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John 4:1-42

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1Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—

2although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

3So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4Now he had to go through Samaria.

5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

6Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7When 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.)

9The 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.)

10Jesus 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?

12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

14but 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.”

15The 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.”

16He 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.

18The 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.”

19“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.

20Our 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.

22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

23Yet 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.

24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,

29“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

35Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

36Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

37Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.

38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”

40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.

41And because of his words many more became believers.

42They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

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1)      According to verse 1 what did Jesus learn?

o  Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was

§ Gaining.

§ And baptizing.

o  More disciples than John.

 

2)      According to verse 2 who in reality baptized?

o  It was in reality

§ Not Jesus who baptized.

§ But his disciples.

 

3)      According to verse 3 what did Jesus do based on what he learned?

o  Jesus

§ Left Judea.

§ And went back once more to Galilee.

 

4)      What did Jesus leaving Judea and going back once more to Galilee based on what he learned tell us about how he handled confrontation with the Pharisees at that point in time in his ministry?

o  Jesus conscientiously avoided confrontation with them.

 

5)      What was Jesus keenly aware of?

o  Jesus was keenly aware of the timing of his ministry.

 

6)      According to verses 3 and 4 what route did Jesus have to take as he went back to Galilee from Judea?

o  Jesus had to go through Samaria.

 

7)      Why did Jesus have to go through Samaria, given that Jews in his time would take a longer route to avoid going through Samaria?

o  Jesus had work to do in Samaria.

 

8)      According to verse 5 what town did Jesus come to as he traveled through Samaria?

o  Jesus came to a town called Sychar, near the plot of ground.

o  That

o  Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

 

9)      According to verse 6 what source of drinking water was there at Sychar?

o  Jacob’s well was there.

 

10)   According to verse 6 what did Jesus do as he came to Jacob’s well?

o  Jesus

§ Was tired from the journey.

§ And sat down by the well.

 

11)   According to verse 6 what time was it when Jesus sat down by the well?

o  It was about noon.

 

12)   According to verse 7 who came to draw water?

o  A Samaritan woman did.

 

13)   What is odd about the Samaritan woman coming to draw water by herself around noon?

o  Women would usually come to draw water during times of the day.

o  When

o  It was not as hot.

o  And they would come in groups as an occasion for socializing.

o  The Samaritan woman, however, came by herself at a time.

o  When

o  It was hot.

 

14)   According to what Jesus said in verse 7 what did he say to the Samaritan woman?

o  Jesus asked her for a drink.

 

15)   According to verse 8 where had the disciples gone?

o  They had gone into the town to buy food.

 

16)   According to verse 9 how did the Samaritan woman confront Jesus pointblank for his request for a drink?

o  “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.

o  How can you ask me for a drink?”

 

17)   According to verse 9 why did the Samaritan woman consider Jesus’ request unacceptable?

o  It is because Jews did not associate with Samaritans.

 

18)   What does the comment of the writer of the gospel of John that Jews did not associate with Samaritans inform us concerning the background of the intended readers?

o  The intended readers of the gospel of John were not familiar with the local culture.

 

19)   Is it that surprising to readers of the gospel of John that Jesus would ask a Samaritan woman for a drink and why, given John 1:3 and John 1:14?

o  No, because Jesus as the creator had already done a most astounding thing by

§ Becoming a man.

§ And living among his creatures.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 1:3 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 1:14 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

20)   From the Samaritan woman’s perspective what was another problem with the way Jesus related to her and why, given verse 27?

o  Jesus talked to a woman who was a stranger in public.

o  A Jewish man in Jesus’ time did not talk to a woman who was a stranger in public.

 

21)   What was the Samaritan woman basically telling Jesus in verse 9?

o  Jesus as a Jew should not be asking a Samaritan woman for a drink.

 

22)   To what extent did the Samaritan woman think that Jesus as a Jew should not be asking a Samaritan woman for a drink, given that he must be thirsty?

o  From her perspective Jesus should not be asking.

o  Even though

o  He was thirsty.

 

23)   According to verse 9 what was the first sentence the Samaritan woman said to Jesus?

o  “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.”

 

24)   What were the differences between Jesus and the Samaritan woman did she point out?

o  Race and gender.

 

25)   How promptly did the Samaritan woman point out the racial and gender differences in the conversation?

o  It was the first sentence she uttered.

 

26)   What conflict did the Samaritan woman try to plunge Jesus into?

o  She attempted to plunge Jesus into

§ Racial strife.

§ And gender segregation.

 

27)   What were the barriers between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in the context of cross-cultural personal evangelism?

o  They were in different ethnic groups that were hostile to one another.

o  One was a man and the other a woman, both being strangers.

o  Such that

o  According to the local culture they were not supposed to talk to one another.

 

28)   Did Jesus do anything wrong in breaching those social norms in order to talk to the Samaritan woman?

o  No.

 

29)   How did the way Jesus related to the Samaritan woman inform us on how we should relate to strangers for the purpose of personal evangelism in a chance and fleeting encounter?

o  We need to

§ Seize the opportunity.

§ And take the initiative.

o  To strike up a conversation.

o  Having properly gauged the consequence, we should not be deterred by barriers presented by social norms when breaching them does not constitute wrongdoing.

o  We do not need to hesitate to do things such as asking for help.

o  If

o  That facilitates breaking the ice.

