Bible Stories for Adults

Jesus in Samaria

John 4:1-30; 39-42



Welcome and Announcements
    Next Week - Jesus Heals an Official's Son (John 4:43-54)
    Bible Words to Remember:
      If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Opening Prayer


Samaria (1 Kings 11-12)
    What did God do with the nation of Israel after Solomon turned to the gods of his foreign wives?
      1 Kings 11:29-33
    Where did Jeroboam select for the capital of this northern nation of Israel?
      1 Kings 12:25
    Where was Israel's capital for most of the nation's existence?
      1 Kings 16:23-24

What Happened to Samaria? (2 Kings 17)
    How faithful to God did this new nation begin?
      1 Kings 12:26-29
    What eventually happened to the nation of Israel and why?
      2 Kings 17:21-23
    What happened to the land of Israel, Samaria?
      2 Kings 17:24

Faith of the Samaritans (2 Kings 17)
    How did this melting pot of people learn about God?
      2 Kings 17:26-28
    Did this group of non-Jews become faithful to God?
      2 Kings 17:29, 33, 41

Help to Rebuild the Temple (Ezra 4)
    Who wanted to help the Jews rebuild the temple after they returned from Babylonian exile?
      Ezra 4:1-2
    Did the Jews accept this help & why or why not?
      Ezra 4:3
    How did the Samaritans accept this rejection?
      Ezra 4:4-5, 24
    What happened when the Jews listened to Haggai & Zechariah and started building again?
      Ezra 5:3, 5
    How did King Darius respond to the Samaritans request to stop the Jews?
      Ezra 6:7-8

Reconstruction of the City Walls (Ezra 4; Nehemiah 4)
    Did the effort to rebuild the city walls meet any opposition?
      Ezra 4:6, 12
      Note: King Xerxes married a Jew (Esther) who saved Jews from annihilation
    Did they meet any opposition the second time around?
      Nehemiah 4:1-3
    How did the Samaritans respond when the wall reached half its height?
      Nehemiah 4:6-8, 11
    Did this threat stop the efforts?
      Nehemiah 4:16-18
    What other opposition did Nehemiah resist?
      Nehemiah 6:1-14

Between the Testaments
    Manasseh, a renegade Jew, married a daughter of the Samaritan Sanballat (Neh 13:28)
      Founded a temple on Mount Gerizim to rival Jerusalem's
    129 BC - John Hyrcanus (Jewish leader) attacked Samaria & destroyed temple on Mount Gerizim
    Ecclesiasticus called the Samaritans "no nation ... the foolish people that dwell in Shechem"
      Rabbis said: He who eats their bread is as he who eats swine's flesh

Those Beloved Samaritans
    How did Ezekiel show the Jews' feelings towards the Samaritans in his condemnation of Judah?
      Ezekiel 16:46-47
    What horrible curse name did a group of hating Jews come up with to call Jesus?
      John 8:48

Jesus Travels to Galilee (John 4:1-6)
    What was the normal path Jews took to travel between Judea and Galilee?
      Matthew 16:21a; 19:1
    What path did Jesus decide to take on His trip to Galilee in today's story?
      John 4:4
    What had Jesus been doing in Judea?
      John 3:22-23
    Why did Jesus decide to leave Judea at this time?
      John 4:1-3
    What did John the Baptist think about Jesus' disciple baptizing more than him?
      John 3:26-30
    Where does this story take place?
      John 4:5-6
      Genesis 33:18-19
      Genesis 48:22
      Joshua 24:32

A Forbidden Encounter (John 4:7-9)
    What happened while Jesus rested by Himself at Jacob's well?
      John 4:7-8
      Notes: This well was over 1/2 mile from town, People normally used the village well
        Women fetched water in morning & evening, It was noon
        Woman was obviously an outcast trying to avoid contact with others
    Despite Jesus being tired and thirsty, why was it amazing that He had asked for a drink?
      John 4:9
      Notes: It was improper for any man to speak in public with a strange woman
        Rabbis were forbidden to greet any woman in public, even a wife/daughter/sister

Living Water (John 4:10-15)
    How did Jesus answer her question in a way to tell her who He really was?
      John 4:10
    How did the woman misunderstand Jesus' revelation?
      John 4:11
      Notes: The well is over 100 ft deep fed by water percolated through the ground
        Travelers carried leather bags for drawing well water, disciples had theirs in town
        Living water referred to running water from a stream
    What did the woman think about this stranger knowing where to get water besides the well?
      John 4:12
    How did Jesus try to explain that He was talking about a different type of water?
      John 4:13-14
    It is said that mankind needs air, food and water to have life. How does this apply to Jesus?
      John 20:22
      John 6:48
      Revelation 21:6
      John 1:4-5
    How did the woman reply mockingly to this ridiculous statement?
      John 4:15

No Conversion Without Conviction (John 4:16-18)
    How does Jesus begin to show her the need to understand what He is saying?
      John 4:16
    How does this both reveal her need to us and how this stranger might help?
      John 4:17-18
      Note: Jews allowed women to divorce twice, at most 3 times; 5 times was wicked

Mount Gerizim or Mount Zion (John 4:19-24)
    Realizing now that Jesus had to be from God, how does she respond to His accusations?
      John 4:19-20
    How does Jesus answer this controversial question and bring her further toward conversion?
      John 4:21-24 (see also Galatians 3:26-29)

Conversion (John 4:25-30)
    How did the woman show she was beginning to understand what Jesus was saying?
      John 4:25
      Samaritan bible only had Pentateuch (1st 5 books); knew little of Messiah, expected a teacher
    What final blow did Jesus then throw?
      John 4:26
    What forced the woman to stop asking questions?
      John 4:27
    How did she react to this strange talk she had just had with Jesus?
      John 4:28-29

The Result of Traveling Through Samaria (John 4:39-42)
    What did the villagers think of what this outcast woman was saying?
      John 4:30, 39
    What did the people think after they heard Jesus for themselves?
      John 4:40-41
    What important lesson was taught by this walk through Samaria early in Jesus' ministry?
      John 4:42

Spread of the Gospel (Acts 1:8)
    How does this calling Jesus the Savior of the world parallel the growth of the gospel in Acts?
      Acts 1:8
      John 2:23; 3:22; 4:4; 4:42
    How does this parallel our own calling to witness of our faith?
      Matthew 28:19-20

Closing Prayer



Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen

Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
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kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com


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