Gospel Reading: John 4:1-42
Read the gospel passage in its entirety, read the commentary below, and answer the questions about each section. Comments are welcome!
John 4:1-6: Verse 4 tells us that Jesus passed through Samaria which is a region of present-day Israel south of Galilee, the part of Israel Jesus called home. As you may know, Jews and Samaritans were enemies even though they had common ancestors in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Given this, why do you think Jesus traveled through Samaria? Whose well does Jesus stop to get a drink from? Why is the origin of the well significant? (To learn about the well, turn to Genesis 24:1-51, Genesis 29:1-14, and Exodus 2:15-22.)
John 4:7-15: Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman who is drawing water at the well. In this time and place, Jesus is crossing many boundaries in order to speak with her. Men and women, outside of family members, are not supposed to speak with one another. Jews and Samaritans are not supposed to speak with one another. An upstanding rabbi is not supposed to speak with a woman of questionable reputation, evidenced by her presence at the well at noon (instead of in the morning). What do we learn from Jesus about who he included in his ministry—and who we might include—based on his actions? What barriers or social constructs might we overcome in order to include all those called by God into Christian community?
Jesus tells her the woman that she need not come to the well any longer to fetch water, that she could have “living water.” What is this living water springing up to eternal life, and who is able to provide it?
John 4:16-26: The woman seems reluctant or unsure of what or who Jesus is. What changes her mind?
There is more than one reason the woman would have been married five times. While historically we have assumed that the woman had questionable character thus leading to many divorces, it is more likely that her husbands died. Within the Jewish tradition, the Levarite law required a living brother to marry the deceased man’s widow (as long as she had no children) as a way of safeguarding women from a vulnerable existence and honoring the legacy of the first husband through, hopefully, the birth of a son.
As a Samaritan, the woman would have also been waiting for the messiah to come, just like the Jewish disciples.
John 4:27-30: When the Samaritan woman hears that Jesus is the messiah, what does she say and do?
Notice that the woman isn’t completely sure Jesus is the messiah (verse 29).
Notice that the people who hear what the Samaritan woman says immediately take action. What do they do, and why do you think the woman’s message is so compelling?
When the disciples see Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman, how did they feel? Why do you think they feel that way?
John 4:39-42: Why do the people believe?
What keeps you from witnessing to your faith? Who are some of the people with whom you have discussed your faith? What did you tell them? What’s important to you about God and your identity as a child of God?
Is there a particular word of God that you have found compelling in your life of faith? A particular story or a particular biblical passage? What is it? If you have a chance, perhaps you could share that story with someone this week or cite the passage or story in the comments below.