 

30)   How direct and forthright was the Samaritan woman with Jesus’ breaching the social norms based on the terseness of what she said to him in response?

o  She was very direct and forthright.

o  Because

o  In one short verse 9 she challenged Jesus for all the problems.

o  That

o  She saw in his asking her for a drink.

 

31)   Given that she supposed that Jesus must be thirsty, what would the Samaritan woman have done instead, had she been a kind-hearted person?

o  She would have simply given Jesus a drink.

 

32)   What did the Samaritan woman intend to accomplish in the way she confronted Jesus who appeared weak and vulnerable and was needy?

o  She was trying to humiliate him.

 

33)   What can we say about the personality of the Samaritan woman?

o  She

§ Was

Ø Mean. 

Ø And nasty.

§ And lacked grace.

 

34)   According to what Jesus said in verse 10 what was his response to the Samaritan woman’s confrontation?

o  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.”

 

35)   In contrast to the Samaritan woman’s confrontational tone, how direct and forthright was Jesus with her concerning her ignorance about the gift of God and the identity of the stranger in front of her?

o  Jesus was gentle and indirect in pointing out her ignorance.

o  Because he said,

o  “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, …”

 

36)   According to what Jesus said in verse 10 did he mention that he asked the Samaritan woman for a drink and that she did not give it to him?

o  Jesus

§ Mentioned that he asked her for a drink.

§ But did not mention that she did not give it to him.

 

37)   In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 10 how did he manage to avoid the Samaritan woman’s confrontation?

o  Jesus

§ Ignored her mean and nasty attitude.

§ Refrained from responding to her challenging him on controversial matters.

§ And was gentle and indirect in pointing out her ignorance.

 

38)   In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 10 what is the gift of God?

o  The living water is the gift of God.

 

39)   In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 10 about his offer of living water that is the gift of God, whom did he imply that he is?

o  Jesus implied that he is the gift-giving God.

 

40)   In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 10 how gracious was he with the Samaritan woman in his offer of living water to her?

o  Jesus would offer her living water.

o  If

o  She would ask him.

 

41)   According to verses 7 to 10 how quickly did Jesus transition the conversation from the physical to the spiritual realm?

o  He did it

§ Quickly.

§ And at the first opportune moment.

 

42)   How was the transition done?

o  The transition was from water in the well to living water Jesus gives.

 

43)   In accordance with verses 7 and 10 what did Jesus switch the focus of the conversation to from his need for water?

o  Jesus switched the focus of the conversation

§ From his need for water.

§ To the Samaritan woman’s need for living water.

 

44)   In accordance with verses 7 and 10 what role-switching in terms of giving and receiving between him and the Samaritan woman did Jesus propose?

o  Jesus proposed

§ That he switched

Ø From being the receiver of water. 

Ø To being the giver of living water.

§ And that she switched

Ø From being the giver of water. 

Ø To being the receiver of living water.

 

45)   Why did Jesus ask the Samaritan woman for a drink even though he knew that she would frown on it, given that he needed to talk about her need for living water?

o  It was a necessary and relevant bridge leading to his talking about her need for living water.

 

46)   In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 10 what would motivate the Samaritan woman to ask him for living water?

o  Knowing

§ The living water.

§ And the identity of the stranger in front of her.

o  Would.

 

47)   What was Jesus prodding the Samaritan woman to ask him about?

o  Jesus was prodding her to ask him about

§ The living water.

§ And his identity.

 

48)   According to verse 11 what was the first question the Samaritan woman posed to Jesus in reply?

o  “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.

o  Where can you get this living water?”

 

49)   According to verse 12 what was the second question the Samaritan woman posed to Jesus in reply?

o   “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who

§ Gave us the well.

§ And drank from it himself.

o  As

o  Did also his sons and his livestock?”

 

50)   How had the attitude of the Samaritan woman changed when she started addressing Jesus as ‘Sir’ in verse 11?

o  She had turned

§ From being confrontational.

§ To being respectful.

 

51)   What was the cause for the change in the Samaritan woman’s attitude toward Jesus, given the way he had interacted with her and the questions she posed to him?

o  Jesus’

§ Calm.

§ And gracious.

§ And non-confrontational spirit in stark contrast to her own.

o  And her curiosity about

§ The living water.

§ And his identity.

 

52)   How long would Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman have lasted and what would have been the outcome, had he not taken the initiative to do an ice breaker with her?

o  It would have lasted.

o  Only as long as

o  The amount of time it took her to draw water from the well.

o  And it would have amounted to nothing.

 

53)   How prompt was Jesus in seizing the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the Samaritan woman?

o  As prompt as the short period of time it took her to draw water from the well.

 

54)   According to verse 12 what did the Samaritan woman say Jacob did with the well?

o  He

§ Gave the well to the Samaritans. 

§ And drank from it himself.

§ As

§ Did also his sons.

 

55)   Who are Jacob’s sons ancestors of?

o  They are ancestors of

§ The Samaritans.

§ And the Jews.

 

56)   How had the Samaritan woman’s attitude toward Jesus changed in mentioning Jacob who is the common ancestor of the Samaritans and the Jews?

o  She had turned

§ From magnifying the chasm between her and Jesus.

