HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1326
JOHN 4
page 956
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 everything 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.”
— promises —
from God
“But those who drink the
water I give will never be
thirsty again. It becomes
a fresh, bubbling spring
within them, giving
them eternal life.”
JO H N 4:14
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). 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 Samaritan village
of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his
son Joseph. 6 Jacob’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 Jesus 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 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? 12 And besides,
do you think you’re greater than our ancestor
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. 14 But
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—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 no longer matter
whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know
very little about the one you worship, while we
Jews know all about him, for salvation comes
through the Jews. 23 But 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. 24 For 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?” 28 The 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
everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the
Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from
the village to see him.
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus,
“Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you
know nothing about.”
33 “Did someone bring him food while we were
gone?” the disciples asked each other.
34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment
comes from doing the will of God, who sent me,
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.