JOHN 4 - Samaritans, disciples rejoin

OVERVIEW

• The other Gospel writers focused on Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and did not mention an early ministry in Judea

• The early popularity of Jesus stirred up the Pharisees, leading Jesus to return to Galilee  <R1795>

• Jesus wanted to move away from John's ministry so people would not compare

• Jesus' time had not yet come to fulfill His mission on the cross

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Jesus wasn’t talking about literal water; He was using it as a metaphor for life. You could take any so-called well in your life, from the well of pleasure to the well of materialism, and you’ll discover the same thing this woman did. It may satisfy you for a time, but then you will thirst again.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, the search is over. If we drink of the water that He gives us, then we’ll be completely satisfied. We have a spiritual thirst that only God can satisfy. And all the other things this world has to offer ultimately will come up short.  <L120>

John 4:7,13-14 NIV

[7] When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” [13] Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

** The Samaritan woman represents those in sin who do not know they are in sin, or know that God sees their condition

• Most religious leaders would view the woman as unclean, and would feel contaminated by any contact with her  <R1795>

• Jesus approached the Samaritan woman with a question that initiated a conversation, as opposed to His confronting Nicodemus with a response to his question

• Nicodemus thought he knew who Jesus was whereas Samaritan woman didn't come with preconceived ideas; Jesus adapts to every situation

• Jesus directed a question toward the woman, provoking her to think about something she had not previously considered

• Jesus let the woman know what she needed, who could offer help, how to receive help

• Living Water = Spirit

• God's provision is life giving (eternal) rather than a temporary solution looking after a current thirst

John 4:7,9-10 NIV

[7] When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” [9] The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. ) [10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

** Believe in God who offers those who follow Him values that last beyond the few years in an earthly life

• Many societies places emphasis on what people see

• Earthly existence often focuses on proof of independence, youth, beauty, wealth, status, etc

• People thirst for and believe that many worldly desires can satisfy their needs

• High School surveys show that the typical student has a life goal to be happy, get money and do what they want

• All of the worldly values are temporal and will end when life on this earth does

• Rather, choose Jesus and His values that are eternal

John 4:13-14 NIV

[13] Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Luke 18:28-30 NIV

[28] Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” [29] “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God [30] will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

John 12:25 NIV

[25] Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

[18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

** Some who may want to rationalize compromise in their life as a Christian may protest this and say, “Well, Jesus hung around sinners!” That is not really true. Jesus did not “hang around sinners” for the most part. Actually, He “hung around” His disciples.

When Jesus was with sinners separated from God, they did not stay that way for long. He confronted the woman at the well about her sin. Sure, He loved her, but He pointed out she was living in sin with a man at present. She also came to faith after that. Yes, Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery, but it was only after she called Him “Lord,” and then He said to her, “Go, and sin no more. . . ”  <L120>

John 4:15 NIV

[15] The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

** Jesus crossed many social barriers in a tactful way; in John’s account, Jesus confronted the Samaritan woman's sinful relational issues and drew the truth out of her even after her initial coy response to His comment

John 4:16-18 NIV

[16] He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” [17] “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. [18] The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

** The Samaritan woman's sin confused her understanding of God and she needed to see Jesus as more than simply a good teacher; Jesus introduces the need for confession that allows God to control all aspects of a person's life

John 4:19 NIV

[19] “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet."

John 4:24 NIV

[24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

** Salvation does not depend on where a believer is located but comes through Jesus

• Jews were used to worshiping at temples in Jerusalem

• Samaritans typically worshiped on a mountain

• As things started to get personal, the woman at the well changed the subject and challenged Jesus' words

• Jesus used her comments to guide the conversation and stick with His challenge so she could experience personal spiritual worship

John 4:20-21 NIV

[20] Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” [21] “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem."

John 4:25-26 NIV

[25] The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [26] Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you---I am he.”

** Some people today like to envision a meek and mild Jesus who walks around with a lamb draped around His neck, saying, “Whatever you want to believe is cool with Me -- as long as you’re true to yourself.”

