St Louis UBF UBF Bible Study : John 4:1-26

Bible Study Materials

John 4:1-26

by Paul Choi 11/12/2017

Question

LIVING WATER

John 4:1-26

Key Verses: 13,14

1. Where did Jesus go and why (1-3)? See a map for Samaria’s location (4-5). Why did Jesus “have to” go through there? What ethnic problem was involved here (9)?

2. Where did Jesus stop and how was he feeling (6)? Who came to the well, why alone and why at noon? How did Jesus initiate a conversation (7)? How does her answer express the social barriers between them (9)? Why was Jesus not hindered by these barriers?

3. How did Jesus’ reply introduce who he is and what he could give her (10)? How did she view Jesus at this point (11-12)? How would you describe the progression of this interaction?

4. How did Jesus contrast the water in the well with the water that he gives (13-14)? How do people try to satisfy their “thirsts”? Why do people remain empty and unsatisfied? What is the living water and why and how does this truly satisfy (7:37-39; Jer 2:13)?

5. How did she respond to Jesus’ offer (15)? Why do you think Jesus told her to bring her “husband” at this point (16)? How did she answer and how did Jesus graciously reply (17-18)? What are some false wells that hinder you from receiving the living water?

6. What deeper issue did she bring up and why (19-20)? What does this reveal about her? What did Jesus tell her about true worship (21-24)? How was Jesus the fulfillment of her hope and thirst (25-26, 28-29)?

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Message

I AM HE

John 4:1-26

Key Verse:4:26 “Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you---I am he.”

In the previous chapter we studied how Jesus helped Nicodemus, who came to him at night. Nicodemus was a man of standing in Jesus’ day. He was a prominent scholar, a religious leader, and a member of the Jewish ruling consul. He gained all things which people desire. He seemingly lacked nothing. Still, he came to Jesus at night for counseling. He had no assurance for his salvation. He had no confidence in what he believed. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. Jesus taught him that he must be born again from above of water and the Spirit so that he could see and enter the kingdom of God. Nicodemus couldn’t understand Jesus’ deep spiritual teaching. Jesus taught him that he could gain eternal life through faith in God’ Son Jesus Christ. Jesus knew what Nicodemus needed, which was the kingdom of God. Nicodemus didn’t say anything about eternal life or the kingdom of God, but Jesus knew what Nicodemus really needed and was missing in his life. That was because, as the Scripture says, Jesus knew all men. He knew what is in each person. (Jn 2:24,25) He is God.

In today’s passage Jesus meets a Samaritan woman, who was opposite of Nicodemus in many ways, such as race, gender, and social and religious position. Even though she had different problems in a complicated situation, Jesus knew who she was and what she really needed. Let us study how Jesus helped this woman and solved her problem through their conversation.

First, will you give me a drink? (1-15) As we studied last week, the disciples of John the Baptist came to John and reported that Jesus was baptizing more people than John was. But it was not Jesus who was baptizing, but his disciples. Jesus’ rising popularity made him a target for investigation by the Pharisees, the religious leaders. Jesus didn’t want to get involved in unnecessary political conflicts with them regarding baptism. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. In order to go to Galilee from Judea, the Jews had to go through Samaria. Galilee was located in the north, Judea in the south, and Samaria in the middle. But at that time the Jews who lived in south chose to detour, crossing the Jordan River to go to Galilee because they would not associate with Samaritans. There was a complicated and deep-rooted conflict between these two tribes, the Jews and the Samaritans. In BC 722 the Assyrian invaded northern Israel and deported most of the residents to other countries and let gentiles reside there instead. The remaining residents gradually inter-married the gentiles and worshiped their gods. The Jews called these mixed-blood people, ‘Samaritans’ and despised them and treated them like unclean gentiles. The Jews would not even put their feet on the land of Samaria, regarding it as unclean land. But look at verse 4. “Now he had to go through Samaria.” Despite the conflict between these two tribes, Jesus chose to go through Samaria. Jesus had a reason to go through Samaria. He had to meet a very important person, who was a Samaritan woman.

Our God is Almighty. He created the whole universe. We learn how big the universe is where we live now. Compared to the vast universe, we often feel very small, much smaller than a dot, even smaller than a particle. When we realize that we are too small, we feel ourselves as nothing compared to this vast universe. Some feel like their lives are meaningless and valueless. But this is not the case. Just as the Almighty God Jesus came to meet an anonymous Samaritan woman, God knows everything about each of us and comes to us when we are in need and in trouble. God works globally, but cares personally. We see the galaxy with a telescope, but God looks at each of us with a microscope. God knows each person and cares for us one by one. He knows who you are and cares for what you need.

