The Samaritan 4 - The Man Who Knew Everything

Azariah and Abigail are Samaritans, outcasts among the Jewish people of New Testament times.  But one day there comes a stranger to the well they use - and life will never be the same..  Written and produced by Colm Flanagan.

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Transcript

SPEAKER_07 0:05

Commission presents The Samaritan, a six-part drama by Colin Flanagan. Episode 4: The Man Who Knew Everything.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Jesus from Nazareth was making quite a name for himself in the northern regions around Galilee. In Sychar, life continued much as before, but some distance away a conversation was taking place among Jesus' little band of followers, which would change my life, as well as Abigail's.

SPEAKER_06 0:42

What are we doing travelling this way, Peter? I don't know, Andrew. I mean, Jesus told us I need to go to Jerusalem, but we must go by Samaria. It's not as if it were the usual way. I know, but we know now that he's like that, unpredictable. Thing is, his reasons all turn out to be good ones. Well, I suppose we really should learn to trust him more. But I worry about the Pharisees and the Romans. I think we're starting to be much too high profile. Well, they won't follow us through Samaria.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

No, indeed. I think we're mad to go through Samaria. I don't want anything to do with them. You'd think we go to Jerusalem the ordinary way, but oh no. Oh come on, Judas, let's go with them. We may as well die with them. Don't even suggest that. All right.

SPEAKER_06 1:36

And there are some of our own folk who need a bit more trust in Jesus' judgment as well.

SPEAKER_05 1:41

Yes. Well, Thomas always was a bit of a warrior. But Judas, I don't know about him. Don't know anything about him at all.

SPEAKER_00 1:52

I was back in Sykar again after my stay in Capernaum. This pleased my partner Abigail, because the gossips of Sychar had been hard at work, and our relationship came under fire again. You see, we weren't married, and we'd both had other relationships before. People thought Abigail a little better than a prostitute. I tried to ignore this because I believe in live and let live. Most of the gossips weren't exactly models of propriety anyway, and I tell them so to their faces when I got the chance. People aren't always discreet, of course, and I hear a lot of things when I'm chipping away at the wall of a building. One day I was doing just that when Asher appeared.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

Morning, Azariah. Looks like you've got a good day for work.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

Yes, Asher, it's fine. I'll get on well today.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Are you going to break for lunch?

SPEAKER_00 2:46

Maybe.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Oh, look, I I need to talk to you. Something I think you really ought to know. So lunch is on me.

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Oh, I know it's important when you say that. Okay, just let me put away the tools. I was talking to Jephtha yesterday. Oh, the leader of our synagogue here in Sikar. You know him? Only to see, but I know he confides in you, so spit it out. Oh no, don't be so touchy. Come on.

SPEAKER_02 3:17

Well, i it's about Abigail.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

And what about her?

SPEAKER_02 3:23

Well, Jeppha is a bit worried about you.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Me? Well, yes. Not worried about Abigail then, or doesn't she count? Well he he didn't mention her specifically. Oh did he not now? Just as that woman, I suppose. Anyway, leave her out of this for the moment. Tell me why dear Jeppha is worried about me. I it's to do with your business. Oh my business, I see.

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Oh go on. Well, Jeppa feels and under somehow agree with him that your um your relationship with Abigail might begin to make things difficult for those who use your business.

SPEAKER_00 4:09

So they're going to boycott me unless I dump Abigail. Is that what you're trying to say?

SPEAKER_02 4:13

No, no, but but look, Azariah, if you stopped actually living with Abigail, I I'm sure they'd be able to um support you again.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

Oh really, do they? Well, Asher, you can slither off back to those snakes and tell them to keep their money. I don't need trade from a bunch of righteous hypocrites to survive. Now I thank you so very much for your kind offer of lunch, but I suddenly don't feel hungry. Enjoy your lunch. Brave words, but the problem was that I actually did need these local customers to survive in business. I went home seething, and it wasn't made better when I find Abigail in a terrible state. Abigail? Abigail, where are you?

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Here, Azariah.

SPEAKER_00 5:00

I have just had a conversation with my dear friend Asher, and you know what? What's wrong? Abigail.

SPEAKER_01 5:07

Oh, Azariah, it was awful.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

What?

SPEAKER_01 5:10

The women. Some of them were at the well when I went earlier. Oh, Azariah, why do they despise me so? The names they called me. I've never done any of them any harm.

SPEAKER_00 5:24

I have a good mind to go out and give a few of them a piece of my mind.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

Oh, Azariah, I love you so, but that wouldn't do any good. They'd only turn on you two.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

I hate seeing you like this, my love. Our people aren't ready yet to leave others to live their own lives the way they want to. I don't mind the way they think of us. Well, I do, actually. But why do they have to be so cruel? Oh, come over here and sit with me a while. Then we'll have a meal and a drink. We'll both feel better then. She was putting a brave face on it, was my Abigail? Anyway, the outcome of our talk later was that she was going to go to the well at a time when no one else did, in the middle of the day. It was very hot then, but at least she'd be left in peace. The next day when Abigail left to get water, I followed her out of the town, just in case some busybody was going to waylay her at the well. They'd get a shock. I held back and took cover behind some trees that grew near the well. I was surprised to see a man, a Jewish rabbi by the look of him, sitting there in his own. I thought if he says anything nasty to Abigail, well, he'd better not.

SPEAKER_04 6:40

Excuse me. But I wonder, um could you spare me some water? It's a thirsty time of day, and I've come some distance. I love a drink. If you can spare a cupful.

