John 4

1
John 4

• Images of New Salvation
• Living Water" and "New Life"

2
Broad Outline of Fourth Gospel

• Ch. 1 Introduction Prologue and Witness of John
• Ch. 2-12 Jesus Before the World ("Book of Signs")
• Theme Through signs and discourses, Jesus
  reveals himself as the Son of God, sent to save
  the world, but is rejected by the world.
• Ch. 2-4 Images of New Salvation
• Ch. 2 "New Joy" and "New Worship"
• Ch. 3 "New Birth" and "New Master"
• Ch. 4 "Living Water" and "New Life"
• Ch. 5-10 Growing hostility
• Ch. 11-12 Final rejection
• Ch. 13-20 Jesus Before the Disciples ("Book of
  Passion/Glory")
• Ch. 21 Appendix Appearance in Galilee

3
Jesus and the Samaritans (41-42)Images of New
Salvation Living Water

• Setting (v.1-6) Pharisees notice Jesus
  movement is growing more than Johns Jesus
  returns to Galilee passes through Samaria sits
  down at Jacobs well near Sychar (near ancient
  Shechem).
• Samaritans
• Remnants of northern Israelites, living between
  Judea and Galilee.
• Form of OT religion temple on Mt. Gerizim (near
  Shechem).
• Expected coming of the Taheb as prophet like
  Moses.
• Despised by Jews as racially impure, religiously
  apostate.
• Opposed rebuilding of Jerusalem temple after
  Exile.
• Maccabees destroyed Samaritan temple in 128 BC.
• Samaritans desecrated Jewish temple with bones.
• Jesus presence in Samaria is intentional.
• Didnt literally have to go through Samaria
  many went around.
• Overcomes ethnic, religious, and sexual prejudice.

4
Jesus and the Samaritans (41-42)Images of New
Salvation Living Water

• Jacobs well
• Not mentioned in OT, but Jacob settled/was buried
  at ancient Shechem (near the Samaritan village
  here called Sychar).
• Usually identified with a deep well (100 ft.)
  near Sychar/Shechem (modern Nablus) clear, cool
  water.
• Story plays on two words for well
• Pege (v. 6, 14) spring fountain well fed by
  underground spring became symbol of spiritual
  life/eschatological salvation (Ps. 369 Prov.
  1314 Joel 318 Ezek. 471-12 Rev. 216
  221).
• Phrear (v. 11) cistern pit reservoir carved
  into stone for collecting/storing surface water
  inferior quality.
• Jer. 213 makes same distinction My people have
  committed two evils they have forsaken me, the
  fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns
  for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no
  water.
• About noon, Jesus sits by well (pege) as
  disciples go to buy food.

5
Jesus and the Samaritans (41-42)Images of New
Salvation Living Water

• Samaritan woman and Living Water (v. 7-15)
• Request for drink startles her violates taboos
  (v. 7-9).
• Offer of living water baffles her double
  meaning (v. 10)
• Literal flowing water (cf. Didache 7
  specifies living water for baptism).
• Metaphorical symbol of eternal life (cf.
  737-39living water symbolizes baptism and
  gift of Spirit).
• Leads to misunderstanding (cf. Nicodemus) (v.
  11-12).
• No bucket and well (phrear) is deep thinks of
  literal water.
• Is Jesus greater than Jacob (Israel) who dug the
  well?
• Sees Jesus as mere supplier of physical needs
  (cf. 626).
• Clarification not literal water (which quenches
  momentarily) but spiritual water, a perpetual
  fountain of eternal life (v.13-15).
• A spring (pege) of water gushing up to eternal
  life.
• Imagery symbolizes baptism and gift of Spirit
  (cf. 737-39), resulting in eternal life and
  eschatological salvation.
• Woman is satisfied with cistern (phrear) of
  standing water (v. 11) Jesus wants to give a
  fountain (pege) of eternal life (v. 14).
• Why Settle for a Cistern When God Wants to Give
  Us a Gusher?
• Response still wants literal water, doesnt
  see (v. 15).

