{"id":980,"date":"2014-11-26T18:42:42","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T18:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=980"},"modified":"2014-11-26T18:42:42","modified_gmt":"2014-11-26T18:42:42","slug":"defining-discipleship-discipleship-in-john-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2014\/11\/26\/defining-discipleship-discipleship-in-john-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Defining Discipleship: Discipleship in John 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"discipleship<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today I want to continue our discussion of what a disciple of Jesus looks like<\/a> with particular attention given to John\u2019s portrayal of it. Last time we discussed John 3<\/a> and what Jesus\u2019 interaction with Nicodemus contributes to our understanding of discipleship. Now I want us to focus on the narrative of Jesus and the woman at the well recorded for us in John 4:1-42.<\/p>\n

John 4 contains a rather curious phrase, \u201cNow he [Jesus] had to go through Samaria\u201d (4:4). Jewish persons took one of two routes of travel between Judea in the south to Galilee in the north (cf. 4:3). They would either go around Samaria or they would travel through it. If this was the case, why does John say Jesus \u201chad to go through Samaria\u201d? This may be an instance of what scholars call \u201cdivine necessity.\u201d It simply means that the Father who sent Jesus compelled him to go to Samaria as part of his mission (Morris, The Gospel According to John<\/em>, 226), a mission to save sinful humanity.<\/p>\n

Jesus arrived in the Samaritan town of Sychar around noon (4:6). About that time a \u201cSamaritan woman came to draw water\u201d (4:7). This was strange indeed. This woman came at one of the hottest times of day to draw water, and she did so alone. We\u2019ll see why soon enough. It\u2019s helpful to point out that Jesus meets this woman around noon. Just as John\u2019s pointing out that Jesus\u2019 conversation with Nicodemus occurred at \u201cnight\u201d was for the purpose of illustrating Nicodemus\u2019 moral and spiritual darkness, his mentioning of noon appears to foreshadow the Samaritan woman\u2019s positive response to Jesus\u2019 offer of himself.<\/p>\n

Jesus initiates contact with the woman by asking her for a drink of water (4:7). This request shocked her, as it would have John\u2019s audience (4:9). The Jewish people and the Samaritans, although neighbors with a common history were quiet antagonistic toward one another. It would appear that the root of the hostilities between Jewish persons and Samaritans rested upon the Samaritans\u2019 refusal to join the Jews in their revolt against Antiochus Epiphanies (166-163 B.C.; see the non-canonical book 1 Maccabees<\/em>), and the Jews\u2019 subsequent capture of the Samaritans\u2019 capital and destruction of their temple (128 B.C.).<\/p>\n

Jesus deftly uses the imagery of water to teach this woman greater truths about himself. Jesus, who is greater than Jacob (cf. 4:12), is able to give \u201cliving water\u201d that will quench all thirst and \u201cbecome \u2026 a spring of water welling up to eternal life\u201d (4:10, 13-14; cf. Jeremiah 2:13; Revelation 21:1, 6). Living water is a metaphor for eternal life \u201cmediated by the Spirit\u201d that Jesus offers to all who follow him (Carson, The Gospel According to John<\/em>, 219).<\/p>\n

The woman, who misunderstands the living water Jesus is referring to, asks him to give her some of that water \u201cso that I won\u2019t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water\u201d (John 4:19). It is then revealed to the reader why she did not want to continue to draw water alone day after day. She had been ostracized from her community. It appears she had been married and divorced five times, and the man she was currently living with was not her husband (4:17-18). She was for all extensive purposes alone in the world.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 revelation of the woman\u2019s past and current living arrangement led her to perceive that Jesus must have been some sort of prophet, since he being a stranger couldn\u2019t have known about her otherwise (4:19). After explaining to her some truths regarding genuine worship (4:20-24), the woman declares, \u201cI know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us\u201d (4:25). The Samaritans were looking for a teaching Messiah, to whom they referred as the Taheb<\/em> (K\u00f6stenberger, John<\/em>, 158). This stands in contrast to the Jews, who hoped for a royal Messiah who would conquer their oppressors. The Samaritans were apparently awaiting one to fulfill Deuteronomy 18:18, \u201cI [the Lord] will raise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything<\/em> I command him\u201d (emphasis added). Jesus\u2019 reply says it all: \u201cI, the one speaking to you\u2014I am he\u201d (4:26).<\/p>\n

