Sometimes the problem with going relatively verse-by-verse is the potential of missing what is made obvious when placed side by side with other scriptures. May He stir us all up to be more diligent in our study and read for ourselves beyond these semi-daily verses. I pray it may please God to use this to glorify His name.
Jhn 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
Jhn 4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
Jhn 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Jhn 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
- Is there anything to be learned from Jesus speaking first to the women?
- Do you think it was only a drink of water that Jesus had on His mind?
- What does the women’s response demonstrate?
- What is the gift of God?
When you look at John chapters 3 and 4 together we see a startling contrast between the two.
1. In John 3 we have a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus; in John 4 we have an unknown unnamed women.
2. Nicodemus was a man of very high rank and position, "Master of Israel"; the woman was one of low rank forced to fetch water for herself.
3. Nicodemus was very well educated favored Jew; the woman was a rejected despised Samaritan.
4. In chapter 3 we see a man of strict morals who knew the ways of the law and kept to his knowledge all of them and had a high reputation for this; in chapter 4 we see a woman of dissolute habits who came to the well during the hottest time of the day most likely to avoid confrontation with others because of her reputation.
5. Nicodemus made it a point to seek out Christ as a teacher; the woman was looking for water and Christ sought out her to teach and bestow His gifts.
6. Nicodemus came in the darkness; the woman was greeted in the noon of the daylight.
7. In chapter 3, to the self-righteous Jew, Christ says you must be born again; in chapter 4, to the humbled Gentile, Christ speaks of the gifts of God.
Rom 9:16 "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. "
