John 4:1-42 Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

The woman at the well who came at the odd time of noon and who came alone was clearly a social outcast in her community. She was a moral failure. She was also a Samaritan which meant she was hated by most Jews. (verse 9)

1. Are there groups of people or cultures around you that seem to be more avoided than others? Why?

2. What does Jesus’ example of how He engages the Samaritan woman in conversation teach us about sharing God’s good news with others?
   
   Read verse 10. “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

3. What does Jesus want the Samaritan woman to realize? What is the significance of Jesus using the word “gift” in this verse how does it contrast with the religious teaching of that day and today?

4. In what way were you first engaged by Jesus? Can you remember the first time you experienced Jesus inviting you to know Him more? How did it happen?
   

After Jesus offers the woman living water that wells up to eternal life and the woman asks for that water, Jesus asks that she “call her husband”. It is clear the woman doesn’t want to talk about her personal life. She wants to avoid her personal life and says, “I have no husband.” After Jesus tells her about her multiple failed relationships and her current infidelity of living with a man that is not her husband, the woman once again wants to avoid getting personal and switches the topic. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus doesn’t just ‘give up’ on this woman who continues to avoid talking about what she really needs?

5. How have you experienced God’s patience in your own life or how has God been calling you to be patient in a situation with another similar to the Samaritan woman?

The woman’s life of moral failure reveals her lifelong journey of seeking for satisfaction but it seemed to always end in thirst.

6. In what ways have you experienced this in your own life before receiving living water from Jesus?
   

The woman finally tells Jesus in verse 25: “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” The woman’s response shows that a deep change of faith happened in her heart. John 4:28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” The women was so filled with what Jesus had patiently revealed to her, that she left behind her water jar and rushed to tell others. John 4:39 says: “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony.”

7. Who in your life have been affected by your testimony? How would you say they responded when you told them that you believe and follow Jesus as your Savior?
   
   John 4:35b “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”
   John 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
   

8. Read verse 35 and 38. What would you say Jesus wants to tell his followers in your own words?

9. What was the most important truth that stood out to you today that you want to apply to your life?

10. Spend some time praying for one another.