{"id":10855,"date":"2026-03-04T09:37:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T15:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=10855"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T15:37:10","slug":"march-8-2026-belonging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/march-8-2026-belonging\/","title":{"rendered":"March 8, 2026 – Belonging"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Prepare\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

In John 4:5\u201342, Jesus travels through Samaria and stops at Jacob\u2019s well. The location is important because Jews and Samaritans shared ancestral roots, but had centuries of religious and ethnic conflict. They worshiped the same God but disagreed about the proper place of worship and the authority of certain Scriptures. Many Jews would have avoided traveling through Samaria altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the well, Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman – crossing multiple social boundaries at once. In the first century, Jewish men did not typically initiate public conversation with women who were not family. Add to that the deep hostility between Jews and Samaritans, and this interaction becomes even more surprising.<\/span><\/p>\n

The time of day is also significant. Wells were communal gathering places, usually visited during cooler hours. Her arrival at noon suggests isolation, though the text does not explicitly explain why. Be cautious not to speculate beyond what Scripture says, but notice how the detail invites reflection.<\/span><\/p>\n

This passage contains one of the longest recorded conversations Jesus has with anyone in the Gospel of John. It moves from physical thirst to spiritual thirst, from personal history to communal worship, and finally to public witness. Jesus reveals knowledge of the woman\u2019s life without condemning her, and she becomes the first person in John\u2019s Gospel to openly share news about him with her community.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you guide discussion, pay attention to themes of belonging, truth, vulnerability, and invitation. Where do participants see barriers being crossed? What changes in the woman between the beginning and the end of the story?<\/span><\/p>\n

Opening Exercise\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

You know your context best – so choose based on your students (and even the vibe of the day).<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Either have students split into pairs or small groups <\/span>OR<\/b> give them something to write on to reflect independently.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n