UNDERSTANDING
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PASSAGE?
Read John 4:4–46
The Big Picture
Jesus gives us a model for evangelization in His conversation with the woman at the well.
In this chapter, we’re going to look at a passage in John’s Gospel from the perspective of evangelization. Some of your students may have heard of evangelization, but practically, why and how should we evangelize? This passage teaches us about the human condition, the answer Jesus has to our deepest questions, and our responsibility to share Him with others.
Taking the Initiative (John 4:4–9)
The passage begins with Jesus having to “pass through Samaria” on His way to Galilee (Jn 4:4). Jesus’ journey to this place is noteworthy: Because of their history with one another, Jews and Samaritans did not get along and avoided each other at all costs (v. 9). Originally, there were twelve tribes of Israel. The ten northern tribes, later known as the Samaritans, rebelled and broke away from the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, later known as the Jews. Eventually, the Assyrian empire conquered the ten northern tribes and forced them to intermarry with five other nations (2 Kgs 17:24). This brought about a separation from the southern tribes—both culturally and religiously, as the foreign nations introduced their foreign gods. Despite this history, Jesus dares to travel into the Samaritans’ country to have a conversation with a particular woman. We too are called to be daring in sharing the gospel, no matter the situation.
The cultural background of the woman makes Jesus’ actions even bolder. First, in Jesus’ culture, men do not strike up conversations with unknown women. Then, the text tells us that the woman is getting water at the sixth hour, or noon. In Palestine, this would have been one of the hottest times of the day. Almost everyone in the city would do this chore early to avoid the mid-day heat. Instead of avoiding the heat, the woman chooses to avoid everyone else in the city. We’ll see why in a minute, but this is just another reason for Jesus to stay away from this woman. It is important to see what Jesus is willing to risk to share the gospel with this woman.
Meeting People Where They Are (John 4:10–15)
Jesus begins the conversation by relating to something the woman can understand: water. Jesus takes this simple concept and uses it to show man’s thirst for something more. It catches the woman’s attention, and she asks to learn more (Jn 4: 15). Jesus’ method calls us to reflect on how we share God’s love. Are we willing to make our message relevant and accessible to our listeners? How do we change our language and approach when speaking to those who are not living out the Faith?
Application to Jesus
Many people seek to fill legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. We need to be able to show them the love that truly satisfies.
A True Husband (John 4:16–26)
Jesus then seems to do something very odd: He asks the woman to go get her husband (Jn 4:16). After she responds, Jesus reveals her past history with five different husbands. This detail is symbolic of the history of the Samaritans, who intermarried with the five foreign nations. These nations introduced their own gods, the main one being Baal, which in Hebrew means “husband.” These ten tribes intermarried with the five nations, accepting their gods and spurning their relationship with their true husband, God.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites’ worship of foreign gods is compared to adultery. Maybe the clearest example is the prophet Hosea: When Hosea prophesizes to the ten northern tribes, God asks him to marry a prostitute who continues her unfaithfulness after their marriage. He does this to symbolize the actions of the ten northern tribes (Hos 2:14–23).
God’s point is this: He is the only one that can fill our need for love, yet we continue to chase other things to fill this void. Jesus embodies this message: He comes as the true bridegroom to this Samaritan woman and to the world, as He provides living water that truly satisfies. Our desire to reach others would soar if we owned this reality: Jesus is the answer to the longing of everyone’s heart.
Conversion (John 4:27–30)
Throughout the conversation, the woman’s view of Jesus progresses. First, she calls him “sir” (Jn 4:11), then “prophet” (v. 19), then “Messiah” (v. 29). In her excitement, she leaves her jar and runs into the city to tell others about Jesus. Some have pointed out that the jar symbolizes her formal life that did not satisfy her. She leaves it behind now that she has a higher purpose. Have we left our own past behind, in light of the gospel? Do we call others to do the same?
Testimony and Conversion (John 4:31–42)
St. John Chrysostom noted, “The Apostles, when they were called, left their nets; this woman leaves her water jar and proclaims the gospel, calling not just one person but influencing the whole city.” Through the woman’s testimony, many Samaritans come to believe in Jesus.
