God Sees the Samaritan Woman

Lesson Text: John 4:5-19, 28-29

Related Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-7; Nehemiah 9:15-21; Isaiah Jeremiah 2:9-13; John 7:37-39

 

TIME: between A.D. 26 and 30                           PLACE: Sychar

 

GOLDEN TEXT "Come see a man, which told me all things that ever did is not this the Christ (John 4:29),

 

 Introduction

Jesus left Judea because of the threat of persecution from the Pharisees (John 4:1-3). His actions of cleansing the temple (2:13-17) and gathering disciples made Him a target of the Jewish leaders. Jesus would remain in Galilee for a time because the Jewish leaders sought to kill Him (7:1). Jesus' travel to Galilee took Him through Samaria, where He would meet the woman at the well.

Samaria would be a key part of the apostles' mission after Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:8) Jesus' ministry in John 4 prepared the Samaritan region to enter God's kingdom alongside Jews.

 

LESSON OUTLINE

1. Jesus' Arrival In Samaria— John 45-6

2. Jesus' Request For Water— John 427-9

3. Jesus' offer of Living Water—John 4:10-12

4. Jesus' offer of Eternal Life— John

5. Jesus The Prophet— John 4:16-19

6. Jesus The Messiah_ John 4:28-29

 

Exposition: Verse by Verse

JESUS' ARRIVAL IN SAMARIA

JOHN 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 NOW Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied With his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

 

(Jesus entered a Samaritan area that was rich in religious heritage. The events of this account took place in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Jacob, one of Israel's patriarchs, had a well there (though we do not have a record of it from the Old Testament), and his son Joseph was buried at the nearby town of Shechem (cf. Josh. 2432). The location has significant meaning for Jesus' discussion with the Samaritan woman. Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim were important landmarks when Israel entered the land under Joshua. According to Moses' instructions, half of the nation was to stand on Mount Ebal, and the other half was to stand on Mount Gerizim, In a large antiphonal choir, the curses of Deuteronomy 27 were spoken from Mount Ebal and blessings of Deuteronomy 28 were spoken from Mount Gerizim (cf. Deut. 11-29; Josh. 8:33)} Q1

Abraham and Jacob both built altars to worship God in the region (cf. Gen. 12:6-7; tact that the Samaritan woman mentioned later in her conversation With Jesus (John 420). The Jewish historian Josephus claimed that a priest named Manasseh became high priest over a temple built on Mount Gerizim during the Persian period (Antiquities of the Jews 11,306-10). That temple was later destroyed by John Hyrcanus in 128 B.Sc.

{There was much more to this meeting than Jesus talking with a woman who needed salvation. Jesus was preparing the way for His church to reach the Samaritans With the gospel after His ascension. The complicated history of the relationship between Samari• tans and mainline Jews required Jesus to overcome the obstacles that could jeopardize the church's mission in that part of the world.} Q2

 

The town of Sychar was near the land that Jacob gave to Joseph (vs. 5). This was likely the field mentioned in Genesis 48,22 and Joshua 24:32 Jesus stopped at the well to get a drink because He was weary from His travels (vs. 6). It was the sixth hour, which is noon, when the Sun is highest in the sky and the day is hot.

 

JESUS' REQUEST FOR WATER

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, HOW is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, Which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

 

Jesus initiates the conversation (John 4;7-8).

(Ordinarily, women would come to draw water when the day was cooler, perhaps in the morning or evening, but this woman chose to draw ter at noon instead. It appears That she was alone. No one else was involved in the conversation, and the woman later went to town to tell others of her talk with Jesus. Perhaps She sought to avoid contact with others because of her immoral living arrangement, which Jesus would soon bring up.) Q3

 (Jesus did something unexpected for a Jewish man, especially for someone who was considered a rabbi. He spoke to the woman. According to rabbinic traditions, rabbis would not speak to women in public for fear of what others would think. Q4 But Jesus did not have such fears. He was concerned for the spiritual well-being of the woman, and no social prohibitions or potential slander would dissuade Him from accomplishing His task.

His request, at first glance, was a simple one, He asked the woman for a drink of water. But this was no ordinary woman. She was a Samaritan. {The long-held hatred the Jews had for the Samaritans led the Jews to believe that Samaritans, especially Samaritan women, were ceremonially unclean.)} Q5 Yet here was Jesus, asking her to draw water with her jar and to give Him a drink from it!

The disciples were not present to see Jesus as He discounted this unfounded bigotry. They had gone into the city to obtain food (vs. 8). Right now, He needed to have a conversation with this woman. The time for instructing the disciples would come later.

 

The woman responds in surprise (John 4:9).

