The Gospel of John: John 4.1-15

Read and meditate on John 4.7-9.
As we have seen, Jesus doesn’t think twice about upsetting the status quo. Tables turned over in the temple, an inquiring theologian befuddled, and now this – a Jewish Man, in Samaria, talking with a woman of, shall we say, questionable reputation?

⁷A woman of Samaria came soon
to draw some water. Jesus said to her,
“Give Me a drink.” ⁸(Now His disciples were
not present; they had gone away into 
the city to buy food.) ⁹The woman to
Him said, “How is it You, a Jew, ask me
to give You water?” (For the Jews, you see,
keep separate from Samaritans.)

- John 4.7-9

Reflect
1.  This woman was probably in a hurry. She was there at noon because she didn’t want to have to confront anybody else. But before she can fulfill her mission, here’s this Jewish Man, asking her for a drink. Do you think she might have been a little unsettled about all this? Why or why not? Complete this prayer: Lord, I don’t like the idea of making people feel unsettled, but…

2.  Jesus takes the initiative in this encounter. He asks this woman for help. What do you suppose this woman, seeing a man at the well in the middle of the day, expected to hear? How does Jesus disarm her expectations, and what is the effect of this on what follows? Lord, help me to show grace to…

3.  The woman is clearly astonished. She knows the score between Jews and Samaritans. Do you suppose there might have been a tinge of indignation or resentment in her response? Or was she simply astonished? What do you think, and why? I should probably expect, Lord, that when I initiate a conversation with someone, with You in mind, that…

4.  John’s parenthetical comment adds another note of tension to our story. But note: It wasn’t that the Samaritans had a problem with Jews. Quite the contrary. Racism has been around for a long time, but Jesus shows us how to think about this problem. Right? Explain. Lord, let me see people as people, not as…

5. Jesus “needed to go through Samaria” because He had a very important appointment to keep. Explain. Has God set any appointments like this in your life for today? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Our Lord came to the spring of water like a hunter. He asked for water in order to give water, with water as a pretext. He sought something to drink, like a thirsty person, so that the way could be opened for him to quench thirst. He asked from her in order to teach her, and she in turn would ask from him. He was not ashamed as a rich person to ask like one in need, to teach poverty how to make a petition. He was not afraid of reproach because he was speaking to a woman by herself, in order to teach me that whoever keeps to the truth will not be shaken.” Ephrem the Syrian (fl. 363-373 AD)

What conventions, stereotypes, fears, or other obstacles keep you from initiating conversations with others about the Living Water of our Lord? What can you learn from Jesus about overcoming these?

Closing Prayer
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

Psalm 71.15-17

Psalm 71.12-16, 3 (Solid Rock: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
O God, be not too far from me; my ever-present Helper be!
Consume and shame my enemies; let them reproached and humbled be.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

But as for me, my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending grace to tell.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.