1. The origin of Samaria dates back nearly 3,000 years with the division of the kingdom of Israel after the death of Solomon. 1 Kings Ch. 12
2. The rebellion resulted in the split into two separate kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
3. Samaria became the capital of the northern kingdom and the name became synonymous with the broader region.
4. The Assyrian empire invaded and conquered the northern kingdom around 722 BC and a significant portion of the population was deported to Assyria.
5. Assyria also settled foreign populations in the territory of Israel as part of their deportation policy to exert control over newly conquered countries.
6. Those Israelites who remained in Samaria eventually became a mixed population, resulting from intermarriage between Israelites and foreign settlers.
7. By Jesus' day there existed a mutual animosity between Jews and Samaritans because of cultural differences and religious beliefs and practices.
8. The Samaritans held Mount Gerizim, not Jerusalem, as the holy site where God chose to place His name.
9. During one confrontation, the Pharisees even accused Jesus of being a Samaritan. John 8:48

1) The Woman at the Well: John 4:1-42

On his way from Judea to Galilee, Jesus came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. Jacob's well was there. He sent his disciples into the town to buy food but he remained to rest near the well. A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus: Will you give me a drink? Woman: You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? Jesus: If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Woman: Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Jesus: Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but the water I give them will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Woman: I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Jesus: I, the one speaking to you - I am he. The woman went back to town and said... Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.

2) Parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Man: Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus: What is written in the Law? How do you read it? Man: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus: You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live. But the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus: Man: Who is my neighbor? In reply Jesus told this parable: Jesus: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? Man: The one who had mercy on him. Jesus: Go and do likewise.

3) Jesus' Disciples and the Samaritans: Luke 9:51-56

On another occasion, Jesus and his disciples were passing through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem. He sent his disciples into a Samaritan village to prepare a place for him, perhaps to spend the night. But the people in that village refused to welcome him, learning he was on his way to Jerusalem. When the disciples returned, James and John, apparently incensed, asked Jesus, Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? Jesus rebuked them and they went to another village.

4) Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy: Luke 17:11-17

As Jesus was entering a village along the border between Samaria and Galilee, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, Leprous Men: Jesus, Master, have pity on us! Jesus: Go, show yourselves to the priests. As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he'd been healed, came back praising God. He knelt down at Jesus' feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan. Jesus: Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Rise and go; your faith has made you well. It was not Jesus' way to exclude anyone. He befriended and aided people no matter their background or lifestyle. He didn't even exclude the one disciple he knew would one day betray him.