Monday: The Woman at the Well
Daily Lesson for Monday 28th of October 2024
Read John 4:7-15. How does Jesus use this encounter to start witnessing to this woman?
“The hatred between Jews and Samaritans prevented the woman from offering a kindness to Jesus; but the Saviour was seeking to find the key to this heart, and with the tact born of divine love, He asked, not offered, a favor. The offer of a kindness might have been rejected; but trust awakens trust.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 184.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
As was the case in His encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus knows what is in the woman’s heart. In response to her surprise that a Jew would ask such a favor of a Samaritan, Jesus goes directly to the point. “ ‘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’ ” (John 4:10, NKJV).
The woman’s response was like that of Nicodemus, who asked, “ ‘How can these things be?’ ” (John 3:9, NKJV) in the context of a new birth. She asked, “ ‘You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?’ ” (John 4:11, NKJV). In both cases, Jesus was pointing them (one, a prominent Jewish teacher; the other, a Samaritan woman of dubious character) to the transcendent spiritual truths that each one needed to hear and understand. In each case, Jesus was basically telling them both the same thing: they need a conversion experience.
What is the Old Testament background to Jesus’ statement about living water? (Jeremiah 2:13, Zechariah 14:8).
Water is necessary for life; humans cannot exist without water, and so water can be a powerful and appropriate image of eternal life, as well. Hence, Jesus says, “ ‘Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’ ” (John 4:14, NKJV).
|
Read John 7:37-38. What is Jesus saying to us in these verses, and how do we experience what He is promising here? |
(15)
Part 2 the Woman at the well.
Jesus meets her on her own ground. I don't remember who said this, be that as it may there was a modern day influential man when he would go vist another influential man he would do research on that man, reading up on his likes and hobbies. Guess who got further with people than then his counterparts? I am going to leave that hanging for someone else to participate in our blog.
Please explain what you are trying to say because I don't get it.
Oh my. Well I believe Susan O kind if got it. Yes I know we cannot read hearts, but we can get to know people.
Yes, how do we win friends and influence people so that we earn the privilege to witness to them?
One chairman of our ministries department in our large church said, "You have to earn the right to witness." He gave me his own personal example.
He lived near the Gulf of Mexico. It was within walking distance of his townhouse. One Sabbath afternoon he was walking out to the gulf, it was a beautiful day. He came upon some fishermen, stopped and chatted for a while and got a little aquointed. Sunday he took his afternoon walk again. The same fisherman were there, he stopped to chat again. This time he had a paperback Desire of Ages in his jacket pocket. It was December, and the same men were out fishing. He chatted with them again. Then said, hay listen I have this book in my pocket that I am sure you would like to read. He told them there are stories in it about fishermen just like you. In fact, there is one story where all night they fished and did not catch any thing. Then the Master came along and said cast your net on the other side of the boat they obeyed and lo and behold there net had enough fish to fill the boat to overflowing. One fisherman said give me that book I will read it to my friends.
Thus, my senior friend earned the right to witness. I have never forgotten his advice and story through the years.
I have told this story before on this blog a few years back. The story is true. Maybe it was a different book or pamflet
The rest is as I was told. I am sure you all get the picture now.
Jesus knew people's hearts. He approached each one on a level that they could relate to, perhaps not a full understanding of what Jesus was meaning, but enough to prepare the individual for furthering it.
I have that experience.
I'm not in full understanding, but am learning a little more each day. I think God knows how much I need at a time.
The Jews and Samaritans were sworn enemies and therefore the woman could have ignored Jesus's overtures. But the woman didn't have much friends and longed for friendship and community, hence her response.
I wonder how many people, we pass by in our daily lives, would love to hear a kind word or two from us as we pass them by?
Mmmmm,. I am most likely getting ahead of the story. But it appears from John 4, the woman was so tied up in the conversation she did not give Christ a drink, maybe also she was startled that a Jew would ask her for water. However she left her water jug for Christ and his disciples. I believe we will find out later this week Christ accomplished His mission with the contact, and I assume they all got their thirst quenched. After all that was a long walk they had accomplished to get to Sychar, they were tired and thirsty.
My NASB Bible subtitles John 4:1-26 as "Christ Witnesses to the Woman at the Well", John 4:27-38 as "Christ Witnesses to the Disciples", and John 4:39-42 as "Christ Witnesses to the Samaritans". That's interesting.
As I read the verses for today, another subtitle came to me, "Jesus is Tempted by the Well". This morning, I see how the woman's words could have been triggers to sway Jesus off course if He had not been focused on His Father. Her reactions could have tempted Him to defend Himself and His position and lose this one opportunity He had with this woman to bring her to His Father.
Temptation #1 Race-baiting: "You're a Jew. You're prejudiced against Samaritans. How dare you ask me for anything?"