§ To minimizing it.

 

57)   According to verse 11 what was the Samaritan woman’s doubt about Jesus’ claim of having access to some sort of living water?

o  Jesus could not even get water from the well.

o  Because

o  The well was deep.

o  And he had nothing to draw with.

o  She could not see where he could get the living water.

 

58)   In accordance with verse 12 in what way was the Samaritan woman’s questioning how Jesus could be greater than Jacob legitimate?

o  Jesus needed to drink from the well.

o  That

o  Jacob his ancestor gave.

 

59)   Were the Samaritan woman’s questions reasonable and why?

o  Yes, because any thinking Samaritan would have asked those questions.

 

60)   How had the constructiveness of the questions the Samaritan woman posed to Jesus changed in the conversation?

o  It had changed

§ From being totally unconstructive.

§ To being very constructive.

 

61)   In accordance with verses 13 and 14 how did Jesus address the Samaritan woman’s doubt that he could be greater than Jacob?

o  Everyone who drinks water from the well Jacob gave will be thirsty again.

o  But whoever drinks the water Jesus gives will never thirst.

 

62)   What are the items in what Jesus said in verse 10 that had grabbed the attention of the Samaritan woman as seen in the questions she posed to him?

o  Living water.

o  And Jesus’ identity.

 

63)   In accordance with verses 10 to 12 why was Jesus effective in sidestepping controversial matters the Samaritan woman raised?

o  Jesus

§ Refrained from addressing controversial matters she raised.

§ And was able to redirect her attention elsewhere.

 

64)   Had Jesus seized control of the agenda and set the tone of the conversation and why?

o  Yes, because

§ The Samaritan woman was following Jesus’ prodding in asking relevant questions.

§ And he was answering her questions.

 

65)   What is the contrast between how Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman followed Jesus’ prodding in asking questions, given John 3:8-9?

o  Nicodemus refused to follow Jesus’ prodding in asking relevant questions.

o  The Samaritan woman did.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 3:8-9 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

66)   In accordance with verses 10 and 11 was the Samaritan woman right on in asking Jesus where he could get the living water and why?

o  Yes and no because she was supposed to ask Jesus what the living water is about.

 

67)   In accordance with verses 13 and 14 how did Jesus make up for what the Samaritan woman failed to ask?

o  Jesus

§ Ignored her question of where he could get the living water.

§ And discoursed on the miraculous nature of living water.

 

68)   What does a spring of water welling up to eternal life suggest in terms of continuity of supply?

o  It never dries up, not for eternity to come.

 

69)   What did Jesus say is the power of the living water he gives in terms of quenching thirst?

o  Whoever drinks the living water Jesus gives will never thirst.

 

70)   Did Jesus mean to say that the living water he gives forever quenches physical thirst and why?

o  No, the living water Jesus gives only quenches spiritual thirst.

 

71)   According to what Jesus said in verse 14 what is the reason whoever drinks the living water he gives will never thirst spiritually?

o  It is because the living water

§ Is in them.

§ And never dries up, not for eternity to come.

 

72)   According to what Jesus said in verse 14 who did he emphasize is the giver of living water?

o  Jesus is.

 

73)   According to what Jesus said in verse 14 how did he implicitly address the Samaritan woman’s doubt that he had access to living water?

o  By emphasizing that he is the giver of living water Jesus implied that he already had living water in his possession.

 

74)   According to verse 15 what did the Samaritan woman ask Jesus to give her in accordance with his prodding?

o  “Sir, give me this water.

o  So that

o  I

§ Won’t get thirsty.

§ And have to keep coming here to draw water.”

 

75)   How had Jesus made it easier for the Samaritan woman to ask him for living water, given verses 7 and 10?

o  Jesus had

§ Asked her to give him a drink.

§ And promised to give her living water if she asked him.

 

76)   How did the Samaritan woman take Jesus up on his proposed role-switching between them?

o  She switched

§ From being the giver of water in the well.

§ To being the receiver of living water Jesus gives.

o  While

o  Jesus switched

§ From being the receiver of water in the well.

§ To being the giver of living water.

 

77)   According to verse 15 what was the Samaritan woman’s motivation in asking Jesus for living water?

o  She wanted to have living water.

o  So that

o  She would not

§ Get physically thirsty.

§ And have to keep coming to the well to draw water.

 

78)   What was the Samaritan woman’s misunderstanding of the power of the living water Jesus gives in terms of quenching thirst?

o  She thought that the living water Jesus gives quenches physical thirst.

o  In reality it quenches

§ Spiritual thirst.

§ But not physical thirst.

 

79)   What was the Samaritan woman’s progress in terms of transitioning her thinking from the physical to the spiritual realm?

o  Her thinking remained in the physical realm.

 

80)   According to verses 16 to 18 did Jesus give the Samaritan woman the living water she asked for and why, given that she was supposed to find out who he is first?

o  No, because Jesus was working toward his eventual acknowledgment.

o  That

o  He is the Christ.

o  As

o  We shall see.

 

81)   According to verses 15 and 16 what did Jesus tell the Samaritan woman to do when she asked him for living water?

o  Jesus told her to

§ Call her husband.

§ And come back.