Jesus met her at Jacob’s well. It was around noon. He was tired from a long journey, and his disciples went into the village to buy food. She came to draw water at the well. It was usual for a woman to draw water at noon all by herself. Women usually came to draw water in groups early in the morning or at evening, avoiding the scorching heat of the day. Indeed, this woman had reasons to come by herself and avoid other women. She had had five husbands and now was living with a boyfriend. These days multiple marriages are not surprising, but at that time in such a strict Jewish society her life was not acceptable to men or women. We don’t know why and how she married and divorced five times, and who this recent boyfriend was, but she was not an ordinary woman. She was a special woman.

To this special woman Jesus asked her a very common question. “Will you give me a drink?” Jesus knew everything about her at his first glance. But he didn’t ask her complicated questions, such as, “What caused you to divorce your second husband?” or “What is your motivation for bringing another man into your apartment?” and so on. Instead Jesus simply asked her, “Will you give me a drink?” Jesus was thirsty. She came to draw water to quench her thirst. They had a common interest, which was the necessity of water to quench their thirst. In this world there seem to be many different complicated problems. But when we think about them carefully, they are all simple common problems which are caused by the same reasons. Thirst is one of them.

Some are thirty for food. They eat too much. They suffer from obesity. Others eat very little to shape their bodies up. They suffer from anorexia, a special eating disorder. All are thirsty for something which cannot satisfy them fully. Addiction to pornography is a serious problem, even in the Christian community. People struggle hard to overcome temptations, but they fail and seek other chances to gratify their fleshly desires, until they become out of control. The addictions to gambling, drinking, and even playing video games are all thirst problems. Thirst for love, thirst for recognition, thirst for power, and thirst for money share a common root. The Bible says that people are thirsty because they abandoned God, who is the source of living water. Jeremiah 2:13 says, “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.” Can you fill water into a broken bucket? No matter how much water you put in and no matter how many times you try, you can’t fill the broken bucket with water. In the same way people try to quench their thirty souls with something else, but they all fail. They can’t fill their empty void with the things of the world. Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God-shaped hole in the life of every man, which can be filled only by God.” Man is a spiritual being. He was created in God’s image and likeness in the beginning. So without a right relationship with God, man cannot satisfy his soul. He cannot solve his thirst problem without God, who is the source of the living water.

What was the woman’s response to Jesus’ request? Her response was defiant. She said, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (8) She rejected Jesus’ request by making an excuse with their racial and gender differences. It was a custom for Jews to provide water for thirsty travelers. But she declined her custom and basic humanity because her heart was too broken to talk with anyone. People reject God’s favor and won’t create a relationship with God by making many excuses, such as racial and cultural differences, busy schedules, and physical discomfort. God calls to them every day and invites them to the place of communication, but they reject him as this woman did.

How did Jesus answer her? Look at verse 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.” Jesus didn’t give her up. He didn’t get mad, either. He is patient. He humbly and gently introduced her to three things to continue their conversation: the gift of God, Jesus himself, and the living water. All these three sounded like different subjects to the woman, but they were the same one, indicating Jesus himself. Jesus is the gift of God who gives us eternal life. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. “

Gift, man, and eternal life were all attractive words to this woman, especially ‘living water.’ So she asked Jesus with a subsided voice, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” (11,12) She mentioned about Jacob. This was not only because it was Jacob’s well, but also because Jacob was her role model for God’s blessing and success. In fact Jacob met Rachael by this well, and their romance started. Jacob was also a thirsty man for God’s blessings, love, and success. He gained all he wanted: birthright, 4 wives and 12 children, and great wealth. Still, he was not sure of God’s salvation. He was fearful, lonely, and empty. So he struggled hard to have assurance of God’s presence in his life until his hip socket bone was broken while he was wrestling with an angel of God.

Look at verses 13 and14. “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The water she mentioned was the physical water from Jacob’s well, which symbolizes things of this world that quench our thirst for a while. Those who drink the water from Jacob’s well will be thirsty again, as our souls aren’t quenched by things of the world. But the water Jesus provides us is the living water welling up to eternal life. It never runs dry. It comes from heaven. Jesus Christ himself is the living water who saves our souls and leads us to eternity. Jesus is the eternal God who rose again from the dead. Jesus also gives us the Holy Spirit so that we may have eternal fellowship with the Eternal God the Father. The spring of the Holy Spirit never runs dry because it comes from heaven. Jesus Christ baptizes us with the Holy Spirit so that we may be fully satisfied with God’s presence and his love.