Temptation #2 You're impractical...you're so spiritual you're no earthly good: "The well is deep. You have nothing. How can you draw water for me without any resources?"
Temptation #3 You're arrogant, and maybe even a bigot...disrespectful to our ancestors: "You don't think you're better than a great man who has done so much for us like Jacob did, do you?"
Temptation #4 Prove yourself: "OK, give me some of your water. Sure, thanks."
Temptation #5 Conversation enders...Person you're witnessing to who starts to show some interest suddenly shuts down emotionally: Short answer, "I have no husband."
Temptation #6 Pivot to another controversial hot-button topic: "Let's talk about religion and politics. I'm a Samaritan and we have our own Temple. But you people say we don't really worship there. What do you think?"
Temptation #7 Downgrade Jesus from divinity to good man: "Sir, I perceive you are a prophet....but, someday the Messiah will be here, a man we can trust, and he will answer all of our questions."
Throughout the whole conversation, with each roadblock to truth and salvation that the woman held out, Jesus received her barrier and handed it to His Father in His heart and mind. He didn't take anything personally, but kept the main thing the main thing: who God is, what God's character is, what God offers, what God was offering through Him, what the woman needed to hear. Because of this, His testimony moved forward rather than regressed. If He had been defensive at any of these stages, that moment of harvest would have passed. Self in the way during harvesting of hearts is like a sudden frost. But lifting Jesus up, only Jesus and His Word, will draw all people to Him (John 12:32).
*************
This all comes from my own personal experience recently. My best friend of 27 years identifies as agnostic and humanitarian, was raised in the Unitarian Church. (Interestingly, she has a bobble-head doll of Jesus in her bathroom. Her dad's ethnicity is fully Jewish.) As my faith grows, I am encouraged more and more to share with her the hope in me. Especially as she struggles more and more with parenting, losing her mom, and other life changes. We've always shared everything, it's always been equal and trusting. I've been offering themes and ideas and stories from the Bible for a year or two now, carefully speaking and then quieting when there is resistance. She always says she appreciates these stories and wisdoms. I have always tried to keep my faith in God and Jesus accessible to her.
Last week, as I was walking and talking on the phone, I felt more emboldened to be more direct. She said something like "all roads lead to truth, don't you think? It's all good"...and I answered, "No, I don't believe that. Eventually, the different worldviews diverge, go east and west, and they don't meet at the same point." Her reply was swift and defensive, "Wow, that's sort of arrogant don't you think? How do you know you have the truth then?" And I answered, "The Bible. I trust the Bible." Again, she recoiled and said, "Wow, I had no idea you trusted the whole Bible. Or leaned on that for truth." I was surprised too! I thought she knew. The conversation fizzled then, like the woman at the well shutting down. She said someone had come to her door and later texted that she wished she could have talked more. But I feel the cold front.
So God is speaking to me here....giving me this lesson to cling to Him only, to lift Him up, to gently but firmly hold onto this truth in my conversations, to not be afraid to offer what people really need... and what my friend needs, what I need, what everyone needs, is not what but who...is Jesus.
I've said a prayer for your friend, Esther, and for you as you show her Jesus.
Your prayers for Elizabeth and me are so appreciated, thank you Jocelyn!! 🙏🏻
Esther your responses are so appreciated especially your openness to share your experiences. I am praying for you and Elisabeth’s relationship and your witness. Thank you for sharing your insight on the lesson - eye opening, never heard it expounded from those points. May God continue to inspire you to share what He has put on your heart. Blessings 🙏🏽🌺
Thank you so much, dear sister Michelle! God is so good to bring us together as family 🙏🏻💕
Very profound Ester
Matt.5:6 - ”Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” God’s Living Water has the power to sooth and heal the living soul's pain and suffering. Jesus does not speak of physical things like food or drink to nourish the body, He offers heaven’s Living Water to quench the spiritual thirst of the living soul - Matt.5:1-12,
Jesus taught His disciples about blessings for those who are persecuted or treated unfairly because of 'who they are' or 'what they represent'. The 'women at the well' was considered an ‘outcast’; judged by the people in her village and despised by her brethren though both have the same ancestral father.
Though, what is most remarkable about this ‘Living Water’ is, that after one ‘drinks’ of it, it will produce more of itself to share with others – John 7:37-39. Jesus Christ says that He is the source of this ‘Living Water. If this is really true, then one can call themselves ‘alive’ only by partaking of this ‘life-giving’ Water. It is available to all regardless of their place in life, as the Women at the Well represents all of us!
Jesus approach might be worth emulating. If we're honest, we might think non-believers have nothing to give us, but by asking the woman for help, Jesus allowed a door to open to give Him a chance to speak life to her. Maybe we would have opportunities if we were willing to be humble with others. Elijah approached the widow in a similar way.