Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well June 21, 2014

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well      June 21, 2014

We began by reviewing three translations of the spoken words from John 4:1-42.

We discussed some of the differences in capitalization and grammar structure differences between the different versions.

Question 4: what are the characteristics of the “living water” that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman? Jesus was referring to the spirit not the flesh.  He was reaching into her heart and beginning to reveal to her who he really was.  She only sees a man that has been walking, is tired, is thirsty, and is a Jew ( a man that should think of her as a dog).   But in his words of

vs. 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.

Jesus is telling her about the living water, that supplies our thirst for everlasting life.  All the words that we have heard in church and understand, but like this woman, the world would not understand these words. They need to be called by the Lord and the words revealed in understanding to them.

Looking at vs. 10 we compared the cross referenced scriptures:

Vs. ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou would have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

The Gift                     John 3:16 – the gift of God;  Isaiah 9:6 – a Son is given;  Isaiah 42:6 – I will keep you  and give You as a covenant to the people;  Romans 6:23- The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord;  Romans 8:32 He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all;  2 Cor. 9:15 – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift;  Eph. 2:8-9 it is the gift of God;  James 1:7 – every good and perfect gift is from above;  John 3:34-36 ; Romans 5:15- the free gift

Living Water                         Isaiah 12:3-4 – water from the wells of salvation;  Isaiah 44:3- I will pour water on him who is thirsty;  Jeremiah 2:13 – They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters;  Zechariah 13:`1- in that day a fountain shall be opened;  Zechariah 14:8 – that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem;  John 7:37-38 – If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink;  Revelation 21:1-8 ; Revelation 22:1

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well      June 7, 2014

We began by reading John 4:1-42  

#1 What about the setting of the Samaritan woman’s story makes it remarkable? What is distinctive about the well itself that makes it an important symbol in the story?

We viewed the map of the area of Samaria.  When Jacob returned and traveled through the land, Rachel took Laban’s idols and Jacob buried the idols. Jacob reconciled with Esau and Jacob was content, so he crosses the river into the land.  He bought the land to live on and dug the well in this city.  

Gen. 33:18-19 ¹⁸ And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. ¹⁹ And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.

So this plot of land is interwoven into the history of Israel. In 722 the people of this land began to intermarry with the other nations.  The Samaritan woman would know this history, especially since she makes the claim of it being Jacob’s well.

This well was from a spring, a living well, deep and pure.  One in amongst many that are brackish and undrinkable.  She was so protective of her heritage, but in verse 15 she seems to make a complete 180. Was she being impertinent? Or sincere? Yet Jesus knew exactly how to converse and direct the conversation. She was married several times and now living with a man. She was most likely outcast from the women, and therefore more social with men.  Jesus was leading her to the place where she needed to be.  She was chosen for the contrast and change she would show to others.  She would not be shy in her proclamation of God.

#2 Why was it unusual for Jesus to be in Samaria?  Jesus was a Jew and this was Samaria. They had no dealings with one another and these people really did not get along.  But for Jesus, it wasn’t all that unusual, since he sought out the sinner wherever they were.  They were so used to going to where they believed God was, but here was God visiting her. 

Jesus has recently visited with Nicodemus and had the conversation with him, then he makes the direct line to go to Samaria.