", Summary of the Story of the Woman at the Well. 4 Things Christians Can Learn from The Story of the Woman at the Well 1. In Jewish culture, Rabbis did not speak to women in public. New International Version Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. As Jesus talked with her, he tried to get her to understand the idea of living water. A woman came to the well where he sat down to rest. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? Throughout his ministry Jesus did these things, specifically to set women free from societal norms and expectations that did not fully allow them to serve God. She did not perceive that Jesus was offering her eternal life. This was a strange time of day and she was all by herself. Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have (Luke 10:30-35). "Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet." She was an evangelistic woman (John 4:28-29, 39). He says: 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. - John 4:10. Only in recent years have men been allowed to marry women from outside the community, although women who marry outside the community remain ostracized. Like the Samaritan Woman, we are thirsty. Her current situation, living with a man who is not her husband, could be the result of several possible scenarios. For these next few points, we will look at the woman at the well more closely. She was a receptive woman (John 4:13-15, 21-25). She has been married 5 times, and is currently living in unrepentant sin, by living with her boyfriend (John 4:16-18). All of us need to repent of our sins and leave them in the past; then, with our mistakes behind First, he spoke to her despite the fact that she was a woman. Although Jesus was a male, Jewish stranger, she was kind enough to grant his request for water. In my weakness He is made strong. However, the Gospel brought hope to Samaria. Here are a couple I recommend: Check Out These Other Posts and Resources: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman." (v.27). Then in church a few weeks ago, we meditated on the verses of Jesus encounter with this woman from John 4. Meanwhile those who were taken to Babylon remained strict in Jewish practices. When she discovers his identity as the Messiah she leaves her water jar, much like the disciples left their nets, and becomes an effective evangelist to her community. RELATED: Jesus and the rich young ruler 7 modern lessons from an old Bible story. She is working on her first book to be published in 2016; an autobiographical teaching of the Song of Solomon. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. Read my full disclosure. The Samaritans were mongrels in the eyes of Jews. If you are a Bible study teacher, you are free to allow this content to influence the lessons you teach or the sermons you present. But as if that weren't enough, he told the woman he could give her "living water" as a gift from God so that she would never thirst again. There is no moving forward until you can clean up the immediate mess around you. The woman perceived Jesus as a prophet because He gently called out her sin and told me everything I ever did (John 4:29). When Jesus is our Messiah, He becomes the Lord of our life. It was at Jacob's well that Jesus and the Samaritan woman talked. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. All rights reserved. Jesus often taught spiritual lessons through parables or stories. the city and began telling others about Him. Qualities of Abigail in the Bible lessons from the woman with beauty and brains, 8 Amazing lessons from Mary the mother of Jesus . Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. She went back to Give me this water and I will never have to come here again. She would have gladly given up her long treks to the well in the heat of the day. journey sat down at the well. What surprised you in this Bible study session? The Samaritan woman had a past she was not proud of. In time, those people had accepted the Pentateuch, which consist of the first five books of the Old The nameless woman at the well was called to be a disciple and evangelist. revealed to her that He knew she had been married five times. Even though the earthly Jesus felt tired and thirsty, he kept his divine appointment with this woman. Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. The other women would have gathered their water early in the morning, before the heat of the sun beat down on them, before the tasks of the day wearied them . It starts right there where Jesus wants you to see yourself. 17 The woman answered and said to Him, I have no husband.Jesus *said to her, You have correctly said, I have no husband; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this which you have said is true. John 4:16-18. To worship in truth means that we worship in accordance with what has been revealed in Gods word. Lord, let me realize my weakness and my need for a Savior day after day. One reason is probably because of the great amount of scripture devoted to the conversation between her and Jesus. The Samaritans were a people group in the Bible that lived in the area of Israel following the Assyrian conquest. He will never turn us away. And not any Messiah, the One we meet is weary too. As can be observed from the Bible, there are some thirty-four verses used to record this event. It was about 6 p.m. when they met. She was ashamed of it but Jesus got her to pay attention. On one occasion, Jesus was passing through Samaria on his way from Judea to Galilee. Because of His magnificent sacrifice, our life should exalt His name (Matthew 5:16). Im so thankful for all the stories of the Biblical characters who were flawed and rough around the edges. John 4:7-19 Samaritan Woman. Dustyn is also an ordained minister of Word and sacrament in the Reformed Church in America and previously served as a pastor at North Holland Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. People in the world, like the Samaritan woman at the well, need to know the consequences of their sin. What can we learn from the woman at the well? Or, perhaps, these words press on an area in your own heart. The Samaritan woman's name or age is not revealed in the story of her meeting with Jesus. Very often, meeting the needs of others can be messy. The following are some outstanding characteristics of the Samaritan woman: Lord, please grant us more women with the above characteristics, in Jesus name, Amen! This is the type of woman the Samaritan was. He is the unending source of peace, joy, love, self control, truth, hope, and satisfaction (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 