Someone asked me, “Why does a born-again Christian still feel thirsty?” I answered him “Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” Live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit, and your thirst will be gone and you will be truly satisfied. Amen!

What was her response to Jesus’ words? She said in verse 15. “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty again and have to keep coming her to draw water.” She desired the living water. She understood what the living water meant. She did not want to get thirsty any more. She was broken enough through her painful marriage life. She wanted a new life and new relationships, and she needed the living water which could quench her thirsty soul. What did Jesus say to her?

Look at verse 16. “He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” Suddenly Jesus asked her to call her husband. Why? Did Jesus want to know who he was? No! Jesus wanted to help her sin problem so that she could drink the living water. Husband was her sin problem. Husband was her idol. She changed her husband five times until she found the right one. But no husband could satisfy her. Instead they left her with more brokenness, bitterness, and emptiness. Because of her husbands, she was hurt, broken, and wounded. Jesus knew all her grief and pain. He wanted to heal her broken heart as a doctor in the operation room cuts out a malignant tumor from his patient. “Go, call your husband” meant “Repent of your sin, and be ready for the living water.” She didn’t answer “Sir, which one of them do you mean?”, but she said, “I have no husband.” (17a) Some might have thought that she had lied to Jesus in order to cover up her past shameful history. But Jesus admitted her answer as true.

Look at verses 17b-18. “Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 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.” Jesus acknowledged that she had no husband even though she had had five husbands and now was living with a boyfriend. She didn’t have a husband or any man who could quench her thirsty soul and satisfy her empty void. All of them were sinful men who gratified their physical desires and left her more thirsty and empty. When she said, “I have no husband”, she meant “I have no true object of my love, devotion, and worship.”

She was shocked by Jesus’ supernatural insight into her life. She had a holy fear in the presence of Jesus. So she said, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (19-20) She recognized Jesus as a prophet who came from God. She remembered God and brought the matter of worship to Jesus. The Samaritans had worshiped at the temple built on Mount Gerizim, since they refused to join in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (Neh 4:1-2) Jesus said, “Woman, believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.” (21-22) Jesus taught her that her ignorance was not about the location of worship, but about the object of worship. It was not a matter of where they should worship, but whom they should worship. This salvation comes for the Jews. Jesus meant that salvation comes from the Messiah, who had been promised to, prophesied about, and ordained by God through patriarchs, prophets, and priests.

Jesus explained to her in detail about worship; to whom and how we must worship. Look at verses 23-24. “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. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” We must worship God in the Spirit and in truth. What does it mean to worship in the Spirit and in truth? God is spirit. So we must worship in the presence of God, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name. Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way to access God the Father. So we must worship through Jesus and for his name’s sake in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. In a word, we worship God the Holy Trinity.

What was her response when she heard Jesus’ teaching? “The woman said, “I know that Messiah “(called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (25) She was waiting for the Messiah, who could explain everything to her. She was waiting for the Messiah, who could answer all her life questions and solve all her inner problems. She was wandering continuously until she found the Messiah. St. Augustine said, ‘Our hearts have no rest until we find rest in God.” Jacob had no rest in his life until he met God personally at the Jabbok River. Nicodemus couldn’t sleep until he heard the answer from Jesus at night. The Samaritan women changed her husband five times until she found the true object for her worship and devotion. We continually wander here and there until we find the Messiah. I was continually seeking for the one who could answer my life questions and save my soul. People wander until they meet the Messiah, they are thirsty before they drink the living water, and they wait for the Savior who solves their sin and death problem.

The conversation between Jesus and the woman started with ‘thirst’ and finished with ‘worship’. Her thirst was the ignorance of worship. She worshiped the wrong people. She needed the restoration of true worship. Now she met the true object of her worship.

What did Jesus say to her, who was waiting for the Messiah? Look at verse 26. “Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you---I am he.” Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the one whom she was waiting for. Jesus is the answer for her life. Jesus is the living water welling up to eternal life who ends her thirst. Jesus is the true object of her worship, love, and devotion.

Who is Jesus to you? What are you waiting for in your life? Open your heart and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Stop drinking wine, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us worship God in the Spirit and truth. Let us lift up our cup and let him fill the cup with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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