However, that isn’t the Jesus of the Bible. In essence, Jesus was saying to the Samaritan woman, “Your form of belief is the wrong form. It is not going to lead you to God.” Jesus clarified the issue and brought it back home. He also pointed out that all religions are not true.  <L120>

Regardless of our culture and century, it's important that we worship the right God. There is coming a time when we will be held accountable whether we adhered to the Biblical Jesus or fabricated a deity of our own.

John 4:20-21 NIV

[20] Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” [21] “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

Exodus 20:2-3 NIV

[2] “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. [3] “You shall have no other gods before me.

** The woman at the well needed to adjust her thinking about worship; spirit (heart) and truth (mind) combined together is needed for genuine worship to happen

Spirit = refers to God not being contained in a box and the soul we have deep within us that can connect with the Ultimate Spirit; we cannot worship what we do not love and our outward actions should reflect our heart values

Truth = Jesus pointed out flaws in the woman's thinking, ideas about her priority in following the law and adding in pagan practices; we cannot worship what we do not understand correctly

John 4:20-21 NIV

[20] Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” [21] “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem."

John 4:23-24 NIV

[23] Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

** Samaritans were part Jew and part Gentile, rejected by Jews because they could not prove their lineage from Abraham

• Jews often distanced themselves from the Samaritans, often going out of their way to travel around Samaria

• Jesus did not buy into these prejudices and met the Samaritan woman who had many husbands

• There were many reasons for Jesus not to associate with this woman, yet He did and surprised His disciples

John 4:21-23 NIV

[21] “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. [22] You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

Matthew 10:5-6 NIV

[5] These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. [6] Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel"

** Jesus called the Jews the source of our salvation  <S2016>

• The church needs to recognize the high price the Jewish people have paid so that the Gentile world could come to faith

• All of their suffering and persecution for the past two millennia would have been avoided if God had brought them to faith during Jesus’ First Coming

• But then Gentiles would not have been grafted into His covenant promises with Israel and would have remained in their unbelief

• Gentile Christians should appreciate all the Jewish people have done for us

• They taught us about the one true God of the universe and, inspired by God’s Spirit, they gave us His Holy Word and preserved it with great care and accuracy

John 4:22 NIV

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

** Salvation comes through Christ and the Jews are His chosen people; the enemy knows this and is doing everything in his power to annihilate the Jewish population  <G76> (Oct 2023)

John 4:22 NIV

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

** The ONLY way we can worship God in TRUTH is through His Word; studying every book in Scripture is not an option for the Christian but a necessity if they want to truly follow and worship God  <G795>

John 4:24 NIV

[24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

** The final king in the Davidic royal line for Israel is the Messiah; the Jews rejected Jesus when He appeared to them so they are still waiting  <H86>

John 4:25-26 NIV

[25] The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [26] Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you---I am he.”

** Sometimes we don't see Christ who stands right before us; let's look to Him for truth

John 4:25-26 NIV

[25] The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [26] Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you---I am he.”

** Jesus offers a Living Water that will satisfy forever

• The Samaritan woman remembered there was to be a Messiah, and Jesus informed her of who He is

• The woman Spirit the well is Scripture's first example of a Gentile turning to Christ

• Her eyes were opened; we know this because she goes to others and shares the news

• Likewise, we need to recognize our mortality, our sin, our need for eternal salvation and then go to God and His Word

• Repentance is a result of being convicted of our sin

• Sharing God's truth and maturing in faith should be the next step after receiving salvation, making a continual effort to be obedient to God's commands on a daily basis

1 John 1:8-10 NIV

[8] If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

John 4:28-29 NIV

[28] Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, [29] “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

** Jesus commands us to go to the nations without prejudice, making the most of every opportunity He provides to either sow new seed or reap what has already been sown

• God will meet our need (such as food provisions) as we accomplish His purpose and His will

• Jesus shifted the focus from food (that the disciples got from town) to people (remembering that the Jews and Samaritans did not like each other)

• The disciples missed the opportunity to speak to the Samaritan woman, who sees Jesus and goes back to share with her neighborhood

• This account in John provides an example of Jesus planting the seed in Samaria so Philip could take refuge there years later (Acts 8:5-6)

John 4:35-38 NIV

[35] Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. [36] Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. [37] Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. [38] I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Acts 8:5-6 NIV

[5] Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. [6] When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.

