So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way.
John 4:3-4 (Read John 4 for the full story.)
In Jesus’ day, Israel was divided into 2 provinces. Between them was Samaria. Jews considered Samaria “contaminated” because the people there were “mixed-race”. The Jews in the region had intermarried with the Gentiles (non-Jews); they also rejected the Old Testament. Because of this, Jews refused to have any contact with Samaritans. They refused to even pass through Samaria when traveling from one province to the other. They would travel hundreds of miles out of their way just to go around it.
These verses may seem insignificant, but they are anything but. Because Jesus “HAD to go through Samaria on the way”. That one little word says a great deal about how deeply Jesus loves us. Jesus had a mission. He HAD to reveal to the woman at the well who He was. He HAD to take her emptiness and give her fullness. He HAD to take her brokenness and give her wholeness. He HAD to offer her His perfect love. And because He did, she told others who are now all in Heaven with her.
Though Jesus was a Jew, He crossed the social barriers to speak truth to the Samaritan woman. How would your life look if you HAD to stop and share the Gospel with someone? How often do you go out of your way to reach out to someone who is missing out on the greatest love of their life? How often do you offer to show others what Jesus has given you? Jesus sought you and won you. Now go help Him win others. You are loved!
How can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
Romans 10:14