8:3. Understanding properly how worship as it was in the beginning and worship as it is now relate to worship in the world without end helps . She decides to take their theological discussion a step further and asks him about the proper place for worship, one of the major differences between Jews and Samaritans. If a stranger could reveal her own story to her, this has got to be the Messiah. Zavada, Jack. The ESV Global Study Bible says it this way: The terms Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean anointed. In the NT and early Judaism, Messiah combines many OT expectations about an anointed one who would lead, teach, and save Gods people (John 1:41 study note, cross-referenced from John 4:25). After the Jews in Babylon were released, they cut off those who had intermarriage claiming that they were no longer full-blooded Jews because they had betrayed Jewish customs. Its only through the waters of His Spirit abiding in us that we are able to live, worship, and commune with Him. Redirecting to /core/journals/new-testament-studies/article/abs/marriage-and-the-samaritan-woman/0C99A409746F3DC20A14FBDDC0D7B8E0 She was curious. He used the backdrop of the Jews hatred for Samaritans to show that everyonewas his neighbor, even those considered an enemy. John 4:16-19 says: He told her, Go, call your husband and come back.I have no husband, she replied. A thousand AMENs Iona. The Character Study Kit is designed to help you do your own study of any Biblical character. Just as the Samaritan woman did not fully understand who Jesus was at first, we also need Jesus to open our eyes to the reality of who He is (Psalm 146:8, Ephesians 4:18). Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink," 8 for His disciples had gone away into the town to buy food. Amen. Maybe its a woman who you and others avoid because associating with her may switch on the rumor mill. In 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Although they had never met before, Jesus revealed that he knew she'd had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus meets this Samaritan woman at Jacobs Well after a mornings journey and disregards social custom by asking her for a drink. His request was very appropriate. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth., The woman said, I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. The sixth hour would have been our modern-day noon. She was a receptive woman ( John 4:13-15, 21-25 ). This interaction between Jesus and the woman at the well can teach us some truly deep lessons of confrontation, compassion and freedom. For centuries Jews and Samaritans had rejected each other. And that means hes always wanting to hear from us. Certainly, five marriages is a high number. Jesus and the woman discussed their views on worship, and the woman voiced her belief that the Messiah was coming. Cast out. The living water that Jesus was offering her would satisfy her souls desires in a way that she had not yet experienced. Fact #2: Mary was from the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. Could this man be the Christ? (John 4:29, CEB). The next best item to buy. There is the The Jewish attitude towards Samaritans is faithfully reflected in the New Testament, especially in Jesus' controversial choice of a "good Samaritan" to attack over-pious Jewish practices (Luke 10:30-37). She speaks of her anticipation of the fuller understanding she will receive when the Messiah comes. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion. 9 Then the Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, who am a Samaritan woman?". He shall never thirst he shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his souls desires; they are longing, not languishing. We desire a fulfillment, rest, and joy that cannot be found in another person, place or project. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. We come with our water jug to get the water we thirst for. us; we can move forward to do greater things in the service of God. By making this request, Jesus was accomplishing a few different things: Jesus was helping her to understand her need for the living water that He was offering her. Yet, we often don't see that the satisfaction we so desire can only be filled by a Messiah who speaks in spirit and truth. At this point, the woman realized He must be some kind of prophet. Zavada, Jack. Today, Samaria is in what is now the northern West Bank. In the book of Acts, after Jesus' ascension into heaven, his apostles carried on his work in Samaria and to the Gentile world. Jesus knows her past and her pain, but He also knows her purpose. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. This woman came for water at an unusual hour and she came alone. And, third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, although using her cup or jar would have made him ceremonially unclean. Years ago as I pondered this poor soul we know as the Samaritan woman, I thought this is who I am, rejected, abandoned, full of shame, and longing for a drink of living water, but not even knowing what it was I longed for. captive the people of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6). can be observed from the language of the scriptures, that she did not understand what Jesus meant But after meeting Jesus, she was soooo happy that she lost her shame. Next, Jesus is revealed as a prophet. When he offered her the water, she thought he meant literal water. But then she meets Jesus. Instead, through her conversation with Jesus, we discover a model for discipleship that is open to discovering a fuller understanding of Gods action in the world. This is the movement of all disciplesgrowing in faith through relationship with Jesus and moving outward to use our gifts for the sake of the world. It didnt help that the temple, where Gods people were to worship, was located in the southern kingdom. Who was she really? Someone who helps others is often referred to as a good Samaritan. But what is a Samaritan? It Above all, the story, which unfolds in John 4:1-40, suggests that Jesus is a loving and accepting God, and we should follow his example. The Samaritans are also said to have expected the Messiah, as did the Jews; but they felt Who is the Samaritan Woman? We are called to daily take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26). Jesus. Shocked by the truth of His words and exposure of her own sin, her eyes are beginning to open to the truth of who He is. Only God knows the fullness of her life and ours, but regardless of what her former life might But look deeper, and you'll realize it reveals a great deal about Jesus' character. When someone upsets us, or they no longer fulfill our happiness, we walk away, looking for our next relationship. Your email address will not be published. She had five husbands and she was living with a man who was not her husband. All rights reserved. She should have understood what Jesus was talking about. She avoided the well close to home and she went to the well at noon just to avoid the mean women of her community. This Bible study of John 4 explores what the story of the Samaritan woman at the well can teach us today. Jesus wants to be known. The well is still there and Despite the enmity between the Jews and Samaritans, Jesus chose to associate with her. Let me say YES Give me what I long for. Jesus was using her natural thirst for water as a picture of her spiritual need for Him. Christians have long wrestled with the continuities and discontinuities of worship, and confusion in this area has often led to problems with theology and practice of worship. