Learning From John 4 – The Samaritan Woman’s Neighbors

John 4:28-29, 39-42 – Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. . . Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world…”

The story of the Samaritan Woman is familiar to many people. She was someone with a bad reputation because of her sinful life, but Jesus gave her the opportunity to have His living water. Jesus answers all of her arguments and questions, addresses her personal needs through revelation, and brings her to the point of belief in Him.

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Learning From John 4 – Worship in Spirit and Truth

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)

Praise and worship are important aspects of our spiritual lives, and important functions of the church. Worship is the only activity that the Bible describes as constantly occurring in heaven, at every moment (Revelation 4:8-11). Worship is the one activity we do on earth that coincides or overlaps with what is occurring in heaven at that moment. It is one of the only activities – perhaps the only activity – done on both heaven and earth, at the same time. We worship because the Lord deserves it, and out of love for Him. The Holy Spirit operates powerfully during true worship or praise – changing our hearts, bringing light and revelation, working in power. Read the rest of this entry »

Learning From John 4 – The Samaritan Woman, Outreach, and Revelation

He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. - John 4:16-19

There are many lessons to learn from the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. In the present story, which is well-known to most believers, Jesus waits alone at a well (Jacob’s well) outside a Samaritan village, and when this local woman comes to fill her water jar, Jesus asks her for a drink. The woman immediately argued with him, saying that it was inappropriate for him to speak to her. Jesus then told her that she had missed an opportunity to ask him for “living water.” She did not understand that he as talking about REVELATION from eternity, not just physical water. So she continued to argue with him. Finally Jesus said that he had water that quenches our thirst forever. The woman asked for this water, saying that she did not want to have to fetch water from the well any more, as it was tiresome work. Read the rest of this entry »