How Jesus Treated Sinners, Continued

How Jesus Treated Sinners...Continued

Based on our discussion last week, this appears to be a very relevant subject!  We only managed to discuss one out of the three scenarios we had planned..."the Samaritan woman at the well" and we had lots of discussion!  So today we will be discussing "the woman who anointed Jesus' feet".  I will attempt to post the lesson from last week here.  "Attempt" is the operative word.  

Blessings on you all - Chuck & Mimi

"Christ in you, the hope (expectation of good) 

of glory" (God's view and opinion...of YOU)  Colossians 1:27

 

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

John 4:1-43

In the first century, in Jewish culture [and many other cultures-if not all] women were usually treated as second class citizens with few of the rights men had.  Jesus crossed those barriers.  Jesus treated all people with equal respect.  [As a non-Jew, Luke possibly was more sensitive to other “outsiders” and he records five events involving women that are not mentioned in the other Gospels.]

BACKGROUND:  Read John 4:1-6

The story of the Samaritan woman meeting Jesus, around noon, at a well, which Jacob had given₁ his son Joseph, is only recorded in the Gospel of John.  Jesus’ choice to take a shortcut to Galilee through Samaria₃ reveals a mindset very different from his Jewish culture.  Samaritans were a hated “mixed” race of Jews₄ who had intermarried with the Assyrians when the northern kingdom of Israel had been captured.  The pure Jews felt the Samaritans had betrayed their people and the nation. _{[Bridge Over River Kwai -principle vs. expediency?]} The Samaritans had set up an alternate center for worship on Mt Gerizim₅ to parallel the temple at Jerusalem, but it had been destroyed 150 years earlier.  5[Mt. Gerizim: _{Joshua after crossing Jordan separated the people at the foot of two mountains: Gerizim “Mt. of Blessing” and Ebal-“Mt of Cursing” ... revealing keepers of law & breakers of law.]}

Note: Why did Jesus leave Judea? _{[We will revisit with “how Jesus treated the Religious.”]} 

RELEVANCE for TODAY: Read John 4:7-9

Meeting a ⁶Samaritan ⁷woman no less, and a⁸known sinner ⁹in a public place…what was Jesus thinking?  No respectable Jewish man would talk to such a woman under such circumstances. 

What are our parallels today? __________

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL:   Read John 4:10-26

• Discuss  “Living water” – God is called Fountain of Life _{Psalm 36:9} and the Spring of Living Water _Jer.17:13.

•   Jesus was revealing his identity as Messiah in a gentle way.  How can we be gentle?__________

•   Comparing spiritual functions with physical functions make concepts natural.  How can we use this technique?__________

•   It takes time to understand something that changes the very foundations of your life. Jesus allowed the woman time to _ask_  _questions_ and to put the pieces_ together for herself. What does this require from us?__________

•   When the woman discovered that Jesus knew all about her private life she _changed the  subject.  Why do you think?__________

•   What did Jesus do?  Location vs. attitude.  Jesus brought things back to the heart – _her  deepest   need. How can we do this?_______________

IMPACT of PEER PRESSURE: Read John 4:27-34

•   Surprise … how do you react when surprised?_________

•   What was the “food” Jesus was referring to? _More than Bible study, prayer, and attending church, spiritual nourishment also comes from following God’s leading, helping to bring his work of salvation  to completion. 

•  Nourishment comes by food we take in and also by what we give out!  Science has proven this also. What does this mean to you?_______

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS:  Read John 4:35-43 

•    Do we still “finish God’s work”? _{[John 17:4]} _________

•   How do we participate in Jesus’ work?__________

•  What are some of the pitfalls we face in sharing the Good News ‘wherever’? ______

 Sooooo much more here to discuss!!!