Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Jesus had ben preaching, teaching, and healing in Judea which was making the Pharisees very uncomfortable.

Jesus moves on to Galilee where He could continue His mission with less opposition.

Here, we see a life-changing example for a Samaritan woman and recognize the importance of how one witness can lead many to salvation.

Introduction

Start with

What was the relationship between Jews and Samaritans?

The first request set the stage for this rejoinder, as Jesus turns the tables on the hospitality narrative and assumes the place of the host offering a new kind of water.

The woman is shocked by who she perceives him to be, a Jewish male addressing a Samaritan woman.

Yet he is so much more, and he moves her step by step in that direction, challenging in verse 10, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink.…”

The “gift of God” means that God is extending to her through Jesus the gift of eternal life and of the Holy Spirit, as we will see below.

She is not speaking just to a Jewish male or even a prophet, as she thinks, but to the One who extends the gift of salvation from God to her.

They were enemies of each other.

The woman is shocked by who she perceives him to be, a Jewish male addressing a Samaritan woman.

What was the “gift of God” Jesus was referring to?

Compare to

The “gift of God” means that God is extending to her through Jesus the gift of eternal life and of the Holy Spirit.

She is not speaking just to a Jewish male or even a prophet, as she thinks, but to the One who extends the gift of salvation from God to her.

The Metaphor of “Living Water”

Refers to the “water of life” from God.

In the Old Testament this term was often used of the Torah or wisdom or the Spirit of God, since God is the fountain of life and of knowledge (; ).

It typifies the life-giving power of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This can only come from Jesus, God’s Son and the bestower of the Spirit, culminating in and the river of the water of life flowing to God’s people.

We see here a trinitarian thrust, as every member of the Godhead is the source of this life.

A Claim to Deity

Jesus gave the woman three conditions for gaining “living water”: she needed to

(1) know the free gift of eternal life that God gives;

(2) know the identity of Jesus, the One who gives this gift on behalf of God; and

(3) to ask Jesus for it (i.e., to believe in him).

That Jesus claims to be the source of living water indicates that he viewed Himself as the God of the OT and the Messiah (; ; ).

Verse 11 indicates she does not know who she is talking to.

She is confused by a promise Jesus seemingly cannot keep as indicated in verse 12

Refers to the “water of life” from God.

In the Old Testament this term was often used of the Torah or wisdom or the Spirit of God, since God is the fountain of life and of knowledge (; ).

It typifies the life-giving power of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This can only come from Jesus, God’s Son and the bestower of the Spirit, culminating in and the river of the water of life flowing to God’s people.

We see here a trinitarian thrust, as every member of the Godhead is the source of this life.

Verse 11 indicates she does not know who she is talking to.

She is confused by a promise Jesus seemingly cannot keep as indicated in verse 12

Verse 11 indicates sheShe is confused by a promise Jesus seemingly cannot keep.

Jacob had originally dug the well, and it had been used ever since by his progeny.

Did Jesus think himself better than one of the patriarchs?

She might be thinking of the prophet like Moses who drew water from the rock surely he didn’t seem superior to that figure.

But Jesus does not have this water in mind.

“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”

The well water had to be drawn up with a bucket, but the heavenly water Jesus is offering “will become … a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The Greek word behind “welling” or “bubbling” is a strong one, picturing a geyser leaping up, a picture often found in the Old Testament (Isa 49:10; 55:1–3).

Those who partake of this water “never thirst” again, with the Greek meaning “never again for eternity,” for new life will literally explode out of this messianic spring.

The result is not just a prolonged earthly life but “eternal life.”

She does not fully understand but cannot miss the basic nuance, so she responds in verse 15: “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

She understands that he has access to a supernatural supply of water, but she is still thinking of literal water.

She asks him to fill her bucket with this new water.

Still she exhibits no awareness of the spiritual reality Jesus is addressing.

We cannot know whether she actually believes what he is saying at a basic level or is slightly mocking, but she wants a part in the action if there is any truth to it at all.

4:10 living water.

An idiom for flowing water (Jer 17:13), which was superior to normal well water.

But “living water” can also be a wordplay (see note on Jn 3:3) for the water of life.

4:10–12.

Jesus cut right to the basics and offered living water.

This confused the woman since she had no context for moving from physical to spiritual water.

The expression gift of God appears only here in the Gospels, but it has become a vital part of modern Christian vocabulary.

The gift of God is living water, the water of life, life itself through the Holy Spirit.

Once again Morris helps our interpretation: “Jesus is speaking of the new life that He will give, a life connected with the activity of the Spirit.

Notice that, although Jesus calls Himself ‘the Bread of Life’ (6:35), He does not refer to Himself as the living water.

Living water rather, symbolizes the Spirit, whom He would send, than the Christ Himself.

Oderberg shows that in a number of Jewish writings water symbolizes teaching or doctrine.

It seems likely that the primary meaning here is the Holy Spirit.

But, in the manner so typical of this Gospel, there may also be a reference to Jesus’ teaching.

If so, it will be to His teaching as issuing forth in spiritual life” (Morris, pp.

260–61).

Boice provides an interesting comparison between Nicodemus of chapter 3 and the Samaritan woman of chapter 4.

Here is an abbreviated look at those similarities:

• Both thought they were spiritually secure.

• Both were crudely literal or materialistic in their reaction to Jesus’ spiritual teaching.

What one word describes what Jesus is saying in verse 13?

• Both were spiritually empty and sensed the need for God.

• Both were spiritually lost, and that was the root of all their other problems (Boice, I, pp.

335–37).

4:11 deep.

The well’s ancient depth is uncertain, but it may be similar to its modern depth of 100 feet (30 meters).

4:11–12.

Nicodemus and the woman both confused spiritual truths with physical realities.

How could this unknown Jewish man be greater than their patriarch Jacob (v.

12)?

And how could the water-gift He gives be greater than the well Jacob gave that watered even his cattle?

The woman’s questions reflect her skepticism (the Greek construction of the question You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you?

anticipates a negative response).

Like so many others, the woman did not recognize who Jesus was (1:10, 26, 31, 33).

4:12 our father Jacob.

Jews denied Samaritans’ descent from Jacob, whereas Samaritans affirmed it.

Judeans denied it because Assyrians had mixed other peoples with the descendants of the northern kingdom, and they had originally mixed conflicting beliefs (2Ki 17:24–34, 41).

By this period, though, Samaritans were monotheists.

Believe.

The one who drinks just once of the water (i.e., believes) Jesus gives will never thirst again because it will become in him a perpetual well (pege, an active “spring”) of water springing up to eternal life.

The Greek word, “springing up” (hallomai), is used of the lame “leaping” after being healed (; ).

Move to

The Samaritan woman is clearly thinking only of the earthly situation, so Jesus changes tack and addresses her past and present.

What do you think Jesus was doing in 16-18 and how does this relate to us?

His purpose was to uncover her true spiritual condition.

Before she could partake of the living water, she must come to grips with her moral condition, as should we everyday.

Her current living arrangement (with a man who was not her husband) would have added to her shame.

She would have been considered immoral for her number of husbands as well as for her current living arrangement, and Jesus is confronting her with the problem that is keeping her from being able to partake of the living water.

This is why she was forced to get water by herself at noon; she was probably shunned by the other women.

What attribute of God is displayed here?

Omniscience.