Introduction: John 4 tells about Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. This teaching of the Bible shows Jesus’ love for all people, including me and you. The chapter also teaches His offer to the world of living water, and His revelation as the Messiah. The chapter sheds light on the nature of true worship and the spreading of the Gospel to the Samaritans.
I. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-26)
Jesus, weary from His journey, stops at Jacob’s well and asks a Samaritan woman for a drink. While they talked, Jesus reveals His knowledge of her life and offers her living water, which leads to eternal life. The woman was a little slow to believe when Jesus declares that He is the Messiah, but after He told her about her own life, she did believe. These verses align with Isaiah 55:1, where the prophet invites all who are thirsty to come to the waters. Likewise, Revelation 22:17 speaks of the Spirit and the bride inviting all to come and take the free gift of the water of life, reflecting the offer Jesus makes to the woman.
II. The Disciples Return (John 4:27-38)
The disciples return and are surprised to find Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman. Though they have food, Jesus speaks of having food they do not know about, pointing to doing the will of the Father and completing His work. Jesus then explains about the spiritual harvest, emphasizing that the fields are ripe for harvest. This teaching lines up with 1 Corinthians 3:6, where Paul speaks of planting and watering, but God giving the growth, underscoring the collaborative effort in the Kingdom’s work.
III. Many Samaritans Believe (John 4:39-42)
As a result of the woman’s testimony, many Samaritans come to believe in Jesus. They invite Him to stay with them, and He does so for two days, leading to even more believers. They recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world. This outcome echoes Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His disciples they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, pointing to the fact that the spread of the Gospel will go beyond Jewish boundaries. Since Jesus came into this world over two thousand years ago, the gospel has spread across the entire globe, a validating fact that the gospel is the truth indeed.
IV. Jesus Heals an Official’s Son (John 4:43-54)
After the two days, Jesus leaves for Galilee and is welcomed by the Galileans. He then heals an official’s son who was near death in Capernaum, though the healing is done at a distance. This miracle demonstrates Jesus’ power over illness, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53:5 that by His wounds, we are healed. It also reminds us of Psalm 107:20, where God sends out His word to heal, pointing to the authority of Jesus’ word in the healing of the official’s son.
Conclusion: John 4 gives us a dynamic picture of Jesus’ ministry, transcending cultural barriers and offering the gift of eternal life through living water. It challenges us to embrace the nature of true worship in spirit and truth and to be His witnesses in the harvest of souls. The chapter ends with a reminder for believers of Jesus’ authority and compassion as He heals from afar, clearly showing His identity as the Messiah and the Savior of the world, my savior as well as yours.
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