After the Israelites were deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the Assyrians relocated captives from other countries to the land of Israel. Their descendants became the Samaritans. These people worshipped many gods and eventually attempted to include God among those they worshipped. The Israelites despised the Samaritans.
The shortest route from Jerusalem to Galilee was through Samaria, but many Jews traveled miles out of their way to avoid Samaritan territory. Jesus, however, not only traveled through this land, He stopped and stayed. Jesus did not allow cultural prejudice to keep Him from ministering to people who needed to hear his message.
“When they cam out to see Him, they begged Him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.”(John 4:40-41)
Christ followers should follow Jesus’s example and look past cultural differences to share God’s love with whomever needs to hear it.