Just think about who this woman was. This same woman was shunned by her community, and yet she has the courage to tell them this good news. The change in her life is so significant that those who ostracized her are willing to listen to her and believe what she has to say. How much more will our friends and family be willing to hear how the Lord has changed our own lives! It is important to know how the Lord has changed our lives and to be able to express this to others. Testimonies are powerful!
All can learn something from the different stages of the woman’s life. Have they had a conversion? Have they left their old lives behind? Are they willing to tell others about it? Find ways the members of your group can improve. Help them follow the courageous example of the woman at the well.
Application to Our Lives
Where do we find ourselves in the story? Jesus and the woman at the well both have many things to teach us about how to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR YOUR BIBLE STUDY
John 4:4–46
STEP 1: OPENER
Name some people you admire for the way they share their faith. What characteristics allow them to be so effective?
STEP 2: BACKDROP
In this passage, Jesus travels to Samaria. Jesus’ journey to this place is noteworthy because of the history between the Jews and the Samaritans. Originally, there were twelve tribes of Israel: The ten northern tribes, later known as the Samaritans, rebelled and broke away from the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, later known as the Jews. Eventually, the Assyrian empire conquered the ten northern tribes, forcing them to intermarry with five other nations (2 Kgs 17:24). This brought about a cultural and religious separation from the southern tribes, as the Samaritans incorporated the worship of foreign gods. Thus, the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along and avoided each other at all costs (Jn 4:9).
STEP 3: PASSAGE
Read John 4:4–42.
STEP 4: EXPLORATION: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Note that answers appear in italics.
1. What do Jesus’ travels to Samaria say about His evangelization, given the history of the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans?
Answer: Jesus is willing to take risks to reach others with His message.
2. How should this story affect how we share Jesus with others?
Answer: We cannot stay in our comfort zones. At times, we will have to be bold and courageous in sharing the Faith.
3. Use the “What Do I Need to Know about This Passage?” section to teach your study more background information about the Samaritan woman.
4. How does Jesus start the conversation with the Samaritan woman?
Answer: Jesus asks for a drink of water.
5. Why do you think Jesus starts the conversation this way?
Answer: Jesus wants to relate to the life of the woman.
6. How does Jesus use this natural example of water and take it to a higher level?
Answer: Jesus uses water to show the emptiness that each one of us has inside. This emptiness cannot be satisfied by anything natural here on earth but by Jesus alone.
7. What does John 4:16–18 say about the woman’s past marriage history?
Answer: The woman has had five husbands.
8. What is symbolic about the woman’s response, given the history of Samaria’s intermarriage with other tribes?
Answer: See the “True History” section of “What Do I Need to Know about This Passage?”
9. The Old Testament often uses adultery as a symbol for Israel’s worship of foreign gods. Perhaps the most direct example is found in Hosea, when God asks the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute (Hos 3:1). Read Hosea 2:14–23. How does this human example give us a glimpse of God’s love for His people?
Answer: The courage and love it would take to overcome the repeated adultery of a loved one is astonishing. God continues to do this every day.
10. How does Jesus fulfill this prophesy?
Answer: Jesus is the true bridegroom who comes to make a new covenant with us and rescue us from our sin that led us astray.
11. What is the woman’s reaction to Jesus’ message?
Answer: The woman leaves her water jar and goes into the city to tell everyone about Jesus.
12. Read the quote from St. John Chrysostom from the “Testimony and Conversion” section of “What Do I Need to Know about This Passage?” What do you think the relationship is between our own conversion and how we share Jesus with others?
Answer: The more our hearts turn toward God and accept His mercy, the more we should want to share this great gift with others.
13. Put yourself in the shoes of the woman. What is so remarkable about her willingness to share the gospel with others? What is so remarkable about their response?
Answer: She was ostracized by so many people in the city, and yet she is still willing to share the Good News. Not only is she willing to share, but the people in the city overcome their rejection of her and accept what she has to say (Jn 4:39).
14. See the last paragraph of the “Testimony and Conversion” section in “What Do I Need to Know about This Passage?” How can the members of your group improve and follow the courageous example of the woman at the well?
Allow the group to discuss.