 

82)   According to verse 17 what was the Samaritan woman’s reply?

o  She said she had no husband.

 

83)   According to what Jesus said in verse 17 how did he agree with the Samaritan woman in what she said?

o  Jesus agreed with her that technically speaking she was right in saying that none of the five men she cohabited with was her husband, including the one she was living with.

 

84)   According to what Jesus said in verses 17 and 18 how did he disagree with the Samaritan woman’s claim that she had no husband?

o  Jesus pointed out from a practical perspective that she had had five husbands, i.e., the five men she cohabited with.

 

85)   Under what circumstance did Jesus become more assertive, direct and forthright with the condition of the Samaritan woman, given verse 15?

o  Jesus became more assertive, direct and forthright with her condition.

o  When

o  He had gained credibility with her.

 

86)   What was the reason the Samaritan woman avoided other Samaritan women at the well?

o  It is because they ostracized her for her immoral conduct.

 

87)   In accordance with verse 15 was the Samaritan woman sick and tired of having to keep coming to the well to draw water and why?

o  No, she was actually sick and tired of having to avoid other Samaritan women at the well.

o  Coming to the well to draw water could be a pleasant time for socializing.

o  If 

o  They did not ostracize her.  

 

88)   What might have contributed to the Samaritan woman’s being mean and nasty?

o  Samaritans who were aware of her immoral conduct had been mean and nasty to her.

 

89)   What sort of problem was the cause of the Samaritan woman’s being sick and tired of having to keep coming to the well to draw water?

o  Her relational problem with other Samaritan women was the cause.

 

90)   According to verses 16 to 18 how did Jesus drill down further to a still greater and deeper relational need of the Samaritan woman?

o  Jesus pointed out her perpetual and ongoing unfulfilled intimate relationship with men.

 

91)   What would quench the Samaritan woman’s thirst that arose from her ongoing unfulfilled intimate relationship with men?

o  The living water Jesus gives would.

 

92)   According to verse 19 what was the Samaritan woman’s response to Jesus’ revelation of her private life that would not be known to people who did not know her?

o  She said she could see that Jesus is a prophet.

 

93)   What progress had the Samaritan woman made in terms of getting to know who Jesus is?

o  She was getting closer to knowing who Jesus is.

 

94)   According to verses 15 and 19 how had the Samaritan woman’s focus of attention changed?

o  She had changed

§ From being focused on her needs.

§ To being focused on who Jesus is.

 

95)   What was the difference between Jesus as a Jew and other Samaritans in terms of willingness to associate with the Samaritan woman?

o  Jesus as a Jew was willing to associate with her.

o  Other Samaritans were not.

 

96)   Why was the Samaritan woman not upset or embarrassed by Jesus’ revelation of her immoral conduct, given verse 17?

o  It is because Jesus made an effort to affirm her claim.

o  That

o  Technically speaking she had no husband. 

 

97)   Was Jesus condoning the Samaritan woman’s immoral conduct and why?

o  No, because Jesus did call out her immoral conduct of having five husbands.

 

98)   Why was the Samaritan woman not upset or embarrassed by Jesus’ calling out her immoral conduct of having five husbands, given that other Samaritans had expressed moral outrage at her for it?

o  It is because Jesus did so without expressing moral outrage.

 

99)   What can we learn from the way Jesus handled the Samaritan woman’s sinful conduct in the context of personal evangelism?

o  We should not condone the sinful conduct of the person who is being evangelized.

o  On the other hand we don’t need to express moral outrage at such conduct.

 

100)  According to verse 20 what was yet another controversy between the Samaritans and the Jews that the Samaritan woman injected into the conversation?

o  The Samaritans’ ancestors worshiped on Mount Gerizim.

o  But the Jews claimed that the place where they must worship was in Jerusalem.

 

101)  What was the Samaritan woman’s progress in terms of transitioning her thinking from the physical to the spiritual realm?

o  She finally did it.

 

102)  Was worship an important matter to the Samaritan woman and why?

o  Yes, she brought up a matter

§ That was important to her.

§ And that she would like Jesus’ opinion on as a prophet.

 

103)  What was the Samaritan woman if worship was important to her?

o  She was a worshiper.

 

104)  What is the implication for worship if worship can only be conducted in places that belong to certain races?

o  There is a racial overtone in worship.

 

105)  According to what Jesus said in verse 21 how did he put to rest the controversy over the place of worship?

o  Jesus reassured the Samaritan woman that a time was coming.

o  When

o  They would worship the Father

§ Neither on Mount Gerizim.

§ Nor in Jerusalem.

 

106)  In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 22 how did he eliminate the racial overtone in worship?

o  Jesus did it by making the place of worship irrelevant in worship.

 

107)  In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 22 what is the more important matter of worship that the Samaritan woman needed to know?

o  The object of worship.

 

108)  According to what Jesus said in verse 22 why did the Jews know the object of worship but the Samaritans did not?

o  It is because

§ Salvation is from the Jews.

§ And God who provides salvation is the object of worship.

 

109)  According to what Jesus said in verses 21 and 23 who is the object of worship?

o  The Father is.

 

110)  What is a better translation than ‘in the Spirit’ in verse 23?

o  A better translation is ‘in spirit’, lower case ‘s’.

