Solomon divided the nation of Israel into two nations - Northern Kingdom, also referred to as Israel after 930 B.C., and the Southern Kingdom, also referred to as Judah.
In 722 B.C. the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians, and many Jews were deported to Assyria, and foreigners were brought in to settle the land and help keep the peace. The intermarriage between those foreigners and the remaining Jews resulted in a mixed race, impure in the opinion of Jews who lived in the southern kingdom. Thus, the pure Jews hated this mixed race, called Samaritans , because they felt that their fellow Jews who had intermarried had betrayed their people and nation. Therefore, the Jews would have nothing to do with Samaritans, so this woman finds it odd that Jesus, a Jewish man, would speak to her.
Living water:
Throughout the Old Testament God is referred to as the "Living water" or "Fountain of life". When Jesus refers to himself as "living water" he was claiming to be the Messiah.
Worship:
The woman brings up the fact that Jews say you must worship in Jerusalem and her people say you must worhsip in Samaritan. Jesus tells her the location of worship is not nearly as important as the attitude of worship.
Interesting note:
In this section Jesus reveals himself to two people outside the Jewish people. One is a Samaritan woman and the other is a Roman Official. Both believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus encounter with the woman and the healing of the Official's son were more than favors, Jesus was giving a sign for all people that he was the promised Messiah.
The Official's Faith:
Notice how the official's faith grew. First, he believed enough to walk 20 miles and ask Jesus to help his son. Second, he believed Jesus' assurance that his son would live, and he acted on it. Third, he and his whole family believed in Jesus.
Faith is a gift that grows as we use it.
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