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Jesus Values Encountering Each Person Personally
(John 4:1-26)
Mari Ikeda
Today we will read 4:1-26 as a continuation of the Gospel of John. 4:1-42 is actually one story, but since it is so long, I decided to read it in two parts. Even so, today’s verses 1-26 are long enough, so today I would like to read them by omitting some of the detailed explanations. Today’s passage depicts an encounter between a woman and Jesus. I think it is shown here that Jesus is the one who values the encounters with each one of us.
Now, let’s start reading, firstly verses 1-6.
A. God’s plan and Jesus’ journey (1-6)
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John — 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
It’s a very informative paragraph, but I’d like to focus on just two. One is verse 4, which says, “he had to go through Samaria.” The other is verse 6, “Jesus, tired as he was from the journey.”
First of all, “he had to pass through Samaria” means that it was necessary in God’s plan rather than a physical necessity. At that time, there was a route from Judea to Galilee that did not pass through Samaria. Therefore, it cannot be said that it was the only way. Then, what does it mean that it was necessary in God’s plan? It means that it was God’s plan for Jesus to go to Samaria and convey God’s love there. The Jews and Samaritans were originally the same Israelites, but after the kingdom of the Israelites split into north and south, they became hostile to each other, and this continued until the time of Jesus. But that was not what God intended. God loved both Jews and Samaritans, and may have had special feelings for the Samaritans whom the Jews looked down on. This is because there are several stories in the Bible that portray Samaritans particularly favorably, not just this passage, but also the Parable of the Good Samaritan for example.
Now, another thing I would like to pay attention to in this paragraph is where it says that Jesus was tired from his journey. We can clearly see here that while Jesus was entrusted with God’s great plan, He was also a flesh and blood man. Jesus was one person who felt tiredness, thirst, and hunger in his body just like we do. God became such a flesh-and-blood human being, got involved with us, and stood on the same line of sight as us.
Now let’s get into the story. First is verses 7-9
B. Jesus as a person
1. He treats everyone without prejudice and discrimination (7-9)
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
It’s a very informative paragraph, but I’d like to focus on just two. One is verse 4, which says, “he had to go through Samaria.” The other is verse 6, “Jesus, tired as he was from the journey.”
First of all, “he had to pass through Samaria” means that it was necessary in God’s plan rather than a physical necessity. At that time, there was a route from Judea to Galilee that did not pass through Samaria. Therefore, it cannot be said that it was the only way. Then, what does it mean that it was necessary in God’s plan? It means that it was God’s plan for Jesus to go to Samaria and convey God’s love there. The Jews and Samaritans were originally the same Israelites, but after the kingdom of the Israelites split into north and south, they became hostile to each other, and this continued until the time of Jesus. But that was not what God intended. God loved both Jews and Samaritans, and may have had special feelings for the Samaritans whom the Jews looked down on. This is because there are several stories in the Bible that portray Samaritans particularly favorably, not just this passage, but also the Parable of the Good Samaritan for example.
Now, another thing I would like to pay attention to in this paragraph is where it says that Jesus was tired from his journey. We can clearly see here that while Jesus was entrusted with God’s great plan, He was also a flesh and blood man. Jesus was one person who felt tiredness, thirst, and hunger in his body just like we do. God became such a flesh-and-blood human being, got involved with us, and stood on the same line of sight as us.
Now let’s get into the story. First is verses 7-9
2. He teaches us that there is an abundant way of life (10-14)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Here Jesus reveals little by little why he called out to this woman. He wanted to teach her that her life could become more abundant. It’s a life that never thirsts by having a spring of water in herself that never dries up. It’s a life in which one never gives up hope but keeps moving forward until the end. I believe Jesus knew what this woman had given up, what she thought she could not overcome on her own, what regret and loneliness she had for having no choice but to live her life away from the public eye. And He wanted her not to give up, and to start a new life with confidence. The key to such a new life was to drink the water Jesus gives.
To understand this more, let’s listen to Jesus’ words together with his woman. Verses 15-18.
3. He shows each of us, “I know you well.” (15-18)
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Jesus showed this woman, “I know you very well.” We cannot know why this woman had had 5 husbands, namely she had got divorced 5 times, and yet lived with another man currently. We don’t know whether she was responsible for all, or she had no control over her situation. However, at least it’s clear that her marital status was the reason why she was socially isolated. But what Jesus tells her here is, “I know your situation all well.”
To drink the water Jesus gives means at first to know that Jesus knows us personally, like this woman did. Just as she was surprised, we also may not be able to believe it at once. There is nothing wrong with wondering why Jesus knows me and is interested in my life. However, He will surely teach each of us personally, “I know you,” by the way only each of us can understand. That is what it means to drink the water Jesus gives, and it is the start of having a well that never dries up within us.
Now let’s get into the second half. Verses 19-24 first.
C. Jesus as God
1. He invites us to “the true worship” (19-24)
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
While this woman was surprised that Jesus knew about her and got interested in Him, she still tried to keep her distance. She is building a wall, saying, “I am a Samaritan, and you are a Jew. What we Samaritans believe is different from what you Jews believe. You and I live in different worlds.” This may be the same for us. We wonder what kind of relationship we could have with Jesus, who was in a different time, country, and culture, and we feel uncomfortable to rely on such a person.
However, Jesus said, “Believe me.” For Jesus came to this world in order to teach us that God loves us and wants each of us to live an abundant life, no matter what ethnicity we are or what kind of life we are living. To that end, He invites us all to become “the true worshipers.” It means that each of us faces God with one’s own true heart and tries to listen to God’s voice with the help of God’s spirit, instead of just worshiping God formally in a way that someone has decided. “Worship in the Spirit and in truth” means that each of us seeks God’s help, tries to understand His will, and loves Him, in a one-on-one relationship with Him. This way of worship needs no particular place or time. Whenever and wherever we seek God with all our hearts, that is our worship. And that is the only way to drink the water from Jesus and have the spring of water in our hearts.
Now let’s read the last part, verses 25-26.
2. The one who explains everything to us (25-26)
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”erything to us
I don’t think I need to explain anymore as this is what I’ve been talking about today, but Jesus is the Messiah, who explains everything to us, as it is said here. Through Jesus, we all get to know God’s love, know God’s plan, and know the way we should go. In difficult times, it’s hard for us to maintain hope, and sometimes it feels easier to give up. But because Jesus said to us, “Believe me,” we can keep looking forward without giving up, even if we don’t see hope. In your daily life, each of you should check whether Jesus really knows you and whether he is interested in you. That is our worship. And that is our source of hope and the spring of water that never dries up within us.
(Prayer) Dear Jesus, please teach us again your love and forgiveness for us, which You taught us by sacrificing your own life on the cross. Especially when I have problems that I can’t handle and when I can’t understand you, teach us that your love hasn’t changed. Help us with your Spirit and protect and strengthen our hearts so that we can keep hope alive. You are the one who forgives and accepts us even if we forget you and betray you. Please help us to respond to your love and always give thanks. Dear our Lord Jesus, we pray this in your name, Amen.
Summary
Jesus knows very well the lives each of us has gone through and the problems we are currently facing, and also knows that sometimes their weight can be overwhelming. Jesus wants each of us to live an abundant life without being overwhelmed, and invites us, “Believe me.” Believing in the love of Jesus is the power that enables us to live forward without losing hope and giving up until the very end. It’s not something we have inside of us, but it’s something God gives us and the Holy Spirit keeps.
For Discussion
1. Share about an experience that made you realize, “Jesus really knows me.”
2. What does it mean to become “the true worshippers?