 

111)  According to what Jesus said in verse 23 what is the proper manner of worshipping the Father?

o  The proper manner of worship is worshipping the Father

§ In spirit.

§ And in truth.

 

112)  What does it mean to worship the Father in spirit and in truth?

o  It means worshipping the Father

§ In the heart.

§ And in the head.

 

113)  In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 23 who are the true worshipers?

o  True worshipers are those who worship the Father

§ In the heart.

§ And in the head.

 

114)  According to what Jesus said in verse 23 what kind of worshipers does the Father seek?

o  The Father seeks worshipers who worship him

§ In the heart.

§ And in the head.

 

115)  According to what Jesus said in verse 23 when will true worshipers worship the Father in the heart and in the head?

o  The time has come.

 

116)  What is the implication for the timing of the Father’s seeking true worshipers, given that the time has come for them to worship him in the heart and in the head?

o  The Father must be actively seeking true worshipers.

 

117)  According to what Jesus said in verse 24 why must the Father’s worshipers worship him in the heart and in the head?

o  It is because God is spirit.

 

118)  In accordance with what Jesus said in verses 22 and 23 what was defective in the Samaritans’ worship?

o  They worshiped what they did not know, i.e., they did not know the Father.

o  That means they did not worship the Father in the head.

 

119)  Can a person worship the Father in the heart if the person does not know him and therefore cannot worship him in the head?

o  No.

 

120)  When does it become possible for a person to worship the Father in the heart?

o  It becomes possible for a person to worship the Father in the heart.

o  When

o  The person

§ Knows him.

§ And therefore can worship him in the head.

 

121)  When does it become possible for a person to be a true worshiper of the Father?

o  It becomes possible for a person to be a true worshiper of the Father.

o  When

o  The person

§ Knows the Father.

§ And therefore can worship him

Ø In the heart. 

Ø And in the head.

 

122)  According to verse 25 what did the Samaritan woman say the Christ would do when he comes?

o  The Christ would explain everything to them.

 

123)  What is the name of the Samaritan equivalent of the Jewish Christ that Samaritans believed was coming?

o  The Taheb.

 

124)  How was the Samaritan woman adjusting her belief in the coming of a Samaritan Taheb in her ongoing dialog with Jesus?

o  She was shifting from her belief in the coming of a Samaritan Taheb to the coming of a Jewish Christ.

 

125)  Why did the Samaritan woman bring up the controversy over the place of worship in verse 20, given what she said in verse 25?

o  She had a hunch that the prophet in front of her might just be the Christ.

o  So she brought up the controversy to see if he could offer an explanation to put it to rest.

 

126)  What was the Samaritan woman’s intent in making her remark in verse 25, given that Jesus was able to offer an explanation to put the controversy to rest?

o  She was expecting Jesus to acknowledge that he is the Christ.

 

127)  According to what Jesus said in verse 26 how did he acknowledge that he is the Christ?

o  Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

 

128)  Is the word ‘he’ in verse 26 present in the original language?

o  No.

 

129)  What is a more literal translation for verse 26?

o  Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—am.”

 

130)  According to what Jesus said in verse 26 whom did he declare himself to be, given Exodus 3:14-15?

o  Jesus declared himself to be God.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Exodus 3:14-15 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

14God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

15God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

131)  According to what Jesus said in verse 26 what did he cite as the basis for acknowledging that he is the Christ?

o  Jesus cited what he had said to the Samaritan woman as the basis.

 

132)  In what way could the Samaritan woman begin to worship the Father that she was not able to do before, given John 14:9 and her having gotten to know Jesus as the Christ?

o  Per John 14:9 knowing Jesus is knowing the Father.

o  So the Samaritan woman knew the Father.

o  Because  

o  She had come to know Jesus as the Christ.

o  She could from that point choose to worship the Father

§ In her heart.

§ And in her head.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 14:9 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

133)  What kind of a worshiper had the Samaritan woman become through worshipping the Father in her heart and in her head?

o  She had become a true worshiper of the Father.

 

134)  What had Jesus been guiding the Samaritan woman to become through the process of revealing himself to her as the Christ?

o  Jesus had been guiding her to become a true worshiper of the Father.

 

135)  What is our objective in helping others get to know Jesus as the Christ?

o  Our objective is to help them become true worshipers of the Father.

 

136)  How would the Samaritan woman receive the living water Jesus gives, given John 7:37-39 and John 12:23-24?

o  Per John 7:37-39, by believing in Jesus she would receive the living water that is the Holy Spirit.

o  After

o  Jesus had been glorified, i.e., per John 12:23-24, crucified.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 7:37-39 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

37On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 12:23-24 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

137)  Why was Nicodemus unable to become a true worshiper of the Father and why was the Samaritan woman able to?

o  Nicodemus refused to follow Jesus’ prodding in asking relevant questions.

o  So Jesus was unable to guide him to become a true worshiper of the Father.

o  The Samaritan woman was willing to follow Jesus’ prodding in asking relevant questions.

o  So Jesus was able to guide her to become a true worshiper of the Father.

 

138)  What is the prognosis of those whom we try to evangelize in terms of believing in Jesus based on their willingness to ask relevant questions?

o  Those who refuse to ask relevant questions have a poor prognosis.

o  Those who are willing to ask relevant questions have a better prognosis.

