The Women at the Well

INTRO

I want us together to read some stories about Jesus, and to think on them to try to understand who He is. Today we will read a passage out of the book of John, try to imagine, put your self in the story, how would you feel, what would you think?

BACKGROUND

The story we are going to read about takes place in the middle of Jesus's ministry

It is a story of Jesus a Jew, and a Samaritan Women and a meeting at a well

Jews were God's chosen race

Samaritans were part Jew and part gentile (anyone not a Jew)_Samaritans were considered a mixed breed_ she was an outcast

Samaritans Had their own temple/place of worship

They did not hold to the first 4 books of the bible, they had their own version

They did not believe in the prophets except one to come that was called restorer instead of Messiah.

Jews avoided Samaritans for religion and race, they hated them.

Traditionally religious men would not talk to women, much less be alone with them

Our story starts with Jesus being in southern Israel (Judea) and had to go to journey north to Galilee, about 70 miles 125KM REMEMBER HE IS WALKING by walking as a comparison………

Latacunga Canton to Mitad de Mundo 125KM

At about NOON /MID-Day SUN TIRED/ REST Sychar / Samaria

Machachi 50KM (ma cha chi)Sent disciples for food

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Mala to Ventanilla 125KM

At about NOON /MID-Day SUN - TIRED/ REST

Sychar / Samaria

Pta Hermosa 50KM

Sent disciples for food

This was the direct route, but NOT TRADITIONAL ROUTE

Similar to taking back roads versus the highwaySimilar to taking the beach instead of the Pan American Hwy

John tells us that Jesus Had to make this journey

Purpose

Lastly the normal time for women to come to the well for water was early in the morning or late afternoon.

PASSAGE TITLE John 4:7-30

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water.

Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, (very BOLDLY) “How is it that you, a Jew (and a man), ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to him, “Sir, (somewhat sarcastic) you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?

12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, (doubtful) give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” (somewhat truthful-not total honesty)

Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

Jesus and her sin

Notice he offers living water before he addresses her sin.

He brings it out into the open - but he does not condemn her

The sin is addressing is her unbelief

He is doing that by revealing Himself to her, offering the a gift, living water, eternal life = HIMSELF

He is leading her into all truth in love.

19 The woman said to him, “Sir, (rather than acknowledge the truth - she challenges him again) I perceive that you are a prophet.

(changing the subject)

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here,

when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,

for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The significance of true worship

Not religionNot buildings / temples / churches

Not saints / pastors / leaders

Not your self / Not our good works

TRUE WORSHIPERS

Total allegiance to Jesus

Whole heart honesty

He is first above everything

In Spirit and truth

In Love

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (she is still pushing back) (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

(I am the restorer / the Messiah ? Christ the Lord)

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”

28 So the woman left her water jar (excitement of uncomfortableness) and went away into town and said to the people,

29 “Come, see (SHE NOW BELIEVES) a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

YOUR OBSERVATIONS

What were your observations in the text?

What did you see for the first time?

Something new? Different?

What did not seem right to you?

How did you see Jesus?

How did you see the Samaritan women?

MY OBSERVATIONS

These are my observations, all of us come to His word with our histories, experiences, and development. We can have conversations of how we see it, but with the intent to uphold the truths of His word, not make it say what works for us.

Just because I share my perspective does not mean I am right, we are here for each other to learn and grow, and that is done in community with each other, through our conversations and our lives.

QUESTIONS

Do you have any questions?

REFLECTION

How do we you see Jesus in a new way?

Obedient

Valuing/Loving to all people

Approachable

Engaging

Patient

Giving/sacrificial

Living Water = Holy SpiritOur sin does not surprise Him, He loves the Lost, He is confronting, but not condemning

Leading us to truth

Not shaken by our questioning, our doubts

Holy / only accept true worshipers

The testimony of Him is so great that I should want to tell the world.

CLOSING

Take some time, go back and read the passage again and ask yourself .........Who is Jesus?

In light of our reading, how do you see Jesus in a new way?

How can you use this observation in your life?

How can you use this observation in your classroom?

PRAYER

QUESTIONS for later

What is the significance of Jesus being tired?

underscores his full humanity, Jesus’ human nature could be weak and tired, though his divine nature was omnipotent.

Why do you think the women was not there at the normal time?

What are your general thoughts about the dialogue between Jesus and the women?

How did Jesus treat the Samaritan women?

What gift did Jesus offer the women?

What significance is that?

Why did Jesus ask about her husband?

Who does this story say that Jesus is? Messiah

What new form of worship does Jesus introduce? Why is this important?

What does this story say about Salvation?

1) Salvation comes only to those who recognize their desperate need for the spiritual life they do not have. Living water can be obtained only by those who recognize that they are spiritually thirsty. 2) Salvation comes only to those who confess and repent of their sin and desire forgiveness. Before this immoral woman could embrace the Savior, she had to concede the full burden of her sins. 3) Salvation comes only to those who take hold of Jesus as their Messiah. For the absolute truth is that salvation is found in no one else (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

God's Sovereignty

Why did Jesus "have to go" to Galilee

Was the timing of the meeting with the women at the well just a coincidence?

Why did Jesus send the disciples for food?

How did the disciples view the Samaritan women?

What does this story say about our personal testimony?

Why did Jesus not need anything to eat?

What was the harvest about?

Why did the Samaritans believe?

Have you had these same type of conversations with God? Pushing back? Are you pushing Him back now, or inviting Him in?