Friday, May 14, 2021

Life With Christ: Walking with Those Who Walked With Him - Lesson 5 The Woman At the Well

Life With Christ: Walking with Those Who Walked With Him

Lesson 5 The Woman at the Well, the Sinner

 

 

 

 

 

 Timeline

     Year of Obscurity                Year of Popularity                              Year of  Opposition     ___________________|_________________________________|__________________________

(1,2)AD25  (3)     (4) Apr  AD26     (5,6) AD 26     (7) Mar AD27   (8) Apr  AD 27                                

 

   1.  John The Baptist preaches as forerunner Mark 1:1-8

     2.  Jesus is Baptized by John, Matthew 3:13-17,

       3.  Jesus in the wilderness tempted by Satan, Matt 4:1-11

         4.   John cast in prison Luke 3:19-20, End of Year of Obscurity

          5.  Temple Cleansing, 1st Passover John 2:13, meets with Nicodemus John 3:1  

            6.  The woman at the well John 4

              7.   John beheaded by Herod for his wife Mark 6:17-29

                 8.  Second Passover John 5:1

 

Map of Lesson

 

                                                           


Lesson: Read John 4:1-30

 

Background

               Centuries had passed since the nation of Israel had split into two separate warring nations, Israel, also called Samaria in the north and Judah in the south.  Around 721 BC the northern kingdom was invaded by Assyria and most of its inhabitants deported.  Those few that were left, intermarried with other people imported by the Assyrian conquerors. After the southern kingdom of Judah was captured but and later allowed to return, they would have nothing to do with their northern neighbors. They now had very different cultures, values and especially religions. Very seldom would a Jew allow themselves to travel through Samaria and never would he have any type of contact if at all possible. Some Jewish Rabbis would even pray that no Samaritan be resurrected.  Into this centuries old religious and cultural divide comes Jesus, who is traveling to Galilee and “must needs go through Samaria.”

 

Understanding the text:

 

John 4:1– 5 1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.  4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

 

Vs. 1-5 In context of chapter 3 and 4:1-2 why would Jesus need to go through Samaria and in the social context of Jesus time why would John note this route?

 

After Jesus cleansing the temple and his preaching at the 1st Passover, the Pharisees would take notice of Him. This is what 4:1 is pointing out. So before things became too problematic and His mission affected, he would retreat to Galilee. John would note this route because it was not the normal route a “good” Jew would take, they would avoid any contact with the “half-breed heretics” in Samaria.

 

John 4:6–9 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

 

vs 6-7  What time of day was the 6th hour? Depending on the answer what might be an explanation for this woman going to the well alone and at this time?

 

If the hours of the day started at sunrise, then Jesus would have been at the well around noon. Water gathering was usually done in the morning or in the evening, but not usually during the hottest part of the day. Probably this woman did not want to associate with the other women or had been ostracized by them.

 

Vs 8-9 Why did this woman ask Jesus, “How is it you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan women?”

 

The Jews avoided the Samaritans and the Samaritans disliked the Jews, in addition a man alone would be even less likely to address a woman who was a stranger.

 

John 4:10–11 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

 

vs 10-11 Just as Nicodemus had a misunderstanding about the new birth, the woman of Sychar had a different understanding of “living water.” How did she understand “living water?” 

 

Living water was the water from a spring or water that ran into a well from a spring, it was running water as opposed to still or stagnant water.

John 4:13–16 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

 

vs 13-14  What is the living water Jesus is talking about? 

 

Jesus speaks of a supernatural gift that would satisfy her spiritual thirst.

 

Vs. 15 Does the woman understand this yet?

 

No, she still think Jesus is offering some kind of physical water, an unending source that would allow her not have to go to the well.

 

Vs. 16  Why did you think Jesus now tells her to get her husband?

 

Because the woman still did not understand what Jesus was saying, it was necessary to reveal himself in order for her to look past the physical.

 

John 4:17–20 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

 

vss 17-20  Because of Jesus’ insight, the woman now understands that Jesus is a prophet and she asks Him a question. What is this question in reference to? 

 

The Samaritan Pentateuch records an altar set up on Gerizim. The Samaritans held that Abraham offered up Isaac on Gerizim and so they worshipped there rather than go to Jerusalem.

 

John 4:21–24 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

vs  21-24 What coming event was Jesus prophesying?

 

The revelation of the Messiah and later the gift of the Holy Spirit would change the understanding of those who were seeking God.  The location of the Temple would no longer matter when God indwelt His children through the gift of the Holy Spirit, given by faith as part of salvation and the New Covenant.

 

How does one worship in spirit and in truth? 

 

Both the emotion, will, desire, (the spirit) as well as the doctrine, (the truth) must be present, balanced and correct.  Emotion, however sincere, was not enough to satisfy God and doctrine without desire and emotion is dead and not fit for God.

 

John 4:25–26 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

 

Vss 25-26  Why did Jesus reveal himself as the Messiah here when He would not do so in Jerusalem? 

 

It was not the time in Jerusalem, such a revelation would accelerate the events preceding His crucifixion.  Here in Samaria that would not happen.  It was also important for this woman who was ready to believe.

 

John 4:28–30 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

 

Vss 28-30 Did this woman believe? 

 

Yes, she proclaims Him the Christ, the Messiah and tells others to “Come and see!”

 

Application: Learning from Jesus The Soul Winner

              

What can I learn about the manner in which Jesus presents himself to this woman?

 

What was the first difficulty Jesus had to overcome? 

 

What can I learn about Jesus’ frank discussion of the woman's lifestyle? 

 

In dealing with people about their souls and Jesus, what must they come to realize concerning the Lord? 

 

What can be learned about handling "difference of religion" questions?  


CONTRASTS BETWEEN NICODEMUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN (JOHN 3–4)

 

 

Nicodemus

 

Samaritan Woman

 

PLACE

(Jerusalem) Judah

 

Samaria

 

TIME

By night

 

About 6 P.M. (Or Noon)

 

OCCASION

 

Planned visit

 

By chance

 

CONTENT

 

Theological

 

Practical

 

INITIATOR

 

Nicodemus

 

Jesus

 

ETHNIC GROUP

 

Jew

 

Samaritan (mixed blood)

 

SOCIAL STATUS

 

Highly respected ruler, teacher

 

Despised woman (immoral)

 

SEX

 

Male

 

Female

 

ATTITUDE

 

Polite, calling Jesus Rabbi

 

First hostility, then respect

 

FORM

 

Nicodemus faded out,

dialogue became monologue

 

Dialogue carried to the end

 

RESULT

 

Not mentioned

 

Woman converted, witnessed, and people came to believe

 

From Bible Knowledge Commentary

 

 

 Review Questions:

              

1.  What event occurred at Jesus baptism that has never been seen before or since?

              

2.  Why did Nicodemus come by night?

 

3.  Why was Jesus go to the wilderness?

 

               4.  What is a possible reason the woman of Sychar came so late to draw water?

 

               5.  Why was the woman surprised Jesus spoke to her?

 

               6.  What was living water?

 

               7.  How did Jesus treat the woman's sin?

 

               8.  What are some practical lessons I can learn from John 4?

 

               9.  Why did Jesus reveal himself to the Samaritans but not to Judea at this time?

 

               10.  How do you worship in "spirit and in truth."

 

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