This week’s lesson, found in John 4:1-42, comes on the heels of the story in which Jesus explained to Nicodemus about the importance of regeneration (being born again), and the Ginormous Promise for those who are born again (John 3:16).

Like the Nicodemus encounter, Jesus uses metaphor to help explain the Kingdom of God. This time, food and water – both that we need on a daily basis. In contrast to Nicodemus, a Pharisee of extremely high social status, the Samaritan woman at the well would be at the extreme bottom of
the social heap. Yet Jesus graciously and gently reaches out to this woman (even more so than He did with Nicodemus), letting her know that He is in fact the Messiah they have long been looking for, and that His salvation was available even to people like her.

I think the main emphasis, (other than the continued theme of the Spiritual nature of the kingdom of God), is summarized is the last two paragraphs of the story: Jesus’ explanation to His disciples regarding a harvest for which they did not labor emphasizes that all of human history
points to and has been working toward Jesus.

Handout: The Samaritan Woman at the Well

Memory Verse:  He is indeed the Savior of the world.  John 4:42

Narrative: 

One day, as Jesus was traveling through Samaria, (a city that Jews tried to avoid at all cost, because of their long-standing hatred of these distant relatives), Jesus, rested beside a well.  It was the well that Jacob had given Joseph hundreds of years before.  Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You need to understand that salvation doesn’t come from a place, it is going to come from a person. And that time of salvation is now here, and true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”

The woman then left to go tell her friends and family about the amazing encounter.  Meanwhile, Jesus’ disciples returned

Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask why.  The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”

Meanwhile, Jesus’ disciples urged Him to eat something.  But Jesus responded with an answer to their un-asked question of why He was speaking to the Samaritan woman.

Jesus explained: “My true food comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. Throughout the history of the world, seeds of the good news of salvation have been sown, even among the Samaritans who are considered dogs by the Jews.  Now, the fruits of those labors are soon to be harvested, and you get to be part of it!   Watch what happens when the woman’s friends return to meet me.”

Many Samaritans from the village came out to see Jesus.  They, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world.”