 The woman was shocked that Jesus would speak to her and questioned why He would do so (vs. 9). She knew the barriers between Jews and Samaritans and between men and women. John added a clarifying note to inform his readers that Jews were concerned with becoming unclean through contact with Samaritans. But Jesus did not answer her question. He let His continuing conversation provide His answer as to how little social prohibitions meant to His ministry.

 

JESUS' OFFER OF LIVING WATER

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

 

After discussing physical matters, Jesus shifted the discussion to spiritual matters. He began by suggesting there were some things that the woman did not know, {She did not know God's gift or the identity of the person talking to her.} Q6 If she had known those. she would have asked Jesus for a drink of "living water—that is, running water—not the stagnant water found in a cistern, and He would have given her a drink!

of course, this was a confusing statement to her (vs. 11). Jesus had no jar to draw water, and the well was too deep to get water Without some means of retrieving it. What water was Jesus talking about? She assumed Jesus was talking about common drinking water. Like many people today, she was focused upon her daily material needs and wants. So, she was slow to realize the meaningful spiritual discussion that Jesus was attempting to have With her. But Jesus knew how to gain her attention and turn her thoughts to the weightier spiritual matters that, Whether she knew it or not, were crucial for her eternal destination.

The woman's heritage was rich and meaningful to her (vs. 12). Abraham's grandson Jacob, one of the respected patriarchs of Jewish and Samaritan history, was credited with providing the well from which the woman drew water. Certainly, Jesus did not consider Himself to be greater than Jacob, did He? TO think so was preposterous in her mind.

 

JESUS' OFFER OF ETERNAL LIFE

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

 

Jesus did not allow the conversation to be diverted by a challenge about whether He is greater than Jacob. He is greater, of course, but the woman knew a lot about Jacob and nothing about Jesus. Instead, Jesus continued to talk about the water that He offers.

The water in Jacob's well, as refreshing as it may have been, could not give lasting relief from thirst The woman would need to return to the well day after day to gain the water's short-lived benefits.

(But the water that Jesus’ offers is eternally satisfying 14). It quenches all thirst. The water that Jesus provides is of a completely different nature. It is a free-flowing fountain of water resulting in eternal life.) Q7

 The woman continued to misunderstand the magnitude of Jesus' offer (vs. 15). She was still thinking in terms of physical water, though she liked The idea of special water that only has to be drunk once. She would not have to carry a heavy water jar ever again! She did not realize that Jesus was talking about spiritual realities. She did not yet understand God's gift that Jesus had mentioned earlier (vs. 10).

 

JESUS THE PROPHET

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

 

Jesus' knowledge (John 4:16-18).

The Samaritan woman still did not know who Jesus was, leading her to misunderstand His offer of eternal life. So, Jesus shifted the conversation to help her consider His identity.

(Again, He used practical lite issues to further a spiritual discussion (vs. 16). Jesus told the woman to go, call her husband, and then come back to the well.)— Q8.

The woman responded that she had no husband (us. 17). Jesus told her that she answered truthfully. She had been married five times, and she was not married to the man with whom she was living (vs. 18).

 

The woman's acknowledgment (John 4:19).

Jesus' response was calculated to draw a specific response from the woman. She had never met 26, 202S Him before. (She could think of no way He could know about her past relationships or her current living arrangement unless it was through God's insight into her life, She concluded that Jesus must be a prophet (vs. 19) {Q9.

At last, she was beginning to think about spiritual things, Her knowledge of Jesus' identity was improving as well. At this point she brought up the main religious distinction between the Jews and the Samaritans—the place where God is to be worshipped.

The Samaritans asserted that the proper location to worship God was on the nearby Mount Gerizim. A temple had been built there, and Jewish priests who had disagreed With the priesthood in Jerusalem had served in the new temple. The Jews had subsequently destroyed the temple on Mount Gerizim, but that did not extinguish the Samaritans' zeal for their views. Jhe Samaritan woman reminded Jesus of the barrier between them.

 But Jesus circumvented the Jewish Samaritan barrier and made the issue personal to the Samaritan woman (vss. 23-24). Rather than focusing on the proper place to worship God, Jesus described the proper attitude with which to approach worship. Worship is not through a community endorsed method but by a heartfelt devotion to God driven by scriptural truth and, as Jesus would later elaborate in John's Gospel, by the Holy Spirit indwelling each believer Jesus, as the Messiah, causes these things to come to pass.

Jesus' Statements had directed the woman toward His identity. She knew the Messiah was coming sometime, and He would reveal everything (vs. 25). She had not yet identified Jesus as the Messiah, but she knew He was a very special teacher.

