The Gospel of John - Outline Part 8 - The Master Teacher

TITLE

John 4:1-26 – The Master Teacher

EXPLANATION

Chapter 4 opens with an account of Jesus’s travels through Samaria on His way from Judea to Galilee.  His reason for taking this journey is in itself worthy of consideration.  Jesus knew that the Pharisees were becoming uncomfortable with His popularity.  He knew very well that His ministry threatened their power and authority.  1^st century Judaism was predicated upon tradition and legalism.  Jesus spared no expense in exposing such practices as the false doctrine they were.  So, He knew that it was only a matter of time before things between the Jewish religious establishment and Himself came to an explosive political head.  And, here is the point.  Christ knew that it was not yet time for that confrontation.  He knew that His hour to be “lifted up” on the cross was still in the future.  And, the Lord Jesus was so committed to the will of His Father, that He was quite prepared to jettison any plans He may have had in favor of the accomplishment of His Father’s will.  And so, we find Him traveling to Samaria.

Upon reaching Sychar, Jesus decided to take a break and rest.  Undoubtedly, His human nature experienced weariness just as we do.  So, while His disciples went into the town to purchase food, Jesus rested at Jacob’s well.  And it was here that He had another profound conversation, this time with a Samaritan woman.  Again, just as with Nicodemus, Jesus saw right through to the heart of His conversation partner.  He knew very well what the woman’s real need was; salvation.  So, Jesus went right to the crux of the matter and broached the issue of eternal life.  However, the manner in which He did it was pure teaching genius.  Seemingly on the spur of the moment, Jesus took the elements that were present in the environment, namely water and a well, and He used them as a masterwork of metaphorical illustration.

This gives us the famous biblical image of living water.  That is, just as normal water gives life to a physical body, so the living water that Jesus revealed here gives life to the spirit of a person.  The Samaritan woman was just as confused as Nicodemus was over new birth.  So, she attempted to sidestep the issue.  But, Jesus was having none of that.  He saw through her attempts at misdirection and He pressed her until she had no choice but to acknowledge His authority and truthfulness.

APPLICATION

This passage stands as perhaps one of the greatest lessons ever taught.  It is loaded with doctrinal truth, that could easily be focused on as points of application.  Yet, it is also a brilliant model of how to teach biblical truth to others.  Thus, because all Christians are called, in some sense, to be teachers of the Bible, Jesus’s example serves as a blueprint of how to do it and do it well.