The Source of Eternal Life (Student’s Guide)

Read the Following Passage:

John 4:5-14

So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

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.)

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.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 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?”

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

Discussion Questions:

1. What was the relationship between the Samaritans and the Jews?

2. What purpose did Jacob’s well serve?

3. What purpose did Jesus have in using the well?

4. What gives you the impression that Jesus specifically planned this encounter?

5. What specific message did Jesus want to communicate?

6. How could this story apply to the work of Christian Life Resources?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us safely to another day of service in your kingdom. We ask that you provide us with many opportunities to witness to your name. We pray for the work that lies ahead. Make us alert and focused on our studies today. Keep us mindful that our goal is to provide greater and greater forums in which to share your message of salvation through Jesus. May all that we learn make us more fully equipped witnesses to your word. In the end, may it be said that we did it all for your glory. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

The Source of Eternal Life (Leader’s Guide)

Read the Following Passage:

John 4:5-14

So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

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.)

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.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 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?”

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

Discussion Questions:

1. What was the relationship between the Samaritans and the Jews?
The Jews and Samaritans had a long-standing dislike for each other. In 722 B.C. the Assyrian army conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel which included the land of Samaria. Israelites in that area were dispersed and mixed with other heathen societies. The practice of their faith is often characterized as being full of heathen overtones. That is one major reason for the strong dislike between the Jews (people whose roots were from the Southern Kingdom of Judah) and the Samaritans. In the early 500s B.C. when the Jews were allowed to rebuild their temple the Samaritans asked to help. The Jews refused; this resulted in a longstanding feud with the Samaritans.

2. What purpose did Jacob’s well serve?
It was the local watering hole for people passing by.

3. What purpose did Jesus have in using the well?
Two purposes: 1) to get water, 2) to provide a Christian witness.

4. What gives you the impression that Jesus specifically planned this encounter?
Jesus, who as God knows all things, specifically asked the woman, whom he knew to be a Samaritan, for a drink. He invited the contact that otherwise would normally not take place.

5. What specific message did Jesus want to communicate?
The Samaritan woman needed a Savior from sin.

6. How could this story apply to the work of Christian Life Resources?
There is the need to use any and every opportunity to witness the Christian faith. Eternities depend on it. Even the mundane things like getting a drink of water (remember 1 Corinthians 10:31?) are to provide opportunities to give glory to God.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us safely to another day of service in your kingdom. We ask that you provide us with many opportunities to witness to your name. We pray for the work that lies ahead. Make us alert and focused on our studies today. Keep us mindful that our goal is to provide greater and greater forums in which to share your message of salvation through Jesus. May all that we learn make us more fully equipped witnesses to your word. In the end, may it be said that we did it all for your glory. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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