DAY 1 - Who is this Samaritan woman? Before we see who this Samaritan woman is in John 4, let's talk about prejudice a little bit. Being prejudice is a learnt behavior. Little kids play with other kids without any reservation. They do not distinguish people based on race, color of their skin, religion, moral or economy status. We see a lot of things like this in the world today, including in our country Indonesia and our resident country United States. Children learn how to be prejudice from their parents. Being prejudice is ALWAYS wrong. The Christian faith does not teach people to be prejudice, in fact over and over again the Christian faith teaches the people to respect and treat all people the same and humbly. In John 4, we will see one example that Jesus set before us about prejudice. Jesus talked to a Samaritan woman and she was very surprised because Jesus was not supposed to talk to her. She was surprised (John 4:9) and his disciples were surprised (John 4:27). Why? a. Prejudice due to SEX. She is a WOMAN. The religious group from the Jewish people did not allow man to talk to woman in public, not even to their own wife or mother. Actually a certain sect from the Pharisees did not allow man to see woman in public. Therefore, they have to close their eyes when they see a woman approaching. Jesus broke this culture and this rule by talking to a woman in public. (John 4:9) b. Prejudice due to RACE. She is a Samaritan. Jews did not talk to Samaritans. The Jews are God's chosen people, while the Samaritan are not, therefore the Jews did not think that the Samaritans are in the same level as them. Due to this, the Jews are not allowed to talk to the Samaritans. Jesus broke this culture and this rule by talking to a Samaritan. (John 4:9) c. Prejudice due to MORAL character and moral integrity. This woman has been married for five times and the man that she is living right now is not her husband. (John 4:17) This woman is living in sin and immorality. The other women from the village did not want to associate themselves with such a wicked and lowly woman. Therefore, this woman has to come to the well in the afternoon (John 4:6). She is in the well at the sixth hour, which is 12 o'clock at noon. The other women come in the morning to the well. The well is a place for women to gather and talk about their lives (i.e., seperti arisan :) :)). Due to her moral level, this Samaritan woman has been isolated and rejected from the society. But Jesus accepts her for who she is. Jesus acknowledges that she is living in sin (John 4:17), but He still loves her. Jesus loves her even though he hates her sin. d. Prejudice due to RELIGION. This woman does not belong to the Judaism religion (John 4:19). The Jews did not even want to pass the land of Samaria, they would rather walk around the whole land of Samaria, then to pass through that land, even when it is the shortest distance. This woman shows the WORST possible case for prejudice and discrimination. She has it all in one package. She has been isolated and rejected due to her sex, race, moral character/integrity and religion. But Jesus shows that He loves her by talking to her and by accepting her even when this brings criticism from his closest friends, i.e., his disciples (John 4:27). The Christian faith did not teach prejudice, in fact Jesus shows an example that we should not be prejudice. Let us take the time now to evaluate ourselves and see if we have been prejudice and ask for God's forgiveness.
DAY 2 - Respected vs. Outcast; Accepted vs. Rejected A couple of weeks ago we learnt about Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus told Nicodemus that he has to be born again (John 3). This week we are going to learn about Jesus' conversation with a Samaritan woman. Jesus told her that she needs the "LIVING WATER." (John 4). Jesus approached each person uniquely. The main goal is the same, that is for that person to know who Jesus is and accepted Him as His Lord and Savior, but Jesus saw their deepest longings and gave answers to their lives. Let us see some main differences between Nicodemus in chapter 3 and the Samaritans woman in chapter 4. Nicodemus is a male (i.e., the respected sex), while she is woman. Nicodemus is a Jew (i.e., the accepted RACE), while this woman is a Samaritan (i.e., the unaccepted RACE, the second class RACE). Nicodemus is a righteous man; he follows all the commandments from the Bible. On the other hand, this woman is living in sin and immorality. She was married for five times and she is living with a man which is not her husband. Nicodemus comes from the Judaism religion, while this woman does not even understand the whole things about religion. From the discussion above, we have seen that Nicodemus comes from the most respected and accepted part of the society, while the Samaritan woman is isolated and rejected from the society. Yet, they shared one thing in common. Nicodemus is "still looking for something more." There is something missing from his life. The Samaritan woman is also "looking for something to satisfy her." There is something missing from her life too. No matter where they come from, both shared the same thing. They feel that there is still something missing in their lives. Jesus did not treat any of them any differently. Jesus offers the gift of eternal life to Nicodemus and Jesus also offers the gift of eternal life to this woman. Jesus is reaching out to Nicodemus by telling him that he has to be born again and Jesus is reaching out to this woman by telling her that there is living water (Note: we will see what living water is in the next couple of days). Jesus loves every person from every part of the society. He does not choose just the people from the right race, religion, sex or moral standard. He wants everybody to be FULFILLED and SATISFIED in this life and in the life to come. How about you? What is it that is holding you back from accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? What are you looking for in this life? Have you been satisfied? Are you living in abundance, in joy and peace? Or are you still looking for something more? Do you still have an emptiness in your heart?