6
Jesus and the Samaritans (41-42)Images of New
Salvation Living Water

• 3. Samaritan woman and true worship (v. 16-26)
• Jesus asks about womans husband (v. 16-18).
• Reveals divine knowledge of her life five
  husbands.
• Is she presented as immoral or as a victim?
• Woman calls him a prophet, asks about ancient
  dispute over proper place of worship Jerusalem
  or Mt. Gerizim (v. 19-20).
• Jesus announces arrival of spiritual worship
  not bound to place or temple cult (v. 21-24).
• The hour has arrived (realized eschatology)
  when worship is no longer bound to Jerusalem
  temple Jews no longer have advantage.
• New Age of Spirit all have access to God
  through Spirit.
• Worship is now outside the box.
• Qumran Spirit of Truth instructs in Torah,
  purifies community to become Temple of God.
• John Spirit enables community to function as
  Temple, but no thought of Torah or purification.
• Womans objection and Jesus response (v. 25-26).
• Woman Messiah will settle it when he comes
  (future eschatology).
• Jesus I am (he) realized eschatology first
  absolute I am.

7
Jesus and the Samaritans (41-42)Images of New
Salvation Living Water

• Conversion of the Samaritans (v. 27-42).
• Woman announces Messiah to her city (v. 27-30).
• Disciples return, startled that Jesus is talking
  with woman.
• Woman leaves jar at well, returns to her city.
• Announces possibility that she has found the
  Messiah.
• Conversation between Jesus and disciples (v.
  31-38).
• Disciples return with food for Jesus.
• Jesus My food is to do the will of him who sent
  me.
• Challenge to take up task of harvesting
  mission of gathering believers.
• Samaritans arrive and believe in Jesus (v.
  39-42).
• Some believed because of womans testimony about
  Jesus supernatural knowledge.
• More believed because of Jesus word
  exemplify mature faith, not dependent on signs.
• Jesus is Savior of the world (cf. 1 Jn. 414)
  universalism.

8
Second Sign Healing an Officials Son
(443-54)Images of New Salvation New Life

• Similar to healing centurions servant (Mt.
  85-13 Lk. 71-10).
• Both live in Capernaum receive healing from a
  distance.
• Centurion is Gentile Johns royal official may
  be also.
• Simple request for healing receives sharp rebuke
  (v. 47-48).
• Unless you see signs and wonders you will not
  believe.
• Evangelist is critical of faith dependent on
  signs (cf. 223-25 2029).
• Official persists and believes Jesus word (v.
  49-50).
• Jesus assures that the boy will live cures from
  a distance.
• Key point Official believes Jesus word before
  he sees the miracle another example of mature
  faith, not dependent on signs.
• Back home, he finds the son recovered (v. 51-53).
• New life comes to those who believe in Jesus.
• Miracle does not create but confirms faith
  believes first, then sees sign.
• Officials believing along with his whole
  household reflects language of Christian mission
  (cf. Acts 1114 1631 188 etc.).
• Conclusion (v. 54).
• Story is numbered as second sign in spite of
  intervening references.
• Official may complete sequence Jews Samaritans
  Gentiles.

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10
Symbolic Use of Fountain/Spring

• Ps. 367-9 How precious is your steadfast love,
  O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow
  of your wings. They feast on the abundance of
  your house, and you give them drink from the
  river of your delights. For with you is the
  fountain of life in your light we see light.
• Prov. 1314 The teaching of the wise is a
  fountain of life, so that one may avoid the
  snares of death.
• Joel 318 In that day the mountains shall drip
  sweet wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and
  all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with
  water a fountain shall come forth from the house
  of the LORD and water the Wadi Shittim.
• Ezek. 471-12 (Depicts life-giving stream flowing
  from beneath restored temple.)
• Rev. 216 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am
  the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the
  end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift
  from the spring of the water of life.
• Rev. 221-2 Then the angel showed me the river of
  the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing
  from the throne of God and of the Lamb through
  the middle of the street of the city. On either
  side of the river is the tree of life and the
  leaves of the tree are for the healing of the
  nations.