Lesson 5: Helping Others Believe

Opening Questions:

1. What reactions do people have when interacting with Jesus in this chapter?
2. What does this chapter teach you about the power of belief?
3. What questions do you have from the text?

Spirit & Truth (vss. 1-26)

Scrutiny from the Jews (vs. 1, see 3.25) prompted Jesus to leave Judea and return to Galilee. However, rather than taking the circuitous route that most Jews would take, Jesus “had to pass through Samaria” (vs. 4). As we will see, this was the Father’s will because there was a great harvest about to take place (vss. 34-38). And that harvest would come from an unlikely source: the Samaritans.

The Samaritans were the descendants of the remnant of Israel who intermarried with Gentile settlers following the Assyrian conquest of Israel in 722 BC (see 2Kings 17.24). The Old Testament records that hostility existed between the Jews and Samaritans almost immediately following the Jews’ return from captivity (see Ezra 4.1-6; Nehemiah 2.20). That hostility would continue throughout the intertestamental period and Roman rule. It’s important to note that the Samaritans had a different view of their history: “The Samaritans have always believed that they are the direct descendants of a faithful nucleus of ancient Israel. From their perspective, Israel’s apostasy began as early as the time of Eli (eleventh century B.C.), when the nation’s cultic center was removed from Gerizim to Shiloh (and thence eventually to Jerusalem); in the Middle Ages they thus would have regarded themselves not as the remnant of the old northern kingdom of Israel, but rather as original Israel, whereas the Jews descend from a splinter group” (IVP Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels).

While the Samaritans had similar religious practices to the Jews, they had a couple notable differences. They held that Gerizim was the holiest of mountains (it was the site where Abram first ventured into Canaan, Genesis 12.6-7). Also, they believed that only the five books of Moses were inspired. However, like the Jews, they anticipated the coming of the Messiah, the prophet whom Moses had foretold (see Deuteronomy 18.15-18).

As Jesus’ disciples went into the city of Sychar to buy provisions, Jesus rested by the well located on the land Jacob had purchased from the men of Shechem (see Genesis 33.19). There He encountered a woman who had come to draw water, and little did she know that she was about to find much more!

At first, she could not believe that a Jewish man would ask a Samaritan woman for water (vss. 7-9). As we’ve noted already, hostility had long existed between Jews and Samaritans. Furthermore, Jews would have viewed Samaritan women as perpetually unclean, thus adding to her bemusement that Jesus would speak to her. Jesus’ offer of living, or flowing, water causes the woman to wonder if Jesus is greater than Jacob (vss. 10-12). But Jesus wasn’t offering a fresh source of physical water, rather His offer was of eternal life (vss. 13-14)! Significantly, Jesus uses the same terminology of “living water” to refer to the Spirit in John 7.38-39.

The woman wants what Jesus is promising, but the gift of eternal life cannot be received lightly. Thus, Jesus pointed out that the woman had five husbands and that the man she currently lived with was not her husband (vss. 16-18). The woman did not deny the truth of Jesus statement, but concluded that He must be a prophet (vs. 19). And if Jesus were a prophet, surely He could settle the debate of which was the proper place to worship the Lord (vs. 20). Jesus’ answer deserves close consideration:

• Recall that Jesus had already referred to His body as “this temple” (John 2.19). The day was coming when worship would not be centered in any location, but in Jesus (vs. 21).
• Jesus’ statement that “salvation is from the Jews” does not mean that salvation originated with the Jews, but rather God had purposed to bring the savior through them (vs. 22).
• True worship will take place “in spirit and truth” (vss. 23-24). Jesus was not saying that proper worship would be one of feeling and correct practice, rather He was pointing to the new reality which would take place in Him. Since God is spirit, He can only be worshipped in spirt and truth. Jesus is truth (John 14.6) and He provides the Spirit (John 7.38-39). In Him we can now worship in spirit and truth!

Jesus’ words caused the woman to wonder what relation Jesus has to the Messiah. Jesus proclaimed, “I who speak to you am he” (vs. 26).

Lessons In Evangelism (vss. 27-42)

The return of the disciples gives us a glimpse into the dedication of Jesus. They brought food, but Jesus was not hungry because “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (vs. 34). Jesus came to do the work of the Father and the disciples would also take part in that work (vss. 35-38). We also “to reap that for which you did not labor” as we continue in the labor of the prophets, John, apostles and Jesus Himself. How blessed we are to enter their labor!

Jesus’ words were proven true by the reception of the Samaritans. The woman had returned to the town urging the people to go out and see Jesus (vs. 29). This they did and Jesus stayed with them for two more days (vs. 40). “And many more believed because of his word” (vs. 41). This powerful text contains many powerful lessons in evangelism:

1. Jesus was willing to proclaim the good news to anyone, because this was His Father’s work (vs. 34). He urges us to have the same mindset and continually labor in the harvest.
2. The woman faithfully told others what she knew about Jesus (vss. 29,39). She didn’t know everything about Jesus, but what she was willing to share what she did know!
3. The people came to Jesus and came to faith because of His word (vss. 41-42).

The Importance of Signs (vss. 43-54)

Jesus’ journey to Galilee began what we refer to as “The Great Galilean Ministry.” He first went to Cana, the site of His first miracle (ch. 2). An official from Capernaum, located 20 miles away, went to petition Jesus on behalf of his dying son. Rather than travelling the 20 miles to see the boy, Jesus simply said, “Go, your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said and returned home. As he approached the house one of his servants came to tell him that his son had improved. He was cured when Jesus spoke the word!

Jesus’ remark that “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (vs. 48) should not be read as a rebuke, but as confirmation of their purpose. “The reply of Jesus was designed to make him and all who observed His miracles to look more deeply into their purpose. Jesus was not just a “super doctor” whose mission was physical healing. He was not a “magician” who could perform wonders no one else could do. The purpose for all of His miracles was to produce belief in Himself as God’s Son. (cf. Acts 2:23)” (Harkrider).

Textual notes:

• Vs. 2: note 3.22. John’s note here likely provides an explanatory note for both passages.
• Vs. 4: the word translated as “had to” (dei) is translated “must” in vs. 24. “normally in John’s Gospel its use involves God’s will or plan” (NET notes).
• Vs. 5: Sychar was near the ancient city of Shechem.
• Vs. 10: the word translated as “living” also means “flowing”. The woman thinks Jesus is offering a different water source. Significantly, Jesus uses the same terminology to refer to the Spirit (see John 7.38-39).
• Vs. 14: see Isaiah 49.10; John 6.35; 7.37-38; Revelation 7.16.
• Vs. 19: “The Samaritans were looking for the coming of ‘the Prophet’ (Deut. 18:15), whom they identified as the Taheb, the Samaritan Messiah. Maybe the woman was wondering whether Jesus might be this prophet/ Messiah” (Kruse).
• Vs. 34: “accomplished” is cognate with the word used for “finished” in (John 19.30).
• Vs. 36: see Amos 9.13.
• Vs. 42: contrast with John 1.11. Jesus was rejected by “His own”, but the Samaritans acknowledged that He is “the Savior of the world”.