Girls Life Application Study Bible - Flipbook - Page 11
10 // John 4
John 4 // 11
John the Baptist Exalts Jesus
T
he Samaritan woman was
an outcast. Samaritans were
despised by Jews, and women
in that culture had a lower
status than men. Because of
her reputation, this Samaritan
woman went to draw water
alone. That’s where she met
Jesus. Jesus knew everything
about her, and he still wanted
to talk to her! The Samaritan
woman had been looking for
love in all the wrong places;
but Jesus showed her God’s
love, and that was all she
needed. Sometimes we look to
everyone but God for love and
acceptance, but God’s love is
all we need.
Discover more about
the Samaritan Woman
in John 4:4-42.
How have you
experienced God’s love?
22 Then J
esus and his disciples left Jeru
salem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them
there, baptizing people.
23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there
was plenty of water there; and people
kept coming to him for baptism. 24 (This
was before John was thrown into prison.)
25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew* over ceremonial
cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to
him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met
on the other side of the Jordan River, the
one you identified as the Messiah, is also
baptizing people. And everybodyis going
to him instead of coming to us.”
27 John replied, “No one can receive
anything unless God gives it from heaven.
28 You yourselves know how plainly I told
you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here
to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the
bridegroom who marries the bride, and
the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to
stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.
30 He must become greater and greater,
and I must become less and less.
31 “He has come from above and is
greater than anyone else. We are of the
earth, and we speak of earthly things,
but he has come from heaven and is
greater than anyone else.* 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard,
but how few believe what he tells them!
33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can
affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent
by God. He speaks God’s words, for God
gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The
Father loves his Son and has put every
thing into his hands. 36 And anyone who
believes in God’s Son has eternal life.
Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will
never experience eternal life but remains
under God’s angry judgment.”
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Jesus* knew the Pharis ees had heard
4
that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though
2
Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his
3:25 Some manuscripts read some Jews.
3:31 Some
manuscripts do not include and is greater than anyone
else.
4:1 Some manuscripts read The Lord.
disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the
way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samari
tan village of Sychar, near the field that
Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well
was there; and Jesus, tired from the long
walk, sat wearily beside the well about
noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman
came to draw water, and J esus said to her,
“Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone
at the time because his disciples had
gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews
refuse to have anything to do with Sa
maritans.* She said to Jesus, “You are a
Jew, and I am a Samarit an woman. Why
are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the
gift God has for you and who you are
speaking to, you would ask me, and I
would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or
a bucket,” she said, “and this well is
very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think
you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob,
who gave us this well? How can you offer
better water than he and his sons and his
animals enjoyed?”
13
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks
this water will soon become thirsty
4:9 Some manuscripts do not include this sentence.
4:20 Greek on this mountain.
again. 14 But those who drink the water
I give will never be thirsty again. It be
comes a fresh, bubbling spring within
them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give
me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty
again, and I won’t have to come here to
get water.”
16 “Go and get your husband,” J
esus
told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman
replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t
have a husband—18 for you have had five
husbands, and you aren’t even married
to the man you’re living with now. You
certainly spoke the truth!”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must
be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that
you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only
place of worship, while we Samaritans
claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,* where
our ancestors worshiped?”
21
Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear
woman, the time is coming when it will
AN ACTIVE BELIEF
(4:43-54) This government official not only believed
that Jesus could heal, he also demonstrated his
faith in Jesus by returning home at Jesus’ request. It
isn’t enough to say that we believe Jesus can take
care of our problems; we need to act on that belief.
When you pray about a need or a problem, do your
actions show that you believe Jesus can do what
he says?
Is it OK to wonder if Jesus is
really God and really alive?
W
hen Thomas’s friends told him that Jesus rose from
the dead and was alive, Thomas said he wouldn’t
believe it unless he saw the proof with his own eyes—
check it out in John 20:24-25. It’s OK to wonder if Jesus
is God and if he’s alive. We can doubt without living a
doubting way of life. Doubts help us ask good questions
to clarify what we believe. But doubt was never meant to
be a permanent condition. When you experience doubt,
take encouragement from Thomas. Instead of remaining
doubtful, he allowed Jesus to help him toward belief. So
if you have doubts, just keep asking God your questions
as you pray in Jesus’ name. Let your search for answers
deepen your faith.
