John 4:7-26 – Part 2

Last week, we looked at the first half of the Woman at the Well story, and this week we will finish it! Please open your Bible to John 4:7-26 and read it before continuing. For an even deeper study, open your copy of Take Every Passage to Prayer Vol.2, The Gospels by Charles Wagner to page 117.

We learned last week that Jesus is offering the woman some “living water,” which is a metaphor for salvation. This is especially important because the culture in which Jesus lived would have been shocked that a Jew was talking to a Samaritan, much less offering the Samaritan help. We drop into our story at verse 16, where Jesus asks the Samaritan woman to call her husband.  The passage tells us that Jesus already knew the answer to this question, and still wanted to give the woman some of the “living water.” However, Jesus’ question is accusative, putting the woman on defense. The feeling of condemnation is paralyzing to the soul. This may be a product of our own pride, assuring ourselves that we could not possibly be in the wrong. It is quite natural for us to justify our own evil in front of any authority, especially an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent authority. In fact, the original sin found in Genesis 3 was followed by Adam blaming Eve, and Eve blaming the serpent. In the same light, when Jesus addresses the Samaritan woman, she responds curtly by testing Him with a question, shifting blame and attention onto Jesus. However, Jesus continues to show the woman love by truthfully answering her snarky, rhetorical question. 

Jesus tells the woman that the New Covenant requires a different type of worship from humans. The New Covenant is a term used by scholars to describe the fulfillment of Old Testament law through the Christ event. Although the text does not use this word, the idea of a new kingdom which is established on the bank of the “living water” is clearly illustrated here. The Message translation of this passage supports the reference to the New Covenant, saying, “the time is comingーit has, in fact, comeーwhen what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter” (John 4:22 MSG). The woman’s forefathers used to worship on the mountain in Samaria, the Jews worship in the temple in Jerusalem, but followers of Christ are not bound by physical places of worship. Followers of Christ are given a gift, through the Jewish line of Judah, to worship wherever and whenever. 

When I think of the word ‘worship,’ I think of standing in a pew, watching a band play music, and if I’m feeling especially energetic, maybe raising my hands. In the Ancient Near-East, worship looked like going to the Tabernacle or temple and engaging in a process of cleansing, sacrifice, and tithing. Jesus is highlighting how the act of worship is shifting. Modern readers have the benefit of knowing the rest of the story, specifically the crucifixion and the descent of the Holy Spirit. You may have heard that Jesus acts as our “sacrificial lamb” who places sin upon himself in order to carry it away from humanity. Therefore, the Christ event means that our worship fundamentally changes! We are no longer concerned with the reconciliation of sin, so our worship shifts to adoration of the One who reconciled it.

You may be saying to yourself, “Well, Belle, what in the world does worship look like then?” Swiss theologian Karl Barth espouses that worship is to ingest and live out the Word of God. Modern Christian worship can take many forms, but it is essentially a command to listen and do. Listen to the truth and wisdom gracefully wrapped up in our modern Bibles and implement it into your life. Practical examples of this are seeking Christian fellowship (1 Cor. 1:9; Matt. 18:20), singing and playing worship music (Psalm 95:1; Col. 3:16), taking care of your body (1 Cor. 6:19-20), protecting the vulnerable (James 1:27), praying without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:16-18), and studying the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17). I invite you to pray this prayer with me, and ask the Lord to reveal ways that you can practically worship this month.

Father,  I come before Your throne in complete and utter submission. Just like the woman at the well, You alone know my heart completely. You know all the ways I have rejected You, yet You still meet me where I am, and offer me a chance at redemption. Lord, I accept this invitation to drink from the everlasting, living water. As the flowing river washes away silt and sand, let your Word purify my soul, washing away anything that is not of You. Let my worship be a sign of my devotion to you. Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice, and help me to listen and do your Word. Please reveal to me ways that I can worship you in my daily life and reflect your Son’s love to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.