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. The Samaritan woman whom Jesus meets at Jacob's Well gleans much from her long conversation with Jesus. Ashamed. What did Jesus mean when He said, You worship what you do not know in John 4:22? Finally, this was not the closest well to where she lived. When Jesus turned the question back to him, he had to say that the law stated that a person was to love God and love his neighbor as himself. Samaritans were a group of people who were part Jew and part Gentile. Stuck in sin. Several hundred Samaritans still live in Israel and continue to practice their faith centered on the Pentateuch and Mount Gerizim. Actually, although she was not living her best life, she was living in expectation of Jesuss coming. Specifically, her husbands. John 4:25-26 NASB. Most women would come early in the morning or late in the evening to collect water. Many blessings to you as God fills you with His purpose. Think Daniel and the three Hebrew boys in Babylon. (John 4:29, ESV). She may have been She was weary. Jesus told him, Go and do likewise (Luke 10:36-37). The second of the characteristics of the Samaritan woman has to do with her social status. Jesus alone is the Living Water that fills our void. These circumstances point to his desire to avoid the embarrassment that would come from attending the well when other women . She has a good grasp on her own traditions beliefs, so she asks, Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well? (4:12). They intermarriage with people of the surrounding nations. All rights reserved. living in sin when Jesus met her, but I feel sure her life was different from that time on. Jesus was telling her that a time was coming when worship would no longer be focused in a specific place, temple, or mountain. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. Thus, God warned, they would be overtaken by conquerors. The Samaritans were a racially mixed society with Jewish and pagan ancestry. Look at all of the questions she asks: WHERE do you get this living water? The Samaritan made a personal touch that ministered healing to the injured man. And yet, she is eager for the eternal abundance Jesus promises. They were replaced with a foreign race, planted there Antagonism between the Jews and Samaritans sometimes caused tension along this route (Luke 9:52), but, because of its speed, it was the route taken by most Jews going to Jerusalem,[158]except, perhaps, the strictest Jews who avoided the route to prevent contracting We come to Christ to be filled, to be forgiven; and the void that is filled by Christ in our life overflows so that we desire to proclaim His excellencies (1 Peter 2:9) and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). So the woman said to them, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did" (v. 29). The Samaritan woman is perhaps the only person in all of the New Testament to whom Jesus directly says he is the Messiah. She goes immediately and tells her family and friends. Not even their own female relatives, including their wives, sisters and daughters. In her story there is hope for everyone. Jesus puts our sin and shame to death on the cross and calls us to walk in His light (John 8:12, 1 John 1:7, Psalm 27:1). What is the Significance of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. Jesus said to her, You are right when you say you have no husband. Jesus wants to satisfy the deepest longings of our soul through a loving relationship with Himself. They need to know that the price of their sin has been paid and that they too can drink from the waters of salvation. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Jew, would talk to her but she seemed perfectly willing to draw Him water from the deep well. The Samaritan woman went to draw water at noon because she was not welcomed at the local well where the women in her community went for water. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. In reply Jesus said: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. She came in the hottest part of the day, to avoid the accusing glances and harsh words. The human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs, or prejudices. The Jews thought that God could only be worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem. Weary from the countless times we have been rejected, hiding in certain areas because of shame, thirsty for living water, oftentimes we come to the well of religion, the well of an empty relationship, the well of work and striving in the heat of the day, hoping others wont see or recognize us. Hes always listening to our whispered prayers and our silent prayers. When Jesus revealed himself as the Living Water to the woman at the well, his message was strikingly similar to his revelation as the Bread of Life: I am the bread of life. All Rights Reserved. Upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the believers went out into all the world, bringing the Good News. We live in a culture where we are highly focused on the next best thing. Who is a lost woman in your life who needs to know Jesus? Imagine how freeing it must have been for her to find out that although she wasnt allowed in temple, she could still talk to God. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Jesus replied to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water Jesus answered and 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 shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life. 15 The woman *said to Him, Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw water. 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