Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: John 4:1-42
Memory Verse: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. " John 4:23-24 (Pre-K to grade 3)
Historical Background of the Samaritans: 2 Kings 17:1-8, 16-18 and 24-34, 41. The tribes of the N. Kingdom, Israel, repeatedly did evil in God's sight so finally they were carried off into exile by the king of Assyria. The King brought people from several other places to live in the land of the N. Kingdom. They had trouble with lions so the king was told that they didn't "know the law of the god of that land" so he sent a priest of Yahweh from exile to teach them--but they still continued to worship all their own gods as well, "as they do to this day" (17:41). (In those days people thought that every land had its own territorial god. The Jews, at least officially, knew that Yahweh was God of the whole earth.) The transplanted peoples were mixtures of other nations and worshiped other gods along with Yahweh. The Jews of Judah despised them as a mixed people and idol worshipers.
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Jesus knew that the Pharisees would cause difficulties about the baptisms and he knew that it was not yet his time to die so he went back to Galilee through Samaria (the shortest way). Many Jews took the long way so they would not have to go through Samaria, but Jesus chose to go there. He always went where his Father told him to go.
Word received: There will be times when I ask you to go into a difficult situation. Just as I AM always with My Son, so I will always be with you.
Jesus was wearied from the journey so about noon (6th hour) he stopped to rest by "Jacob's well" while his disciples went off to find food. This shows Jesus' full humanity. He got weary and hungry and thirsty just like we do. Because Jesus said he only does and says what the Father shows him, we have to assume that the Holy Spirit was guiding him to go through Samaria and stopt here. (John 5:19)
The Samaritan woman came to the well at noon. It was very hot then and not the usual time to draw water. This would indicate that she did not have good relationships with the other women. Jesus asked her for a drink, which surprised her since "Jews have no dealings with Samaritans," plus Jewish rabbis avoided speaking to women in public. Notice two things: 1) Jesus asked her for something she could easily do. 2) Word received: I am not bound by the hatred of others. I do not want you to be bound by others' hatred either. (Acts 1:8) Before he ascended Jesus said that after they received the power of the Holy Spirit they were to be his witnesses "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. He had a special concern for the Samaritans, but his priorities were: Jews first, then Samaritans, then the rest of the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6).
The woman is puzzled that he is talking to her but Jesus moves the conversation on to "the gift of God" and "living water". (v. 10) "Living water" would refer to running water as in a spring or stream or to a name for something spiritual -- as in John 7 or Jeremiah 2:13. She assumes the natural meaning and wants to know how he could get the living water without a bucket or rope. She is very proud of their connection with Jacob (vs. 12). She is still talking about ordinary water in verse 15.
An interesting parallel to this is John 7:31-39 where Jesus stands up on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and proclaims, "If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scriptures have said, 'out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive." [The theme and symbolism of "living water" occurs several times in scripture -- see the note.]
In verse 10 Jesus talks about knowing the "gift of God" and "who" is talking to her. Our first reaction to "gift" is that it refers to some thing that God gives. Jesus is referring to the "gift of God" as God himself. See John 7:39, "he said this about the Spirit" who is one of the Trinity! She ignores the part about who he is. She does ask for that living water but misunderstands. Read verse 10 again. Word received: Do you know me? Have you asked for my living water? Jesus tells her his "living water" will become a spring in those who receive it (v. 14). Word received: Have you drunk deeply of my living water? Have you asked to drink deeply? Have you opened your mouth, your life to me? Word received: I have living water for everyone to drink. My salvation is for all. (See Isaiah 55:1, "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters: and he who has no money, come, buy and eat.)Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your eternal life. Thank you that you have made a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to the Father. Amen.
Jesus awakens a desire in the woman, even though she doesn't understand. Jesus always responds when we seek him.
Then Jesus in a very matter-of-fact way raises a question about her life, "Go call your husband." When she tells him she doesn't have one he again, in a straight forward way, tells her she has had five husbands and is now just living with someone. He isn't accusing, he is just stating the facts and she quickly changes the subject to a religious controversy about where Jews vs. Samaritans worship. [God knows everything about us -- he looks at our hearts not the exterior as people do. (1 Samuel 16:7-9)] Do we change the subject when God confronts us with something that needs to change? Jesus uses everything for his purposes. Jesus tells her you don't know whom you worship but "salvation is of the Jews" and soon the question of Mt. Gerazim vs. Jerusalem will be irrelevant because God the Father wants worshipers to worship him in Spirit and truth. He explains to her that God is a Spiritual being. He is not a wood or stone carving or just an idea like the idols of the Samaritans.
God has made human beings with spirits, souls and bodies. Our spirits are part of us God created to have fellowship with him forever. (Our souls are our minds, emotions, wills, etc that are a lasting part of who we are.) God wants to give us his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, so we can worship him according to who he really is: truth and with our spirits by the power of the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit is truth. Jesus, the word, is truth. God longs to have us receive his Spirit so we can worship him, not just externally but from our hearts.
Are we really thirsting for more of God? Do we ever just go through the outer motions of worship? The Lord longs for us to love and worship him with all our "hearts, minds, souls, and strength." The Holy Spirit wants to help us do that.
Look at the memory verse: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24) Prayer: Help me do that.
The woman changes the subject again to the idea of a coming Messiah who will provide answers to all these questions. Then Jesus does something astonishing. He tells her straight out who he is -- the Messiah. (Think of all the times he told people not to tell when they raised this question.) Not only does Jesus say he is the Messiah, he says to her, "I AM (he) who is speaking to you." (verse 26) Jesus is saying I am the I AM!!! whether she gets it or not.
Then the woman gets really excited and goes back to the city and tells everyone to "come and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Messiah?" Many people come out because of what the woman said and invite him to stay. He stays two more days and they come to believe Jesus is the Savior of the world. Isn't it amazing they recognize this when so many of his own people did not.
When they return the disciples are puzzled by Jesus talking to the woman but don't ask about it. Their attention is on getting Jesus to eat but Jesus tells them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." Prayer: Lord help us to desire this food also.
There are two issues here: true worship and evangelism. Jesus points to the harvest of souls being ready, "white for harvest". God cares passionately about people who don't know him. Do we? It is God's harvest and each one of us has a different part to play. Have you ever experienced either taking part in the harvest or being the one who was brought to faith by others? Share
Word received: I AM always watching. There is nothing I do not know or see. My son listens to me and follows me. Are you doing the same?
NOTE: Other symbolic references to water:(for adults and older kids)
(Jeremiah 2:13) "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water."
(Ezekiel 47:1-12) Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
(Revelation 21:6) And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2)
(Revelation 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 08
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1. Jesus wants all people to want the "living water" of his Holy Spirit. He wants to give us himself. Ask for Jesus and his Spirit to come and live in your heart. [Talk about what Jesus is talking about when he talks about "living water".
2. Jesus want to do and say only what his Father in heaven tells him. He wants us to do that too.
3. Jesus wants us to worship him with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. He looks at our hearts.
4. Jesus wants us to tell people about him so they can receive his new life.
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