Thursday, August 15: “Sketchy Company?”

John 4: 40: “When the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.”

First Century Jewish men were not expected to make polite conversation with women, and when the need arose to pass through Samaria, they were to do only that–pass through, and by no means stay for two days. For the chief priests and Pharisees, who already had a list of grudges against Jesus, it was yet another major offense. Did Jesus care? No! He had a message to bring to God’s people, every one of them, and no offense taken by the Jewish leaders would intimidate Him into a failed delivery.