Intentionality

He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. -John 4.3-4

Jesus heads north from Judea to Galilee, and He goes through Samaria. This is contrary to the practice of Jews at the time who would cross to the east side of the Jordan River, travel north, and then cross back over, bypassing Samaria completely. Jesus went against most cultural norms of the day, and so He also doesn't travel between Judea and Galilee in the normal way. Instead of making a double crossing of the Jordan, He intentionally walks through Samaria.

Jesus came to save the world, all of it. He came to show people who God was, and how to live as God intended. This message was not just for the Jews, but for Samaritans and the Gentiles as well. Jesus didn't by pass Samaria, but intentionally traveled through the land. He put Himself in the position to talk to people who were despised by His culture.

God loves everyone, even those we disagree with politically, or with different lifestyle choices. Jesus didn't avoid them, but intentionally put Himself in the position to meet with them. He did not seek to mingle with the politically correct, or the in crowd, but was willing to walk through a land that was taboo, in order to be in position to talk to people who desperately needed Him.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!