Campaigners – John 4:1-42 (Jenna)
Posted by tatescreekyl on October 12, 2008
Read: John 4:1-42
Background: In Jesus’ time, Jews and Samaritans did not like each other to the extent of having no interaction whatsoever. If a Jew interacted with a Samaritan, they were considered “unclean”.
There were three different routes Jesus could have taken from Judea to Galilee. (Judea was a land where Jews lived and Galilee where Gentiles lived so in Jesus’ going from one to the other he was bringing the news to gentiles since the Jews rejected his teaching) only one road went through Samaria, and it was the shortest route, but no Jew would ever go through Samaria, so the Lord going through there meant He knew the woman would be there and believe.
It was very uncommon for a woman to go get water so late in the afternoon, but she lived a sinful life and went at that time to avoid judgment from others.
v.23 “in spirit and in truth” Jesus was rebuking both Jews and Samaritans here. Jews worshipped on the outside with no connection to the heart (spirit), and the Samaritans worshipped what was untrue (truth).
*Jesus always encounters someone when He travels
*Jesus asks her about her husband because people need to acknowledge they’re sinful before they can be given a new life (no need= no need for a savior)
*The woman was missing the truth about Jesus because of a respect for the past. Things we grew up believing can sometimes get in the way of our perception of Jesus.
Questions:
1) What does it show you about Jesus that he would ask for a drink from the woman (v.7-9)?
2) What is the “water” in your life? What do you keep going to hoping to fill you (v 13-14)?
3) Why would Jesus ask about her husband when he knew her situation (v.16)?
4) Why is it significant that the woman left her water jar (v 28)? What do you need to leave behind?
5) Why did the people believe the woman (v. 39)?
Ending point v. 35b/ 39-42–Nobody can argue what God has done in your life. The harvest is ready. Go out and live a life to show what He has done in yours. People will be curious. The closer they get to Jesus, the more they’ll see his truth. Same with us.
