A WOMAN AT A WELL
Comfort.Guide is designed to help reach two goals:
1) Entering into a brand new, deeper relationship directly with Jesus Christ, as well our Father and the Holy Spirit; picturing Jesus Christ sitting next to us, encouraging, explaining, comforting. We will use stories of how Jesus interacted with people, and how He Himself understood how complex we humans are and how much we need healing on so many levels, in so many ways.
2) Looking at thoughts, experiences, feelings and beliefs deep within us that might be blocking this new relationship.
We want to start with a beautiful story from the fourth chapter of John's Gospel, simple yet so rich in teaching and encouragement! It contains everything we want to talk about in www.Comfort.Guide, and it will provide an example of what we want to experience in our own life.
… So he (Jesus) came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
JESUS WAS TIRED, HOT AND THIRSTY FROM HIS LONG WALK, AND HE WAS IN A FOREIGN TERRITORY (Samaria) AS WELL.
How might you have felt if you were Him? Did Jesus plan to stop at that particular village, or was it simply lunchtime and the village was on their way?
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink”? The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
THE WOMAN CAME AROUND NOON, IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, MOST PROBABLY ALONE. ALL THE OTHER WOMEN CAME EARLY IN THE MORNING.
What does this fact mean? Might she have felt alone, perhaps like an outcast, perhaps living on the fringe of society? Do you think that below her surface, she felt like a complete failure?
Think about this: Jesus had sent His followers to town to buy lunch. Why might Father God have planned exactly this timing for Jesus to meet with this woman? How did Jesus know that this particular person needed ample comfort?
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
WHEN JESUS SAID THE WORD “KNEW”, AND THE PHRASE “WHO IT IS”.....
Why did He ask this question? Was this an intellectual knowledge, or a personal, friendship knowledge? Did she have any clue about what God could do for her, or even wanted to do? How much did she value herself? Finally, what conditions did Jesus establish for her to obtain this "living water"?
BE SURE TO NOTICE HOW JESUS STARTED THE CONVERSATION SO SIMPLY: "Can I have some water?" No deep theology yet!
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw water with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE “OUT-REASON” GOD, AND EXPLAIN WHY SOME THINGS JUST CANNOT HAPPEN?
Do you notice some negativity here, perhaps even some sarcasm? In short, do you think she was open or closed in her expectations?
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks from this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
THE WOMAN STILL HAD NO CLUE WHERE THE CONVERSATION WAS GOING, AND WAS IN ERROR IN HER THINKING, BUT WAS INTRIGUED IN WHATEVER “LIVING WATER” WAS. NOTICE HOW JESUS IS GRADUALLY BRINGING HER INTO NEW THINKING.
What physical and emotional benefits to her did she think this "living water" would provide to her?
"Go, call your husband and come back." “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
DIVORCE WAS HIGHLY FROWNED ON IN THAT SOCIETY. SO.....
How did she fit into the village? What did neighbors and relatives think of her? What might the religious leaders have thought of her? What do think the five ex-husbands were saying about here?
In her current relationship, she was not married. Might she have just given up on any hopes of true intimacy? Might she have been at or near rock-bottom?
CAN’T YOU ALMOST HEAR THIS WOMAN BELIEVING SATAN’S LIES AND REPEATING THEM OVER AND OVER IN HER HEAD.....
God does not love me.
He does not see me.
God is not for me.
I am alone.
I am not worthy to receive love.
I am ineffective and my life has no meaning.
CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS WOMAN IN ANY WAY??? As this story continues, how did Jesus bring truth to replace these lies?
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
SOMETIMES “THEOLOGY” AND “RELIGION” ARE EASIER TO TALK ABOUT THAN WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN OUR LIFE, SO SHE QUICKLY CHANGED THE SUBJECT.
How much emotional, personal, harmful baggage was she carrying around? What might her past life have been like? Might there have been trauma and/or abuse in her past? Why did she want to shift the conversation to theological fine points and away from what was so deeply ingrained and gnawing away in her?
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. …yet a time is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
NOTICE SHE HAD SOME IDEA OF WHAT “RELIGION” TAUGHT ABOUT THE MESSIAH.
Do you think she thought she could have a personal, one-on-one relationship with the Messiah? Conversely, did she think the Messiah wanted such a relationship with her? In her mind, was there any rational reason why God Himself would want to be with, and talk with, an emotional wreck, an outcast, like her? In fact, do you think she would be even welcome at the local temple?
Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”
WHAT??? THE GOD IN THE SCRIPTURES ACTUALLY SPEAKS TO US? NO, IT CAN’T BE. GOD WOULD SURELY TALK TO THE TEMPLE LEADERS, AND NOT EVEN NOTICE SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE WAS A SHAMBLES.