** Harvesting is an urgent and time-sensitive matter; it is with this urgency that Christ reminds us to go out and gather the souls for salvation, some of the harvest that others have sown  <F60>

John 4:35-38 NIV

[35] Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. [36] Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. [37] Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. [38] I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

** Jesus shows us that His salvation message is meant for everyone

• This a good reminder for us to leave our prejudices at the door when we go to all nations to share about God

John 4:39-41 NIV

[39] Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. [41] And because of his words many more became believers.

Acts 2:21 NIV

[21] And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

** The religion of the true believer is experimental--it is the religion of the heart. He has no dealings with an unknown, imaginary God.

He does not know God from the hearing of the ear, or from the reading of books, or from the religious conversation of others merely; but he knows Him from personal acquaintance, from heartfelt experience, from close and constant dealings.

There has been a manifestation of God in Christ to his soul, and with Job he can say, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You!"

And with the converted Samaritans, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." John 4:42

Oh to be a true, an experimental Christian!

The religion of the ear, or of the eye, or of the imagination, or of the intellect--will not, and cannot bring the soul to Heaven! The abodes of endless woe are peopled with souls who went down to its regions of despair with no better religion than this!

Oh, give me the:

• Sincere humility of the publican

• Trembling faith of the diseased woman

• Flowing tears of the penitent Magdalene

• Last petition of the dying thief

rather than the most intellectual religion or the most gorgeous ceremonial that the mind ever invented, or the eye ever beheld.  <W211>

Job 42:5 NIV

[5] My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

John 4:42 NIV

[42] They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

** Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our Kinsman Redeemer, will save us when we acknowledge Him, accept His offer of salvation, understand His promises and aim to live for Him

John 4:42 NIV

[42] They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Job 19:25 NIV

[25] I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

Acts 4:11-12 NIV

[11] Jesus is “ 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:9-11 NIV

[9] If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. [11] As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Luke 19:9-10 NIV

[9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

John 1:29 NIV

[29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

** God always brings us through devastation with positive outcome; just like the aftermath of a forest fire that looks beyond repair but in reality creates excellent conditions for new growth as evidenced at a later time

John 4:46-53 NIV

[46] Once more [Jesus] visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. [47] When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. [48] “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” [49] The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” [50] “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. [51] While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. [52] When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” [53] Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

• Note: Israel was to be an example of this increased growth

• We see its people repented of their sin -- a positive result -- during difficult times

Deuteronomy 4:34 NIV

[34] Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

Galatians 3:6-9 NIV

[6] So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [7] Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. [8] Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” [9] So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

** God sometimes gets our attention and increases our faith via miracles: unexplainable events that occur in contrast to our understanding

• Crisis of belief: an official had heard that Jesus could heal his son and traveled a day to meet Jesus

• Confirmation of faith happened when the father believed Jesus at His word

• We assume the father's heart was calmed because he did not hurry back to his son (spent the night in Cana)

• Eventually his household came to faith in Jesus after the father's faith was confirmed and the son was healed

• In this example, God answered the father's prayer because it was in God's timing & purpose

• Jesus commended the father for having faith in Jesus' words (Jesus did not have to be physically present with his son to perform the healing miracle)

• Likewise we are to make decisions to either trust God or not, and choose whether to believe God or not -- regardless if we SEE God's words in action (the miracle)

• Faith is increased through crisis of faith and confirmation of faith

John 4:46-47 NIV

[46] Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. [47] When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

John 4:49-53 NIV

[49] The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” [50] “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. [51] While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. [52] When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” [53] Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

** Many societies place emphasis on what people see (proof of independence, youth, beauty, wealth, status, etc), all of which are temporary and will end when life on this earth does; rather, believe in God who offers us true values that last beyond our few years here!

John 4:48-50 NIV

[48] “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” [49] The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” [50] “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

[13] “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."