Hope For The Woman At The Well | John 4:1-30, 39-42

So, I became a plant mom recently. My husband and I adopted a plant named him Frodo, because we are huge Lord of the Rings fans. And for the first time in my life, I’ve kept this plant alive. And one of the things that brings me so much joy, like a ridiculous amount of joy, is when Frodo gets a little dry and I water him, and he soaks it up and he just thrives. He loves it. I feel like the human heart without hope shrivels up. But God is so generous. He’s the God of hope, and we can fill up and thrive in him. We just have to open our hands and our arms to receive it.

Find out more as we jump into John 4!

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Transcription:

So, I became a plant mom recently. My husband and I adopted a plant named him Frodo, because we are huge Lord of the Rings fans. And for the first time in my life, I’ve kept this plant alive. And one of the things that brings me so much joy, like a ridiculous amount of joy, is when Frodo gets a little dry and I water him, and he soaks it up and he just thrives. He loves it. I feel like the human heart without hope Shrivels up. But God is so generous. He’s the god of hope, and we can fill up and thrive in him. We just have to open our hands and our arms to receive it.

Hi, I’m Erica. This is the Bible for Busy People and we are studying hope, looking for it in the Bible today. And if you are hungry and thirsty for hope today, like my little Frodo sometimes, get ready cuz we’re gonna find hope today as we meet the woman at the well. Join me in John chapter four, beginning in verse 1.

Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John, though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them, his disciples did. So, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way,

And I believe he did that on purpose.

Eventually, he came to the Samaritan Village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob’s well was there and Jesus, tired from the Long Walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus said to her, please, give me a drink. He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised for jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritan. She said to Jesus, you are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink? Jesus replied, if you only knew the gift God has for you, and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.

I almost see a little smile on Jesus’s face as he says those words.

But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket, she said, and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water.

He’s got her curiosity now.

And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this? Well, how can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed? Jesus replied, anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give, will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. Please, sir, the woman said, give me this water, then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.

This woman had a very thirsty heart.

Go and get your husband. Jesus told her, I don’t have a husband, the woman replied. Jesus said, you are right. You don’t have a husband for, you have had five husbands and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth. Sir, the woman said, you must be a prophet. So, tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped. Jesus replied, believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the father on this mountain or in Jerusalem, you Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him. For salvation comes through the Jews, but the time is coming indeed. It’s here now, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him That way, for God is spirit. So, those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman said, I know the Messiah is coming, the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.

I believe Jesus heard the hope in her words.

Then Jesus told her, I am the Messiah. Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, what do you want with her? Or why are you talking to her? The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village telling everyone, come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could he possibly be the Messiah?

Can you hear the hope in those words?

So, the people came streaming from the village to see him. Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, rabbi, eat something. but Jesus replied, I have a kind of food, you know nothing about.

Isn’t that so sweet?

He was filled himself; I believe. I hope I’m no theologian, but I, but I believe so.

We’re gonna skip down to verse 39 now, for the sake of time.

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, he told me everything I ever did. When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So, he stayed for two days. Long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, now, we believe not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the savior of the world.

Come meet a man who told me everything I ever did, who gave me the dignity of having a conversation with me. Who trusted me with the information that he was indeed the Messiah. You and I just got to witness a woman who went from utter hopelessness, who visited the well in the heat of the day, so she didn’t have to be around other women and be taunted or be ignore. She encountered the Messiah. Jesus gave her the gift of hope and he holds it out to you today too. There is hope for the woman at the well, and there is hope for you and me. He comes to sit and talk with us in the middle of whatever is hurting us. Until next time, know, you are really loved.

Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.

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