Living Water: The Woman at the Well, Part 1 (John 4)
John adds a new twist to his theme of testimony and belief: this time the believers are the hated Samaritans. John explores three themes in this chapter. We examine the first theme in this podcast.
Review
The thesis of John’s gospel is the only way to gain eternal life in the kingdom of heaven is to believe Jesus is the Christ. John chose certain aspects of the ministry of Jesus to highlight certain themes.
- Theme 1: The importance of testimony. Why should we believe what we haven’t seen for ourselves? We believe because of the testimony of those who saw it.
- Theme 2: The only way to receive eternal life is to believe in Jesus. What’s the point of all this testimony? That we believe in Jesus. Why is believing in Jesus so important? Because he’s the only one who can grant us eternal life.
- Theme 3: Those who believe do so because of the activity of the Spirit of God. We don’t manufacture belief. The Spirit gives it to us.
John highlights three themes in chapter 4. We’ll look at the first theme in this podcast.
Setting John 4:1-9 The Woman at the Well
- Palestine in the Time of Jesus (1) from Holman Bible Atlas
- Samaria was the region surrounding the city of Samaria, which included the tribal regions of Manasseh and Ephraim.
- The name “Samaria” is sometimes synonymous with the entire Northern Kingdom (1Ki 13:32; Jeremiah 31:5).
- By the time of Christ, Samaria was the region above Judea and below Galilee.
- The Jews and the Samaritans did not get along for various religious issues and racial issues.
- John 4:5 is the only place in Scripture that mentions Jacob’s well. Genesis 33:19 records that Jacob bought land from Shechem and lived at that place for a long time.
- The sixth hour is noon.
- Most women went in groups to draw water from the well in cooler parts of the day. The fact that this woman is there alone in the heat of the day attests to her social isolation.
- A single male Jewish rabbi had many reasons to ignore this immoral Samaritan woman. Yet Jesus speaks to her.
- Jews were not allowed to share eating utensils with Samaritans, particularly glasses or cups, because the Samaritans were considered unclean.
- She’s amazed that Jesus would drink from any cup she handed him.
Theme 1: Testimony & Belief
- There’s evidence of a miracle, testimony concerning that evidence, and belief that Jesus is the Messiah because of that miracle and testimony.
- The new twist is the believers are the hated Samaritans.
John 4:10-19
- Water that bubbles up from a spring was called living water. It’s moving and running.
- Metaphorical meaning: Zechariah 14:8; Jeremiah 17:13.
- Hunger and thirst are symptoms we are needy.
- Water is a temporary solution to thirst. We have to keep drinking water to keep our thirst problem at bay.
- If we drink the metaphorical water that Jesus provides, it is as if a well of water has sprung up within us. We don’t get thirsty anymore because we have a well of living water inside.
- Jesus mentions her immoral lifestyle not only to show he knows her, but to encourage her to confront her sin, repent and seek God.
John 4:25-29
- Although the Samaritans only accepted the first five books of the Old Testament, they believed a Messiah was coming.
- Jesus directly answers her question, declaring he’s the Messiah, something he rarely does.
John 4:39-54
- Many believe because of the woman’s testimony.
- They seek Jesus and ask him to stay.
- They then believe because of their own first-hand experience with Jesus.
- John contrasts the ready belief of the Samaritans with the reluctant belief of the Jewish nobleman.
- The nobleman requires a sign to believe. He has an earthly problem. He seeks only earthly help from Jesus.
- Jesus comments that the man won’t believe unless he sees signs and wonders. Jesus gives the man a sign, and he believes.
- Belief based on testimony is appropriate. We have people we trust; we listen to what they say, and we believe because of it.
Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.
Next: 11 True Worship: The Woman at the Well Part 2 (John 4)
Previous: 09 John the Baptist: From Forerunner to Follower (John 3:22-36)
Series: Gospel of John: Believe and Find Life
Study: Gospel of John Bible Study Resources
Podcast season 25, episode 10