December 17th Lesson Plan: The Book of John 4:1-42
JOHN 4
Written by Jon Soden
In John chapter 4, Jesus meets us at our lowest, calls everyone to His name, and gives us a call to action. This chapter is centered around Jesus passing through Samaria in a town called Sychar. This is the same area that Jacob from the Old Testament lived. Thus, the area was steeped in history, tradition, and religious significance. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was occupied by (you guessed it) Samaritans. Samaritans and Jews were not friendly, and Jews would not stoop so low as to talk to a Samaritan. That is, until Jesus showed up.
Jesus goes to the same well used by Jacob, where he sees a Samaritan woman coming to draw water:
“A woman of Samaria *came to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food. So the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, though You are a Jew, are asking me for a drink, though I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She *said to Him, “Sir, You have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do You get this living water? 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 answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.””
John 4:7-14 NASB2020
Jews believed that they were God's chosen people, and at the time, details about salvation and heaven were vague and largely unknown. Many believed that as God's chosen, Jews were the only ones destined to inherit eternal life, as part of God's covenant with Abraham, and believed they were sanctified through the Law. Jesus flips this theory on its head in John 4. He challenges traditional Jewish views, and it is Jesus' actions such as these that lead to the Pharisees wanting Him to be put to death, for what they call, blasphemy.
Jesus talks to a non-Jew and promises her that everyone who drinks from this Living Water (salvation) will have eternal life. How grateful can we be that there are no pre-requisites, no requirements, and no titles to be saved! Just belief in Jesus and the resurrection to pay for our sins.
Even though we now know there are no pre-requisites to be a follower of Jesus, we oftentimes let our own struggles get in the way. Feelings of unworthiness, shame, and guilt often keep us apart from God. We can feel that the things we've done and the sins we've committed are too much to be able to approach an almighty God. We think we need to fix ourselves and "get right" before being worthy to be one of God's children. It is important to know that this is our own doing and not God's plan for us. Jesus came to Earth because we are sinners; if we could fix ourselves then his sacrifice would have been in vain. Jesus will meet us where we are at, no matter how broken you may feel. He demonstrates meeting us at our lowest points here in John 4.
“The woman *said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw water.” He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said to Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this which you have said is true.” The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.”
John 4:15-19 NASB2020
Before talking to the woman, Jesus knows her story--a life steeped in brokenness and sin. Jesus still offers her the gift of Living Water (eternal life and eternal fellowship in heaven with God and Jesus). This is what makes Christianity different from other religions. It is impossible for us to cleanse ourselves and get right with God. Even if your sins are not as serious as this woman's, any sin destroys your righteousness and makes you unworthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus sacrifice on the cross takes the penalty of unrighteousness, and makes us worthy to enter God's kingdom once again--no matter the sin, no matter the person. You don't need to be born into a Christian household or become an expert on theology to receive this grace.
The disciples of Jesus are shocked when they show up and see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman. They see Him hungry and the following takes place:
“Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have come into their labor.””
John 4:31-38 NASB2020
Earlier in the chapter, Jesus tells us there are no pre-requisites for our salvation, and then tells us that we can receive this salvation no matter the sin that have previously occupied our life. Now, Jesus calls us to action: "raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest." Jesus does not want us to keep this salvation to ourselves. The gift was freely given, and we are called to reveal the gift to others that have not heard. We are Jesus' vessel to continue to spread the word of salvation.
John 4 continues with the Samaritan woman telling the town about her encounter with Jesus.
“Now from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world.”
John 4:39-42 NASB2020
After receiving a call to action in the previous passage, Jesus provides some detail on how to go about it. Many people get discouraged when someone close to them will not put their faith in Christ. This is not something to be discouraged about, and as this passage shows, is not our job. Our job is to spread our own testimony and the message of the Gospel. We ourselves are not God, and we should not want someone to believe simply because of what we say. Instead, it is a personal encounter with Jesus that truly brings someone to their faith. In John 4, the Samaritan lady tells her testimony to the town. Naturally, the people are interested and investigate. Ultimately, it is their interaction with Jesus that brings them to say "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world.”” John 4:42. The woman simply told her testimony, Jesus brought the others to faith. You still have a viral role to play. Our role is to simply carry the story forward; spread your testimony and be an example. Let Jesus take care of the rest.
Key points from John 4:
1. No matter who you are, you are entitled to inherit the Kingdom of God. Salvation takes no regard to your religious upbringing, time spent as a Christian, or deeds you have done.
2. God will meet you where you are at, regardless of the sin in your life. He will help you to renew your life and fall away from sin.
3. When you are saved, you are called to bring others to salvation. Look around at your life, and you will see many people you can gather to God.
4. We are called to spread our testimony. Personal interaction with Jesus will help someone to truly believe. Spread your testimony and Jesus will do the rest.
Discussion Questions:
1. What barriers exist today that might keep us from engaging with people outside our “circle”?
2. How does knowing there are no prerequisites for salvation change the way we see ourselves and others?
3. What does it look like in your life to “raise your eyes and observe the fields”? Who in your life might be “ready for harvest,” and how can you share the gift of salvation with them?