Book Of John - Chapter 4 Part A - Bible Study

Day 4 - Chapter 4 Part A

Highlights/Understanding	Chapter 4 – NASB Translation
Water Baptism by the Disciples and it’s Reach. Why the Pharisees were surprised coz the disciples (Fisherman, Tax collector etc.) were baptizing in GOD’s name. They were common people. I am sure Pharisees would have frowned and annoyed to hear it.	4 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),
Jesus’s travel back to Galilee means crossing Samaria. Samaria is a mixed race of Jews and Original people of the land. Ancient scholars say that the Israelites captured the region known as Samaria from the Canaanites and assigned it to the Tribe of Joseph.  Modern Samaria is called Western bank.	He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria. 5 So He *came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; 6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about [a]the sixth hour.
As per Jewish clock Sixth hour is Noon. Jewish clock considers 6:00 AM as the first hour.	6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about [a]the sixth hour.
The Woman of Samaria Generally, the women of the middle east draw water early in the morning or in the evening to avoid heat. This woman is coming at noon. Is she avoiding the crowd and small talks? What is really worried about?	7 There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
Jews vs. Samaritans There exist some kind of hostility between Jews and Samaritans. It has to do with their lineage and the way they worship to GOD. Jews felt they are better than Samaritans. They avoid any konda of interaction with Samaritans. Hence the Samaritan woman was surprised.	9 Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Living Water Jesus ignores her comment about being a Samaritan. He quickly gets to the topic. He started to speak deep theological truths. Have you wondered why he chose this lady to talk these truths? You will see the answer unravel in the coming verses.	10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Curious about Living Water – She quickly understands Jesus is no ordinary man. She posts all her observations as questions to Jesus	11 She *said to Him, “[b]Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”
Jesus talks about Eternal Life	13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Samaritan Woman had been undergoing some kinda trouble in drawing the water	15 The woman *said to Him, “[c]Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”
Being Truthful. Though the Samaritan woman is ashamed of her personal life to come out in public that she chooses a noon time to draw water, Still she decided to be truthful to the stranger she meets coz she believes there is something special about Jesus	16 He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
She is in search of True GOD That is exactly why Jesus decides to take a break during that busy day of his ministry and waited for her at the well to answer her question. Additional Info on the Samaritan’s mountain Samaritans claim their worship is the true religion of the ancient Israelites prior to the Babylonian exile, preserved by those who remained in the Land of Israel. Their temple was built at Mount Gerizim in the middle of the 5th century BCE, and was destroyed in 110 BCE, although their descendants still worship among its ruins.	19 The woman *said to Him, “[d]Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
Place of Worship What a wonderful explanation by Christ Jesus. It is not the place but the Believer worshipping in spirit and truth. This is so apt for current COVID19 situation. Church is not a building, but it is the heart of the believer. And HE  also clarifies Salvation is for everyone who seeks GOD and worship in spirit and truth.	21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is [e]spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
MESSIAH – She waits for the messiah though she is of Samaritan descent.	The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”
JESUS reveal HIS identity To HIS disciples HE always question their understanding while here HE plainly confirms that HE is the MESSIAH	26 Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Women in that society In those days Women were treated second class citizen. Disciples were so surprised to see that Rabbi their teacher is conversing with a Samaritan woman.	27 At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her
Leaving the water pot means something here. 1.   If she carries the waterpot with water she cant run as fast as she can into the city 2.   Waterpots are very important. She didn’t worry about it coz she has received with much more important message to take it to her city. 3.   She left the waterpot with the hope Jesus will be waiting at the well and she can always draw water later. 4.   She has received the living water	28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and *said to the men, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not [f]the Christ, is it?” 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to Him
She gives a Testimony – Most important aspect of Christian life! She brought many to Christ that day.	28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and *said to the men, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not [f]the Christ, is it?” 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to Him