 Jesus' response was blunt (vs. 26). Jesus rarely asserted His identity as Messiah during His earthly ministry, perhaps because of the likelihood that people would have mistaken Him as a political figure who would rescue the Jews from Roman control. But He had no hesitation With the Samaritan woman. She was ready to hear who He really is. He told her that He is the Messiah, the One for whom she had been waiting.

Up to that point. the disciples were not at the well, so they missed the conversation between Jesus and the woman 27). When they arrived after their trip to town for supplies, they were surprised that Jesus was speaking to a woman. The disciples had the same prejudices as other Jewish men toward women.

They did not share Jesus' insight into the woman's spiritual needs or the opportunity to minister to the Samaritan community. They did not ask Jesus anything about the woman and her needs. They were still bound by the cultural and historical pressures that would hinder their gospel ministry until they saw humanity from God's perspective.

 

JESUS THE MESSIAH

28 The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man, Which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

 

When Jesus' disciples arrived at the well, the Samaritan woman departed and returned to the city She was in a hurry to leave the scene. Her Original reason for going to the well was no longer important to her. She left her water jar at the well because it was large and would slow her down.

When she arrived in the city, she discussed the man she encountered at the well. The woman urged the people to follow her back to Jesus (vs. 29). She had met a man unlike anyone she had ever met. He had displayed intimate knowledge of her, knowing the good and the bad, the past and the present. A stranger could not have such knowledge unless he had a unique relation• ship with God.

{She asked a very direct question: Can this be the Messiah? The way it is phrased in the Greek text normally expects a negative answer, but that was not her intention. The townspeople needed to come to their own Conclusion about Jesus.) Q10

Jesus effectively used His knowledge of the background and life situation of the woman to make her consider His identity and the salvation He offered. In response, the woman pointed Others to Jesus by telling them about the pro— found impact that He had on her life.

 

QUESTIONS

1. What was the religious significance of Samaria?

2. How was Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman significant for the early church?

3. Why was Jesus able to talk uninterrupted with the Samaritan woman?

4. Why was it unusual that Jesus spoke With the Samaritan woman?

5. What was the Jewish attitude toward the Samaritans?

6. What were the two important pieces of information that the Samaritan woman did not know?

7. What was special about the water that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman?

8. HOW did Jesus further the spiritual discussion With the woman?

9. What was the woman's conclusion when Jesus described details of her personal life?

10. What did the woman do in order to have the townspeople consider Jesus' claim to be the Messiah?

 

 

Preparing to Teach the Lesson

 Christians can be guilty of forgetting how much the Lord loves the world and desires for all to be saved. The account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman reminds us that the Lord will go the extra mile to reach one lost soul.

 

TODAYS AIM

Facts: to see Jesus offer living water.

Principles: to understand the gift He has given to believers.

Application: to praise God for Living in us.

 

INTRODUCING THE LESSON

 Many of us struggle when we share the gospel With unbelievers. We may have done our very best to explain God's gift of salvation, but the person is not interested.

In today's lesson, we get to watch Jesus offer eternal life to a woman who had never met Him before. of course, He completely knew her because He knows everything.

 

DEVELOPING THE LESSON

1. Jesus breaks barriers to reach the Samaritan woman (John 4:5-9

At the beginning of the chapter. we see Jesus leaving Judea and traveling to Galilee. But He did not take the normal route. Jesus had a divine appointment With the Samaritan woman. Knowing how and when to find her, He arrived at Jacob's well at noon. Most people would get their daily water in the morning because it is a cooler time of day. Also, getting water in the morning provided cool water for the Whole day. Mornings would also be crowded with other women at the well. making it a social time. This is the first hint about her.

In verse 7, we see Jesus initiating a conversation. The woman's purpose was clear: she came to draw water. Jesus asked her to give Him a drink. Verse E gives more information about the event, saying the disciples had gone into town to buy food, This statement implies that Jesus and the woman were alone. That led her to point out the obvious absurdity to the Lord: He was a Jew, and she was a Samaritan woman. How could He ask her for a drink? For hundreds of years, the Jews and Samaritans did not as• sociate with one another. So, we see her changing the subject to a controversial topic of racism and prejudice, This can be a way that people avoid a discussion about their personal sins.

 

2. Jesus offers living water tot e Samaritan woman (John 4:10-19

In verse 10, Jesus made a profound announcement of the gospel. He shows us how to rise above arguments and distractions and focus on His power to change lives. He told the woman that if she knew the gift of God and who He is, she would ask from Him and He would give her living water. This is an interesting term not used very often in Scripture. Jeremiah 2:13 records the Lord calling Himself the fountain of living waters" and shows His disgust over people choosing their own broken cisterns. The woman refuted Jesus' statement by saying He could not give her water because He had nothing to draw with and the well was deep.

