How Do I study the Bible (3)

John 4: 1 - 30

As we discussed last week, there are some questions we need to ask when studying scripture

WHO - are the main people in this passage. Who is speaking and who is being spoken to.

WHAT - is going on at this time. What is the setting.

WHEN - is this particular passage taking place. What is the timeline

WHERE - are they at. Where is the location being spoken about in this scripture.

WHY - is this happening .

HOW - is this happening. How is it possible.

When looking at a particular passage, these are the questions that will help unlock the passage for a better understanding. Please note, these do not have to be answered in a particular order, but they do all need to be answered.

Also, these questions may be answered several times as you go through a particular passage.

Backstory

Chapter 3 talks about the encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus. It then ends with John the Baptist telling his disciples that “He (Jesus) must increase and I (John the Baptist) must decrease.

Chapter 4 begins with Jesus and his disciples leaving Judea and going to Galilee. Verse 3

Galilee was a place often visited by Jesus as we find mention of it many times in scripture.

There were 3 routes that could be taken to go from Judea to Galilee. This particular route, Jesus chose took them right through the hostile region of Samaria. This route would have taken approximately 2.5 to 3 days. 70 miles.

Where ?

Samaria - on there way from Judea to Galilee (Modern day Palestine)

They were taking the shortest route from Judea to Galilee. However this route was often avoided because the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans Verse 9

The city they were passing through is called Sychar Verse 5

The specific spot for this passage is Jacob’s well.

This was the ground that Jacob (Son of Isaac) purchased.

Genesis 33:18–20 “And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.”

Jacob then gave this land to Joseph,his son

Genesis 48:21–22 “And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

Who ?

We know that Jesus and his disciples are in this passage. We find that Jesus had sent his disciples into town to buy food. Verse 8

A woman of the country of Samaria has a direct encounter with Jesus. Verse 7

An interesting fact is the specific name of this woman is never mentioned.

Jacob, The son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham Verse 12

The men she had had relationships with. Verses 16 - 18

People of the City Verses 28 - 30

Samaritans

With this woman speaking of Jacob and this taking place at Jacob’s well, one can assume the Samaritans must be from God’s chosen people, the Jews.

The Samaritans were part of the northern kingdom.

The southern kingdom was mad up of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah while the northern kingdom was made up of the other 10 tribes of Israel. 1 Kings 12

This kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 BC.

The people that were left behind and not taken into captivity started to intermarry with the Assyrians. Thus the Samaritans are half Jew and half Gentile.

When

This would have been early in the ministry of Jesus

Sixth hour verse 6.

Jesus was tired. It was a long journey from Judea to Galilee. verse 6

At a time of great confusion for this woman. She had been married 5 times before and the one she was with now, she wasn’t married to. Verse 18.

What

Jesus and the disciples are on a journey from Jerusalem to Galilee. No one but Jesus knows they are going to take a stop before they get there. Verse 4

What was Jesus, a Jew, doing talking to this Samaritan woman. Verses 7 - 9

What is the real place to worship: Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim Verses 20 - 25

What is living water? verses 10 - 15

WHY

Samaria?

This woman?

How

How can Nicodemus in Chapter 3 reject Christ and this Samaritan woman in Chapter 4 accept him

How can this woman who has had 5 husbands, run back to town excited and tell the entire community to come and see this man who told her all things

How can this message stir the hearts of so many in this area of Samaria while others rejected the call of Christ?