This led into a very personal, deep conversation. Imagine Jesus not berating her as a sinner, but rather helping her understand the "why" of her thinking and actions. And now imagine Jesus drawing a picture for her of a new life, cleansed, hopeful, in touch with herself, fully knowing her fears and tendencies. Vibrantly positive and encouraging, with not a one negative, "putting-down" word.
Then leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. …Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words, many more became believers.
JOHN 4:4-26, 28-30, 39-41 (NIV)
THE PURPOSE OF HER VISITING THE WELL WAS TO OBTAIN WATER, BUT SHE LEFT HER WATER JAR THERE. WHY? WHAT MUST THE LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT (EVEN DISBELIEF) IN THIS JESUS SHE HAD JUST MET? WHAT MIGHT HER LEVEL OF HOPE HAVE BEEN?
WHEN SHE SAID THAT JESUS TOLD HER EVERYTHING SHE EVER DID, MIGHT THAT HAVE BEEN IN A STRICT, DEMEANING TONE, PILING ON THE GUILT, OR ….. MIGHT JESUS HAVE EXPLAINED THE DEEPER REASONS WHY SHE HAD DONE THE THINGS SHE DID, WHY HER LIFE TURNED OUT THE WAY IT DID?
MIGHT HE HAVE TALKED TO HER IN SUCH GENTLE, ENCOURAGING, PERSONAL AND UNDERSTANDING TONES THAT SHE COULDN’T HELP BUT FEEL GUILT LEAVING HER AND HOPE COMING TO HER?
Can you imagine having such a one-on-one with Jesus?
We ask that you keep this simple story at the front of your mind during this Comfort.Guide study. It will help us focus on our two goals: knowing Jesus personally, and, beginning to know ourselves on a deeper level and searching out any blocks to walking with Jesus in a closer way.
Click HERE to return to "Week 1 Outline".
This woman had severe losses of her core human needs, which Jesus focused in on. Many of us also have experiences some losses of our own core human needs. We can become aware and make that very personal through the use of the next worksheet! Click HERE for the next page: "Seeing Our Early Losses Clearly". As a reminder, core human needs are discussed in the "What You Need to Know" section; see the tab on top of this page.
Comfort.Guide is designed to help reach two goals:
1) Entering into a brand new, deeper relationship directly with Jesus Christ, as well our Father and the Holy Spirit; picturing Jesus Christ sitting next to us, encouraging, explaining, comforting. We will use stories of how Jesus interacted with people, and how He Himself understood how complex we humans are and how much we need healing on so many levels, in so many ways.
2) Looking at thoughts, experiences, feelings and beliefs deep within us that might be blocking this new relationship.
We want to start with a beautiful story from the fourth chapter of John's Gospel, simple yet so rich in teaching and encouragement! It contains everything we want to talk about in www.Comfort.Guide, and it will provide an example of what we want to experience in our own life.
… So he (Jesus) came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
JESUS WAS TIRED, HOT AND THIRSTY FROM HIS LONG WALK, AND HE WAS IN A FOREIGN TERRITORY (Samaria) AS WELL.
How might you have felt if you were Him? Did Jesus plan to stop at that particular village, or was it simply lunchtime and the village was on their way?
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink”? The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
THE WOMAN CAME AROUND NOON, IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, MOST PROBABLY ALONE. ALL THE OTHER WOMEN CAME EARLY IN THE MORNING.
What does this fact mean? Might she have felt alone, perhaps like an outcast, perhaps living on the fringe of society? Do you think that below her surface, she felt like a complete failure?
Think about this: Jesus had sent His followers to town to buy lunch. Why might Father God have planned exactly this timing for Jesus to meet with this woman? How did Jesus know that this particular person needed ample comfort?
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
WHEN JESUS SAID THE WORD “KNEW”, AND THE PHRASE “WHO IT IS”.....
Why did He ask this question? Was this an intellectual knowledge, or a personal, friendship knowledge? Did she have any clue about what God could do for her, or even wanted to do? How much did she value herself? Finally, what conditions did Jesus establish for her to obtain this "living water"?
BE SURE TO NOTICE HOW JESUS STARTED THE CONVERSATION SO SIMPLY: "Can I have some water?" No deep theology yet!
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw water with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE “OUT-REASON” GOD, AND EXPLAIN WHY SOME THINGS JUST CANNOT HAPPEN?
Do you notice some negativity here, perhaps even some sarcasm? In short, do you think she was open or closed in her expectations?