She used another tactic to avoid discussing her spiritual condition, She attempted to attack Him personally and appealed to historical evidence by asking Him if He was greater than Jacob. Samaritans and Jews both revered the patriarch, Jacob.

You may have friends who will at• tempt to have religious. historical, or personal arguments instead Ot discussing their own need for a Savior. The mention of Jacob and his family literally drinking from that same well may reveal her connection to traditions, sentimentality, and possibly superstition.

Jesus pressed further with His evangelistic message that whoever drank from that well would thirst again, but whoever drinks from the water He gives will never thirst again. The promise of salvation includes a well of water springing up into eternal life. Just like the prophet Isaiah said: “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isa. 12:3).

In verse 15 we see the Samaritan woman's move toward the gospel offer. She wanted living water so she would never be thirsty for water or have to keep coming to the well to draw water every day.

Jesus continued the gospel discussion by highlighting her sinful lifestyle. God has full knowledge of our sins. He told the woman that He knew that she had had multiple husbands and was now living with another man. The woman was amazed that Jesus knew her lite and acknowledged Jesus as a prophet,

 

3. The woman tells her town that Jesus is the Messiah (John 4228-29).

It is always amazing to witness Gods saving power in a person's lite, At the beginning of the chapter, the woman was an outcast living with shame, but now she had met the Master.

She was so excited that she left her jar, hurried back to town and told to meet a man who knew everything about her. Because of what He said to her. she asked her neighbors if He could be the Christ. Messiah.

 

ILLUSTRATING THE LESSON

Jesus offers living water.

JESUS OFFERS

LIVING WATER!

 

CONCLUDING THE LESSON

 Many people tear and dread the tact that God knows their sins. But here we see the power of the gospel. When our sins are brought to light. God can wash them as we confess and repent.

Later in John 7:37-39, Jesus boldly preached that anyone thirsty can come to Him and drink By in Him. Rivers of living water will flow from within John clarified the message saying that Jesus referring to the Holy Spirit.

 In Exodus 17, read the story from the wilderness journey of Moses and the Israelites When they were very thirsty. They whined and complained to Moses, wishing they were still •n Egypt. Then (at the same place that God appeared to Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3) God told Moses to strike the rock and refreshing water would come out for the people to drink. Many years later, in Nehemiah 9. read the prayers of the Levites recalling this amazing event.

 

ANTICIPATING THE NEXT LESSON

Next week we Will begin the third unit of this quarter by studying God's omnipotence: He is all-powerful' We will begin the unit next Sunday in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 by studying the Holy Spirits power to give us wisdom.

 

PRACTICAL POINTS

1. Everyday activities can provide a segue into a spiritual discussion (John 4:5-9),

2. Even spiritual discussions that are not understood immediately can result in great benefit (vss. 10-12).

3. Jesus offers what the world cannot, if we are willing to receive it (vss. 13-15).

4. Jesus can provide what we need, for He knows everything about us (vss. 16-19).

5. A person can prioritize spiritual matters over physical needs if properly motivated (vs. 28).

6. Life transformation can lead to bold witness for God (vs. 29),

 

RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION

1. Why is it significant that John spent so much time writing about the Samaritan woman?

2. Why are people often slow to understand the meaning of spiritual discussions? What Steps can we take when someone does not understand the concepts are trying to convey?

3. What traditions often lead people to reject biblical teaching?

4. What pitfalls may we encounter if we bring up the sinful lifestyle choices of Others?

5. When might it be appropriate to discuss the sinful personal choices of others?

6. Is it more difficult to witness to an individual or to a group? How might you have to adjust your approach in each situation?

 

 ILLUSTRATED HIGH POINTS

Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9)

When I was in grade school. I was a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team—but only because they had recently won the Super Bowl. I did not like the New England Patriots football team—but only because some of my classmates disliked them.

Bigotry is contagious. We often fear those we don't know. Differences of color, societal class, or background can be viewed as bad if we aren't careful. We are all equal at the foot of the Cross.

 

He would have given thee living water (vs. 10)

Near my childhood home was a spring that flowed from a small hill behind the house. On hot summer days, the flowing water was cool and refreshing. HOW different was the water in the nearby pond' It had green algae and was lukewarm. The smell reminded you that there were fish in it.

Too often people are content to live their lives drinking the stagnant water of this world's values. They reject the fresh life-giving water that God offers freely through Jesus Christ.

 

I have no husband (vs. 17)

When I was young and living in a small-town community, it was shocking to hear of people who were getting a divorce or of an unmarried man and woman living together,

There was a sense of shame, such that people avoided talking about their living arrangements, even with friends.

 Fortunately for us. God knows all about our situation. He knows our living situation, our tailing, and our heartbreak, and He offers His loving compassion and forgiveness in Christ. Glenn Weaver