DAY 3 - The Living Water This Samaritan woman used to be young and beautiful. She must have been beautiful before, otherwise she will not be able to find five husband that are willing to marry her. Each time she falls in love, she thought that he is the one that will fulfill her and satisfy her. Yet, again and again she finds out that none of her husbands, nor her marriage can satisfy her. By this time, she is older. Time and hardships must have done a number on her beauty. She is older and she is sad. She is not as beautiful as she used to be. She may even have given up on life completely. What have happened to the once young and innocent young woman? All of her dreams have been scattered. Her dream of having a good and happy life is not getting anywhere. Once she was one of the most wanted girl in the village, now she is rejected and unwanted. What have happen to the hope and dream of a young girl? They all have been slowly but surely erased and destroyed by the harsh circumstances. What else does she have? She does not have anything more. She feels the emptiness in her heart, she feels the failure to live in abundance, she feels the hopelessness, she's only going from day to day taking one step after another, she doesn't quite have a purpose in life. She has learnt to ignore the cry of her spirit and soul for satisfaction. In fact, she has mastered the ignoring of the yearning for abundance and fulfillments. What does she actually need? She only needs one thing, that is the LIVING WATER. Her "WELL" is dry; all of her "WELLS" are dry: the well of richness, the well of good marriage, the well of a fame and fortune. She is looking for love, peace and joy in the wrong places. She thought that these ARTIFICIAL wells of richness and good marriage are what she needed. She thought that the love of a man will fulfill all her needs, yet what she actually needs is the love of GOD. In a hot summer day, maybe after exercising (be it running, playing tennis or pumping iron), we will be quenching for water. We'll be so thirsty that we long for the biggest glass of ice water. Water satisfies our thirst. Our BODY was crying for water. In the same way, our SPIRIT and SOUL is crying for the LIVING water, the LIVING water. God created us with a desire to have an intimate relationship with Him. This is the desire that God has planted in each man's heart, so that man will keep looking for God. There is nothing else in this world that can satisfy that needs, other than the love of God (i.e., the living water). When we find the love of God, we find the pure acceptance, joy and peace. Just like this Samaritans woman. Jesus accepts her and loves her unconditionally. We may have been living in sin, but that is no reason for Jesus to reject us. He still loves us even when we are still sinners. In fact, God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). What do we have to do to accept the living water? All that we have to do is to BELIEVE. Yes, it is only a question about choosing to BELIEVE or not to BELIEVE. If you have not believed, these EBS series is for you. Remember that this is a series on "Why believe" from the book of John. Jesus said in John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." If we choose to believe, then Jesus promised, "But whoever drinks the living water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to ETERNAL life." ( John 4:13). What's your answer, my friend?
DAY 4 Today we are going to just read and/or sing a song that we have been very familiar with. We just want to show that music is used by God to minister to our hearts. It strengthens the message that we have been studying in the past three days and music can be used to keep the message in our heart. In a hot summer day, maybe after exercising (be it running, playing tennis or pumping iron), we will be quenching for water. We'll be so thirsty that we long for the biggest glass of ice water. Water satisfies our thirst. Our BODY was crying for water. In the same way, our SPIRIT and SOUL is crying for the LIVING water. Let this song minister to you: As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee You alone are my heart's desire, and I want to worship You. You alone are my strength, my shield To you alone may my spirit yield You alone are my heart's desire and I want to worship You.
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Disclaimer This material is a summary of the message that was preached by Pastor Jack Graham at Prestonwood Baptist Church. The writer of this EBS (Electronic Bible Study) made some changes and added some personal notes that is necessary to customize this material into an electronic media,a daily reading material and to better fit the audience. The Prestonwood Baptist Church is not affiliated in anyway with the Indonesian Christian Fellowship of Fort Worth.