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks from this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
THE WOMAN STILL HAD NO CLUE WHERE THE CONVERSATION WAS GOING, AND WAS IN ERROR IN HER THINKING, BUT WAS INTRIGUED IN WHATEVER “LIVING WATER” WAS. NOTICE HOW JESUS IS GRADUALLY BRINGING HER INTO NEW THINKING.
What physical and emotional benefits to her did she think this "living water" would provide to her?
"Go, call your husband and come back." “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
DIVORCE WAS HIGHLY FROWNED ON IN THAT SOCIETY. SO.....
How did she fit into the village? What did neighbors and relatives think of her? What might the religious leaders have thought of her? What do think the five ex-husbands were saying about here?
In her current relationship, she was not married. Might she have just given up on any hopes of true intimacy? Might she have been at or near rock-bottom?
CAN’T YOU ALMOST HEAR THIS WOMAN BELIEVING SATAN’S LIES AND REPEATING THEM OVER AND OVER IN HER HEAD.....
God does not love me.
He does not see me.
God is not for me.
I am alone.
I am not worthy to receive love.
I am ineffective and my life has no meaning.
CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS WOMAN IN ANY WAY??? As this story continues, how did Jesus bring truth to replace these lies?
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
SOMETIMES “THEOLOGY” AND “RELIGION” ARE EASIER TO TALK ABOUT THAN WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN OUR LIFE, SO SHE QUICKLY CHANGED THE SUBJECT.
How much emotional, personal, harmful baggage was she carrying around? What might her past life have been like? Might there have been trauma and/or abuse in her past? Why did she want to shift the conversation to theological fine points and away from what was so deeply ingrained and gnawing away in her?
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. …yet a time is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
NOTICE SHE HAD SOME IDEA OF WHAT “RELIGION” TAUGHT ABOUT THE MESSIAH.
Do you think she thought she could have a personal, one-on-one relationship with the Messiah? Conversely, did she think the Messiah wanted such a relationship with her? In her mind, was there any rational reason why God Himself would want to be with, and talk with, an emotional wreck, an outcast, like her? In fact, do you think she would be even welcome at the local temple?
Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”
WHAT??? THE GOD IN THE SCRIPTURES ACTUALLY SPEAKS TO US? NO, IT CAN’T BE. GOD WOULD SURELY TALK TO THE TEMPLE LEADERS, AND NOT EVEN NOTICE SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE WAS A SHAMBLES.
This led into a very personal, deep conversation. Imagine Jesus not berating her as a sinner, but rather helping her understand the "why" of her thinking and actions. And now imagine Jesus drawing a picture for her of a new life, cleansed, hopeful, in touch with herself, fully knowing her fears and tendencies. Vibrantly positive and encouraging, with not a one negative, "putting-down" word.
Then leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. …Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words, many more became believers.
JOHN 4:4-26, 28-30, 39-41 (NIV)
THE PURPOSE OF HER VISITING THE WELL WAS TO OBTAIN WATER, BUT SHE LEFT HER WATER JAR THERE. WHY? WHAT MUST THE LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT (EVEN DISBELIEF) IN THIS JESUS SHE HAD JUST MET? WHAT MIGHT HER LEVEL OF HOPE HAVE BEEN?
WHEN SHE SAID THAT JESUS TOLD HER EVERYTHING SHE EVER DID, MIGHT THAT HAVE BEEN IN A STRICT, DEMEANING TONE, PILING ON THE GUILT, OR ….. MIGHT JESUS HAVE EXPLAINED THE DEEPER REASONS WHY SHE HAD DONE THE THINGS SHE DID, WHY HER LIFE TURNED OUT THE WAY IT DID?
MIGHT HE HAVE TALKED TO HER IN SUCH GENTLE, ENCOURAGING, PERSONAL AND UNDERSTANDING TONES THAT SHE COULDN’T HELP BUT FEEL GUILT LEAVING HER AND HOPE COMING TO HER?
Can you imagine having such a one-on-one with Jesus?
We ask that you keep this simple story at the front of your mind during this Comfort.Guide study. It will help us focus on our two goals: knowing Jesus personally, and, beginning to know ourselves on a deeper level and searching out any blocks to walking with Jesus in a closer way.
Click HERE to return to "Week 1 Outline".
This woman had severe losses of her core human needs, which Jesus focused in on. Many of us also have experiences some losses of our own core human needs. We can become aware and make that very personal through the use of the next worksheet! Click HERE for the next page: "Seeing Our Early Losses Clearly". As a reminder, core human needs are discussed in the "What You Need to Know" section; see the tab on top of this page.