Page 10 - March 2026 - Truth & Tidings

was thinking as he saw one of the sons of the Lord Jesus is a Son declaring the true
Jacob coming toward him. Had he come character of His Father in fullness and
to continue the pattern of destruction his accuracy (Joh 1:18). This Son was full of
brothers had started? Was Jacob sending grace. This Son was full of truth. This Son
him to solidify his reputation as a violent was different.
vengeance-seeking father? No, this son Of course, the history of our location
wasn’t a self-driven avenger feigning provides a perfect place for the Lord
religious piety and bringing dishonour Jesus to teach about true spiritual wor-
upon the family name. This son was sent ship. Mount Gerizim served as a fitting
by his father as an accurate and faithful backdrop for the woman to boast in her
representative. This son was wise. This religious heritage. There had been true
son was caring. This son was different. worshippers. Abram built his first altar
It’s easy to see the parallel between near this site in response to Jehovah’s cov-
Jacob’s shameful sons and the Jewish enant (Gen 12:7). Jacob would then bury
leaders in the day of the Lord Jesus. In the family’s idols in that place as necessary
the name of religious purity, they had preparation for worship in Bethel (35:4).
lost sight of the “weightier matters” and And Joshua would later set up a stone as
were treating the people on the fringes as a witness to the renewed commitment of
despicable and disposable. Their “jots and the Israelites to set aside all other gods
tittles” were in place, but grace and mercy and worship the Lord (Jos 24:27). But the
were nowhere to be found; consequently, quality of Samaritan worship had waned
instead of representing Jehovah in His true over the years, for Gerizim, through As-
character, these hypocrites had caused the syrian conquest and the assimilation of
reputation of the Lord to “stink among the pagan religion, had become anything but
inhabitants of the land.” The woman at the a true place of worship. Joshua’s mount
well, one of these outcasts, was aware of of blessings had become a cursed snare
the Jews’ attitude toward her people and of religious compromise. The Lord Jesus
was shocked that a Jewish man would will lead this woman from Gerizim into
have any interactions with her. the heavenlies as He clarifies the qualities
These same leaders were unknowingly God values in worshippers.
imitating the attitude of Joseph’s brethren, But more to our point, the foot of this
but not just toward outsiders; they were mountain is meaningful as both a grave-
also hostile toward our heavenly Joseph. yard and a vineyard. Future sections of
This faithful Son, sent from the Father, our Sychar study will consider that the
would eventually be rejected by the hypo- conversation at the well takes place only a
crites and delivered up to the Gentiles. few hundred yards from the mummified,
But before ultimately accomplishing the buried remains of Joseph (Jos 24:32). We
world’s salvation in Jerusalem, He makes will also recall the words of Israel on his
this stop at Shechem and is received by deathbed as he depicted Joseph as a vine
the men of the city (Joh 4:39-40)! planted by a well, with branches of bless-
We’re starting to see the parallels and ing going beyond boundaries (Gen 49:22).
significance, aren’t we? Instead of a son In that way, Bones and Boughs will frame
who came damaging the reputation of our thoughts as we continue to see Joseph
His father with harsh religious hypocrisy, in John 4.

74 TRUTH kTidings March 2026