 

139)  What can we conclude about the relevancy of a person’s socioeconomic status as predictor of the likelihood the person would become a true worshiper of the Father, given Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman?

o  A high socioeconomic status did not give Nicodemus an edge in becoming a true worshiper of the Father.

o  A low socioeconomic status did not hinder the Samaritan woman from becoming a true worshiper of the Father.

 

140)  How multifaceted was the Samaritan woman’s belief in Jesus?

o  First she experienced Jesus’ miraculous insight of her private life as a prophet.

o  Then she experienced a life-changing transformation as a result of Jesus’ grace for her as the Christ.

 

141)  Who had just come to believe in Jesus?

o  The Samaritan woman had.

 

142)  Because of whose testimony did the Samaritan woman believe in Jesus?

o  She believed in Jesus because of his testimony.

 

143)  What was the medium on which the good news of Jesus spread in the current situation?

o  It spread between strangers in a chance encounter.

 

144)  What is the chain of witnesses who had testified about Jesus so far?

o  God had testified to John the Baptist about Jesus.

o  John the Baptist had testified to two of his disciples about Jesus, one of them being Andrew and the other John.

o  Andrew had testified to his brother Peter about Jesus.

o  John had testified to his brother James about Jesus.

o  Andrew had testified to his hometown friend Philip about Jesus.

o  Philip had testified to his friend Nathanael about Jesus.

o  Jesus had testified about himself to the Samaritan woman who was a stranger.

 

145)  What do we call the personal interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman that led to the latter’s experiencing him personally?

o  It is called personal evangelism.

 

146)  Whom did the disciples buy food from, given verse 8?

o  They bought food from Samaritans at Sychar.

 

147)  How did the disciples regard eating food prepared by Samaritans?

o  They did not find it objectionable.

 

148)  What were the disciples ready to do when they went through Samaria and came into contact with Samaritans?

o  They were ready to deal with Samaritans.

 

149)  How did the comment of the writer of the gospel of John in verse 9 apply to the disciples?

o  It did not strictly apply to them.

 

150)  According to verse 27 what was the reaction of the disciples when they returned and found Jesus talking with a woman?

o  They were surprised.

 

151)  According to verse 27 did the disciples try to find out the reason why Jesus was talking with a woman and why?

o  No, because no one asked,

§ “What do you want?”

§ Or “Why are you talking with her?”

 

152)  What did the disciples find objectionable and not find objectionable about what Jesus did, given the description in verse 27?

o  They found Jesus’ talking with a woman who was a stranger objectionable.

o  They did not find Jesus’ talking with a Samaritan objectionable.

 

153)  According to verses 28 and 29 what did the Samaritan woman do then?

o  She

§ Left her water jar.

§ Went back to the town.

§ And said to the people,

Ø “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. 

Ø Could this be the Christ?”

 

154)  Was the Samaritan woman bringing news of the Samaritan Taheb or news of the Jewish Christ to the town?

o  News of the Jewish Christ.

 

155)  What are other examples of a disciple in the gospel of John so far who brought others to Jesus once they had interacted with him?

o  Andrew brought Peter to Jesus.

o  Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus.

 

156)  Why did the Samaritan woman leave her water jar when she went back to the town?

o  She did it.

o  So that

o  Jesus could help himself.

 

157)  What did the Samaritan woman want Jesus to know by leaving her water jar behind?

o  She wanted Jesus to know that she would be back shortly.

 

158)  Between serving the Christ a drink herself on the one hand and losing no time in going back to the town to tell people about him on the other, what did the Samaritan woman choose to do?

o  She chose the latter.

 

159)  Did the Samaritan woman have the right attitude as a disciple of the Christ and why, given Luke 10:38-42?

o  Yes!  She had chosen what was better.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Luke 10:38-42 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

42but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

160)  What is the change in the Samaritan woman’s attitude toward other Samaritans’ judgment of her immoral conduct before and after her encounter with Jesus?

o  Before the encounter she was afraid of facing other Samaritans because of their judgment of her immoral conduct.

o  After the encounter she took the initiative to testify before them to Jesus’ being able to tell her everything she ever did.

 

161)  What is the cause of the change in the Samaritan woman’s attitude, given how Jesus had treated her?

o  Jesus’ acceptance of her had strengthened and elevated her.

 

162)  How had Jesus’ grace for the Samaritan woman motivated her to be gracious to people in the town regardless of their hostility toward her?

o  Jesus was gracious to her regardless of her hostility toward him.

o  Then Jesus’ grace begot grace in her as a repentant sinner.

 

163)  Whom did the Samaritan woman want to be like by bringing people in the town to Jesus, given that they ostracized her as an immoral woman and she ostracized Jesus as a Jew?

o  She wanted to

§ Be like Jesus.

§ And share Jesus’ grace with people who ostracized her.

§ Just as

§ Jesus showed her grace who ostracized him.

 

164)  What credibility did the Samaritan woman have with people in the town before her testimony of Jesus as the Christ ?

o  She had no credibility.

 

165)  What cultural barrier did the Samaritan woman need to cross in bringing news of the Jewish Christ to the town?

o  Samaritans only believed in the coming of the Samaritan Taheb.

o  Besides there was hostility between the Samaritans and the Jews.

