Reflection Guide

Key Terms

This mountain/Jerusalem – This mountain refers to Mount Gerizim, on which the Samaritans built their own temple. Jews, on the other hand, believe that true worship must take place at the temple in Jerusalem.

Spirit and truth – The exact meaning of this phrase is uncertain but Jesus is clearly using it to announce that a new age of worship has come—not centered in Jerusalem or on Mount Gerizim. Spirit is probably best understood as referring to the supernatural life human beings experience that goes beyond the physical—and is empowered by the Holy Spirit—while truth refers to what is observably true about God and his creation— most clearly displayed in Jesus.

Synopsis

After Jesus reveals to the Samaritan woman that he supernaturally knows things about her life he could never know through purely human means, she says, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet (v. 19) . Because Samaritans only considered the Torah to be Scripture, it’s possible the woman means that Jesus is the prophet from Deuteronomy 34:10 who was to come. After this statement, the woman raises a theological question about the proper location to worship (v. 20), and Jesus responds by saying that the hour is coming when proper worship won’t take place in Jerusalem or on Mt. Gerizim. Jesus suggests that at the current time, the Jews are correct in worshipping in Jerusalem (v. 22), but his primary concern is that a new age of worship is dawning (v. 23). According to Jesus, this new age of worship will not be characterized by the location of the temple, but by spirit and truth. Jesus backs up his statement by saying that God is spirit—and thus traveling to a physical place isn’t required to worship him—and he repeats that true worship involves both spirit and truth (v. 24). The woman then acknowledges that she is aware that the Messiah is coming and when he comes a new age of worship will come with him (v. 26). Jesus responds and says, I who speak to you am he (v. 26). At this point, Jesus’ disciples return and although they are surprised to see him speaking with a Samaritan woman, they do not publicly question him (v. 27). The woman, for her part, leaves the well and returns to town where she announces, Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? (v. 29), resulting in many leaving town and coming to him (v. 30).

Did You Know?

Samaritan tradition held that the original copy of the Torah (Gen through Deut) was buried on Mt. Gerizim, and that only those five books of the OT were Scripture. The references to Mt. Gerizim in the Torah (e.g. Gen 12:6-7 & Deut 11:29-30) reinforced their idea that Mt. Gerizim was the proper place to worship God.

Going Deeper

Read Romans 12. How does Paul’s vision of worship help provide clarity to Jesus’ teaching on worship from John 4:19-30? Do you naturally view your life as a worship offering to God? Why or why not? What aspect of the Christian life that Paul describes in Romans 12 is most challenging to you? What is most encouraging?

Reflection Questions

Learning the Word

1. Read John 4:16-30. Make 5-7 quick observations. What seems important? What seems surprising?
2. How would you describe this woman’s progression of thought as we see it develop throughout John 4 (vs 9, vs 12, vs 19, vs 25, vs 29)?
3. In verses 21-24, Jesus explains a remarkable shift that is taking place (“the hour is coming, and is now here” vs 23) through his coming to earth to bring salvation to people. How does Jesus change the game dramatically for us?
4. What do you think Jesus means when he says, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth”?

Living the Word

5. Writer and professor David Foster Wallace (a non-Christian) once said, “In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing…as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” What was he getting at? What are some implications of this?
6. If worship is recognizing, honoring, and responding to the worth of someone or something of superior value, how do we grow our worship of God?
7. Is it encouraging to know that “the Father is seeking such people to worship him”? How does this inspire you to embrace a bigger picture of what it means to live a life of worship to God?

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