John 4:3-15, 19-30
In Samaria Jesus came to the town called Sychar. This town is near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his long trip. So he sat down beside the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to get some water. Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” (This happened while Jesus’ followers were in town buying some food.)
The woman said, “I am surprised that you asked me for a drink. You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan.” (Jews are not friends with Samaritans.)
Jesus said, “You don’t know what God gives. And you don’t know who asked you for a drink. If you knew, you would have asked me, and I would have given you living water.”
The woman said, “Sir, where will you get that living water? The well is very deep, and you have nothing to get water with. Are you greater than Jacob, our father? Jacob is the one who gave us this well. He drank from it himself. Also, his sons and flocks drank from this well.”
Jesus answered, “Every person who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give will become a spring of water flowing inside him. It will give him eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty again. And I will not have to come back here to get more water.”
Then the woman said, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain. But you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.”
Jesus said, “Believe me, woman. The time is coming when you will not have to be in Jerusalem or on this mountain to worship the Father. You Samaritans worship what you don’t understand. We Jews understand what we worship. Salvation comes from the Jews. The time is coming when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. That time is now here. And these are the kinds of worshippers the Father wants. God in spirit. Those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth.
The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming.” (Messiah is the One called Christ.) “When the Messiah comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus said, “He is talking to you now. I am he.”
Just then his followers came back from town. They were surprised because they saw Jesus talking with a woman. But none of them asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking to her?”
Then the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She said to the people, “A man told me everything I have ever done. Come see him. Maybe he is the Christ!” So the people left the town and went to see Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- Who did Jesus ask to get a drink of water for him? A Samaritan woman at the well.
- Why was the woman surprised? Because Jesus was a Jew and Jews and Samaritans were not friends.
- Who did the woman think Jesus was? A prophet, not the Messiah or the Christ.
- Who did Jesus tell her he was? That he is the Messiah.
- What did the woman do? She ran back to town and told the people to go see Jesus.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of the woman at the well, and that she told others about your son Jesus. Please help us to tell others about you too.
Amen
Bible Verse for February
“’Come, follow me.’ Jesus said.” Matthew 4:19
Activity
Simple Science: Mixing Oil and Water
Materials:
- Transparent jar with a lid or clear soft drink bottle
- Vegetable oil
- Water
Guide Your Child To:
- Help put water into the jar until it’s about one-fourth full.
- Add vegetable oil until the jar is half full.
- Put the lid on the jar.
- Take turns shaking the jar. Try to mix the oil and water. Observe what happens after each person shakes it.
Talk About:
- Do you think oil and water will mix?
- What happens when the jar is still for one minute?
- Who made water? Who made oil?
- What do people use water for? What do people use oil for? (People in Bible Times used oil for making light in their lamps)
- How did the people in our story use water?
