Teen Life Application Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 8
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selves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not
the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way
for him.’ 29It is the bridegroom who marries
the bride, and the best man is simply glad to
stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I
am filled with joy at his success. 30He 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.* 32He
testifies about what he has seen and heard,
but how few believe what he tells them! 33Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that
God is true. 34For he is sent by God. He speaks
God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves his Son and has
put everything into his hands. 36And 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.”
4
JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Jesus* knew the Pharisees had heard that
he was baptizing and making more disciples
than John 2(though Jesus himself didn’t baptize
them—his disciples did). 3So he left Judea and
returned to Galilee.
4
He had to go through Samaria on the way.
5
Eventually he came to the Samaritan 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. 7Soon a Samaritan
woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to
her, “Please give me a drink.” 8He 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 Samaritans.* She
said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan 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? 12And besides,
do you think you’re greater than our ancestor
3:31 Some manuscripts do not include and is greater than anyone
else. 4:1 Some manuscripts read The Lord. 4:9 Some
manuscripts do not include this sentence. 4:20 Greek on this
mountain. 4:26 Or “The ‘I Am’ is here”; or “I am the Lord”; Greek
reads “I am, the one speaking to you.” See Exod 3:14.
JOHN 4
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 again. 14But
those who drink the water I give will never be
thirsty again. It becomes 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,” Jesus told her.
17
“I don’t have a husband,” the woman
replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a
husband—18for 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. 20So 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 no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this
mountain or in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans
know very little about the one you worship,
while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23But the time is
coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in
truth. The Father is looking for those who will
worship him that way. 24For God is Spirit, so
those who worship him must worship in spirit
and in truth.”
25
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is
coming—the one who is called Christ. When he
comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26
Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”*
27
Just then his disciples came back. They
were shocked to find him talking to a woman,
but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What
do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling
everyone, 29“Come and see a man who told me
CROSSING BARRIERS
(4:7-9) This woman (1) was a Samaritan, a person
of mixed heritage whom the Jews normally avoided,
(2) had a bad reputation, and (3) was in a public place.
No respectable Jewish man would talk to a woman under
such circumstances. But Jesus didn’t let these excuses
stop him from talking to the woman. Would you have
done the same? Is there someone you normally avoid for
various reasons? Like Jesus, are you prepared to cross all
barriers to share the Good News?