 

166)  According to verses 29, 30 and 39 how convincing to people in the town was the Samaritan woman’s testimony of Jesus as the Christ?

o  It was very convincing.

o  Such that

o  They

§ Came out of the town.

§ And made their way toward Jesus.

o  In fact many of them believed in Jesus because of her testimony.

 

167)  Why was the Samaritan woman’s testimony of Jesus as the Christ convincing to people in the town, given verse 39?

o  It had to do with the sudden change in her attitude toward their judgment of her immoral conduct.

o  She was no longer burdened by the shame of her conduct.

 

168)  What would have happened, had Jesus walked into the town and started telling Samaritans there to repent and believe the goods news?

o  Jesus would have been rejected.

 

169)  What role does the Samaritan woman play in the terminology of cross-cultural mission?

o  She played the role of a cultural insider.

 

170)  What kind of a cultural insider was the Samaritan woman in light of her relationship with other people in that culture?

o  She was an estranged cultural insider.

 

171)  How did the estrangement of the Samaritan woman to other people in her culture actually enhance the quality of her testimony of Jesus before them?

o  The greater the estrangement, the greater the motivation she needed to demonstrate in overcoming the estrangement in order to testify to Jesus before them.

o  The greater motivation served to

§ Demonstrate the depth of her transformation.

§ And add convincing power to her testimony.

 

172)  What is the chain of witnesses who had testified about Jesus so far?

o  God had testified to John the Baptist about Jesus.

o  John the Baptist had testified to two of his disciples about Jesus, one of them being Andrew and the other John.

o  Andrew had testified to his brother Peter about Jesus.

o  John had testified to his brother James about Jesus.

o  Andrew had testified to his hometown friend Philip about Jesus.

o  Philip had testified to his friend Nathanael about Jesus.

o  Jesus had testified about himself to the Samaritan woman who was a stranger.

o  The Samaritan woman had testified about Jesus to other Samaritans in town as an estranged cultural insider.

 

173)  According to verses 30 and 31 what did the disciples do while people in the town made their way toward him?

o  They urged Jesus to eat something.

 

174)  What does the word ‘meanwhile’ in verse 31 suggest concerning how long food had been available to Jesus yet without his eating it, given that it was available even while the Samaritan woman was still at the well?

o  It had been available to Jesus for quite some time.

o  Since

o  The disciples were still urging Jesus to eat something.

o  While

o  People in the town made their way toward him

 

175)  According to what Jesus said in verse 32 how aware were the disciples of the food that he had and that he could eat?

o  They knew nothing about it.

 

176)  According to verse 33 what were the disciples wondering about among themselves?

o  They were wondering.

o  If

o  Someone might have brought him food.

 

177)  According to what Jesus said in verse 34 what was his food?

o  Jesus’ food is

§ To do the will of him who sent him.

§ And to finish his work.

 

178)  Who sent Jesus?

o  The Father did.

 

179)  Was Jesus referring to physical food and why?

o  No, Jesus was referring to spiritual food.

 

180)  What is the Father’s will, given John 6:40?

o  The Father’s will is that everyone who

§ Looks to Jesus.

§ And believes in him.

o  Shall have eternal life.

o  And Jesus will raise them up at the last day.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 6:40 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

181)  What is the Father’s work that Jesus was waiting to finish in the current context?

o  Jesus was waiting to finish the Father’s work that had been started among Samaritans at Sychar.

 

182)  Why did Jesus choose to go without the physical food that was available to him?

o  Jesus was eagerly waiting to finish the Father’s work.

 

183)  According to what Jesus said in verse 35 how did he challenge the saying that ‘It’s still four months until harvest’?

o  Jesus said that the disciples would see that the fields were ripe for harvest.

o  If

o  They

§ Opened their eyes.

§ And looked at the fields.

 

184)  Is there urgency in harvesting a crop that has ripened and why?

o  Yes, because being late in harvesting a crop that has ripened can result in losses due to rotting.

 

185)  According to what Jesus said in verse 36 what were the ongoing activities associated with reaping and harvesting?

o  The one who reaps is

§ Harvesting a crop for eternal life.

§ And drawing a wage.

 

186)  Was Jesus referring to physical reaping and harvesting and why?

o  No, Jesus was referring to spiritual reaping and harvesting of a crop for eternal life.

 

187)  What is the urgent action Jesus advocated in his appeal in verses 35 and 36 for the disciples to open their eyes and see the fields that are ripe for harvest?

o  Jesus advocated urgent participation in the activities of reaping and harvesting a crop for eternal life without procrastination.

 

188)  How did what Jesus said in verse 35 concerning opening the eyes and seeing the fields that are ripe for harvest apply to himself?

o  Jesus

§ Opened his eyes.

§ And saw the field

Ø That was the Samaritan woman at the well. 

Ø And that was ripe for harvest.

 

189)  How did what Jesus said in verse 35 concerning opening the eyes and seeing the fields that are ripe for harvest apply to the Samaritan woman?

o  The Samaritan woman

§ Opened her eyes.

§ And saw the field

Ø That was people in the town. 

Ø And that was ripe for harvest.