SPEAKER_01 6:55

Oh well, yes, I suppose so. I'm sorry. It's just Well, sir, you're obviously a Jew, and a rabbi, I think. How can you ask me for a drink of water? Jews and Samaritans don't have anything to do with each other, and usually won't use the same cups.

SPEAKER_04 7:17

Ah I understand. You don't know what God has in mind for you, and you don't know who is asking you for a drink. That's not your fault. But if you did know, you'd ask me for the water that gives life.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

But sir, you don't even have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this life-giving water? Our ancestor Jacob dug this well for us and his family, and animals got water from it. Are you greater than Jacob?

SPEAKER_00 7:51

Suddenly I realized who this man was. It was Jesus from Nazareth, the man who'd healed Demetrius' servant.

SPEAKER_04 7:58

Everyone who drinks the water from this well gets thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give them will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

Eternal life? Oh, sir, then give me some of that water. Then I won't get thirsty and have to come here to this well again.

SPEAKER_04 8:23

And that's something you really don't enjoy, isn't it, Abigail? Don't worry about them. Now how does he know all that? Go back to the town, dear woman, and bring your husband here. I'd like to meet him.

SPEAKER_01 8:39

But sir, I don't have a husband.

SPEAKER_04 8:43

Very true. Indeed you've already been married five times. Azariah, the man you're living with, isn't your husband.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

No, he's not. But he's a good man, Rabbi. I can see that you're a prophet, for how could you know all this otherwise? My ancestors worshipped on this mountain. But you Jews say Jerusalem is the only place to worship.

SPEAKER_04 9:08

None of that is what really matters now, Abigail. Believe me, the time is coming when you won't worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

I wasn't too pleased about Jesus' reference to our way of living. But something made me keep quiet.

SPEAKER_04 9:26

You see, you Samaritans, and lots of so-called Jews too, don't really know the one you worship. The one true God. But true Jews do know the God we worship. And by using us, God is going to save the world. A time is coming, and it is already here. Even now, some true worshippers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father God according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship Him. A faithful heart is what he delights in. You see, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must be led by the Spirit to worship according to the truth. Do you understand this, Abigail? I believe you do.

SPEAKER_00 10:20

What kind of rabbi was this? Most Jewish and Samaritan rabbis wouldn't have talked to a woman like this as though she was an equal. And even though she'd admit it she was sinful, living with a man but yet not married to him, how could this happen? I was totally confused. Who is he? What is he? In the distance I saw some men approaching. Jesus' followers, I presumed.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

I know that the Messiah, God's anointed one, will come. He is the one we called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Just like you're doing now.

SPEAKER_04 11:01

Abigail. I am that one. And I am speaking to you now.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

The other men were passing my tree now, and I heard one of them say Who's Jesus talking to?

SPEAKER_06 11:16

A woman. And by the look of her, she's a Samaritan. Is that why we've come all this way? Do you think she's the reason?

SPEAKER_04 11:27

I'll have that drink now, Abigail. My friends here are coming with some food as well.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

Of course, sir. It's a privilege.

SPEAKER_04 11:35

I'll let you get back to the town now. Share the news I've given you. Oh, and Azariah. Yes, lord? I know you've heard what has been said here. Have you understood? Yes. Jesus.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

Messiah, God, I think I have. But it's hard to realize what it means.

SPEAKER_04 11:56

You will know it better hereafter, Azariah. Now follow me, you and Abigail together.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

We went back into the town, a bit dazed by what we'd heard and what had happened there at the well. And guess who the first person we ran into was? Asher! We've got wonderful news for you. You're getting married?

SPEAKER_01 12:17

Yes, Asher, we are. But it's not just that. We have met a man at the well, Asher. He's our Messiah.

SPEAKER_07 12:25

What? What did you say there, woman? How could you have met the Messiah?

SPEAKER_01 12:29

Come with me. I'll show you to him. And bring anyone else as well. He told me everything I'd ever done. He must be the Messiah. Why didn't the leaders of our synagogue meet him? Bring them then! Our Messiah has come.

SPEAKER_00 12:44

By this time a crowd was gathering, and soon we left them to it and went home. We had a lot to think about, and a marriage to arrange. And later that day we had another surprise. Jesus!

SPEAKER_04 12:58

Azariah, it's good to see you. I need to speak with you in Abigail. But I thought. You thought I had gone on my way to Jerusalem. Well, I will do. But not tonight. Some of your city elders here have asked me to stay with my followers for the night. I'm going to meet them soon. But I have something to say to you both. May I come in?

SPEAKER_01 13:23

He's just a bit dazed, Rabbi Jesus. No offense intended.

SPEAKER_04 13:27

And none taken. Now, here is what I want to tell you both.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

We talked for some time, and the belief grew in me that I needed to spend more time with this amazing person. I find myself asking if he would allow me to accompany him up to Jerusalem. Me, a Samaritan, going to the biggest Jewish feast of the year, the Passover in Jerusalem. And to my amazement he said yes. I could join some of his followers who were also going up to Jerusalem and walk with them. Little did I know what this would lead to.

SPEAKER_07 14:12

In episode 4 of The Samaritan, Azariah was played by Mark Claney and Abigail by Candace Foster. Jesus was played by Mark Smith, with other parts by members of the Commission radio drama team. The programme was written and produced by Colin Flanagan at Commission Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland.