A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

 John 4:1-26

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” John 4:7-10

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 4:1-26 using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Once again we see that Jesus acts with intention - He has a plan. In v1 Jesus anticipates drawing negative attention from the Pharisees and with it not being the day or hour of His arrest and crucifixion (He still has more work to do with His ministry), He leaves Judea and heads to Galilee.  Continuing with intent, Jesus passes through Samaria and stops at Jacob's Well to rest and for water - we see Jesus as having earthly needs as the Incarnate Son of God.  During Jesus' time on earth, this site is important for its ties to Jacob, and because the in Shechem the Samaritans built a rival temple to the one in Jerusalem. He encounters a Samaritan woman at the well and asks her to draw water for Him.  Jesus does not care about racial, ethnic, economic, social, or cultural boundaries - regardless of the strife between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus shares the gospel message - referring to Himself as the Living Water - with the Samaritan woman.  As the omniscient God, Jesus knows the woman has married five times and is living with another man who is not her husband. Jesus ends the encounter with the Samaritan woman by sharing that (a) true worship of God is not limited to a building, temple or even a location, and (b) He is the Promised Messiah. 
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Racial, ethnic, economic, social, and cultural boundaries are often obstacles that prevent fellowship and love from flourishing as division and hatred is often learned from a young age. When these barriers are removed we can see people as they are - everyone sins and is in need of a Savior.        
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid racial, ethnic, economic, social, and cultural animosities - love others as God loves us.  As Jesus did, share hospitality as a means to fellowship and know others.  See Jesus as the Living Water and the source of eternal life.         

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves and You are the Living Water!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the Living Water and for my salvation.  I am not deserving of Your love nor my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.