Hearing this, the woman leaves Jesus and her unfilled water jar behind to tell everyone back in town about the \u201cman who told me everything I ever did.\u201d (4:29). At once, the town\u2019s people came out to see Jesus for themselves (4:30). As a crowd was approaching, Jesus begins a conversation with his disciples about doing the work of God the Father. This work included not only Jesus\u2019 own mission (4:34), but also the disciples mission to harvest a crop they had not sowed \u201cfor eternal life\u201d (4:36). The reward for this work was not only seeing people enter God\u2019s kingdom, but also the joy experienced by those who had labored (4:36).<\/p>\n

The narrative draws to a close with many Samaritan\u2019s trusting Jesus as their Savior (cf. 4:42) because of the woman\u2019s testimony (4:39). Upon the urging of the Samaritan\u2019s, Jesus remained with them for two more days, during which Jesus continued to teach them (4:41). This led to even more believing Jesus was truly the \u201cSavior of the world\u201d (4:42).<\/p>\n

What does John 4:1-42 contribute to our understanding of discipleship? First, we are reminded that those who become Jesus\u2019 disciples are called of God. Jesus was led to travel through Samaria and stop at Jacob\u2019s well (4:4). It was also Jesus who initiated a conversation with the woman at the well, a conversation that she certainly had no intentions of starting, given the hostility between Jews and Samaritans (4:9). God through his Spirit is still calling people to enter into a relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ. Second, the call of God to sinners is one that exposes their sin. Jesus speaks prophetically to the woman about her sinful lifestyle (4:17-18) not to condemn her, but to lead her to repentance. Third, we find once again, those who believe in Jesus bear witness to him (4:39, 42). Fourth, Jesus\u2019 disciples are those who bear much fruit (cf. 15:8). This may be implied from Jesus\u2019 use of agricultural terminology with reference to the ministry of his disciples (4:35-38). Rescued souls are the fruit they will bear in ministry for Christ. Fifth, we see that the ministry of Jesus\u2019 disciples are to result in joy (4:36). Sixth, Jesus\u2019 disciples are those who believe in him, that is, trust him as their only Savior (4:39, 41-42). Seventh, we also find evidence of abiding with Jesus. In verse 40 we read that the Samaritans compelled Jesus to \u201cstay\u201d with them, which he did. The term \u201cstay\u201d is the Greek verb men\u014d<\/em>, which was used in 1:39 of Jesus\u2019 first disciples staying with him. It is the same term used in John 15 to affirm a disciple\u2019s vital union with Jesus. Eighth, it isn\u2019t enough for potential disciples to merely hear about Jesus, they must also hear his words (4:41-42). The place of Scripture in the life of the disciple is paramount. Ninth, and finally, we see that Jesus does not limit his discipleship to men or Jewish persons only. Here a woman from Samaria trusts Christ for salvation and follows him. This is truly fitting given the commission of the Lord to his disciples prior to his ascension, \u201cTherefore go and make disciples of all nations<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 28:19, emphasis added).<\/p>\n

What other characteristics of discipleship do you find in John 4:1-42?<\/p>\n

\"Keith<\/a><\/p>\n

Keith Marriner joined LifeSprings in 2009 and serves as executive editor of all IPHC Sunday school curriculum. Prior to that he served at Emmanuel College in a variety of roles, including admissions counselor and adjunct professor in the School of Christian Ministries. He received a B.A. in Christian ministries from Emmanuel College and an M.Div. and a Th.M. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Keith resides in Franklin Springs, GA with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters, Cora and Eleanor. <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,15,33,37],"tags":[163,185,182,186],"class_list":{"0":"post-980","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-discipleship-ministries","7":"category-mens-ministries","8":"category-small-groups","9":"category-womens-ministries","10":"tag-defining-discipleship","11":"tag-john-4","12":"tag-keith-marriner","13":"tag-woman-at-the-well","14":"entry"},"title_es":"","content_es":"","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-fO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/980\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}