 

190)  How did what Jesus said in verse 36 concerning the ongoing activities associated with reaping and harvesting a crop for eternal life apply to himself?

o  Jesus as the one who reaped was

§ Harvesting a crop for eternal life that was the Samaritan woman at the well.

§ And drawing a wage that was the food of

Ø Doing the Father’s will. 

Ø And finishing his work.

 

191)  How did Jesus defy the saying that ‘It’s still four months until harvest’ in the case of the Samaritan woman at the well?

o  Jesus

§ Struck up a conversation with her without procrastination.

§ And harvested a crop for eternal life that was her.

 

192)  How did the Samaritan woman defy the saying that ‘It’s still four months until harvest’ in the case of people in the town?

o  The Samaritan woman

§ Left her water jar the moment she heard Jesus’ acknowledgment of himself to be the Christ.

§ Went back to the town.

§ And began harvesting a crop for eternal life that was people in the town.

 

193)  What is the ultimate urgency the Samaritan woman had assumed for harvesting a crop for eternal life?

o  She participated in harvesting a crop for eternal life.

o  The moment

o  She became a disciple.

 

194)  What are other examples of a disciple in the gospel of John so far who assumed a similar urgency for harvesting a crop for eternal life as the Samaritan woman did?

o  Andrew and Philip.

 

195)  According to what Jesus said in verse 36 what made the sower and the reaper glad together?

o  The crop for eternal life being harvested made them glad together.

 

196)  According to what Jesus said in verse 37 what is the saying that has thus been rendered true?

o  ‘One sows and another reaps’.

 

197)  In accordance with what Jesus said in verses 37 and 38 what is the hard work that the sowers had done?

o  Sowing for eternal life.

 

198)  According to what Jesus said in verse 38 what did he send the disciples to reap that they had not worked for and that is consistent with the saying in verse 37?

o  Jesus sent them to reap the benefits of the sowers’ hard work of sowing for eternal life.

 

199)  According to verse 39 what was the Samaritan woman’s testimony of Jesus before Samaritans in the town?

o  Jesus told her everything she ever did.

 

200)  According to verse 39 what happened as a result of the Samaritan woman’s testimony of Jesus?

o  Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus.

 

201)  How did the good news of Jesus Christ elevate the Samaritan woman, given that a woman’s testimony was not considered trustworthy in those days?

o  Samaritans in the town who used to reject her actually considered her testimony trustworthy.

 

202)  How did what Jesus said in verse 36 concerning the ongoing activities associated with reaping and harvesting a crop for eternal life apply to the Samaritan woman?

o  The Samaritan woman as the one who reaped was

§ Harvesting a crop for eternal life that was Samaritans in the town.

§ And drawing a wage that was the food of

Ø Doing the Father’s will.  

Ø And finishing his work.

 

203)  What was the reason of the Samaritans’ belief in Jesus when they heard the Samaritan woman’s testimony?

o  Personal transformation as seen in the Samaritan woman’s turning to God in repentance.

 

204)  What is the level of certainty that the Samaritans’ belief in Jesus was also accompanied by a turning to God in repentance, given the Samaritan woman’s example and John 2:23-24?

o  There is a high level of certainty because

§ The Samaritans’ belief in Jesus was patterned after the Samaritan woman’s belief.

§ And the writer of the gospel of John would point those out whose belief was not accompanied by a turning to God in repentance as in John 2:23-24.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 2:23-24 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.

24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

205)  According to verse 40 what did the Samaritans do when they came to Jesus?

o  They urged Jesus to stay with them.

 

206)  According to verse 40 how long did Jesus stay with the Samaritans?

o  Jesus stayed two days.

 

207)  In accordance with verse 40 how did Jesus and his disciples drift further from the Jews’ social norm of not associating with Samaritans?

o  They stayed with Samaritans two days.

 

208)  According to verse 41 what happened when the Samaritans themselves had heard from Jesus?

o  Many more became believers.

 

209)  According to verse 42 what did the Samaritans say to the woman that was the reason they believed in Jesus?

o  They no longer believed in Jesus just because of what she said.

o  They believed in Jesus because they believed Jesus’ own word.

 

210)  According to verse 42 what did the Samaritans believe about Jesus?

o  They believed that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

 

211)  How multifaceted was the Samaritans’ belief in Jesus?

o  First they believed in Jesus because of the Samaritan woman’s personal transformation.

o  Then they believed in Jesus because they believed Jesus’ own word.

 

212)  What is the contrast between Nicodemus and the Samaritans in the context of what drew them to Jesus?

o  Nicodemus came to Jesus.

o  Because

o  He was drawn by the signs Jesus did.

o  The Samaritans come to Jesus.

o  Because

o  They were drawn by the Samaritan woman’s personal transformation.

 

213)  What is the contrast between Nicodemus and the Samaritans in the context of believing Jesus’ word?

o  Nicodemus refused to believe Jesus’ word.

o  The Samaritans chose to believe Jesus’ word.

 

214)  How did what Jesus said in verse 37 that one sows and another reaps apply to himself?

o  The Samaritan woman sowed for eternal life among Samaritans in the town.

o  Jesus as the one who reaped was harvesting a crop for eternal life from what she sowed.

========================

John 4:1-42

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