Day 1

Understand their story

Read John 4:1-42 to get the full passage, then read verses 1 to 30 again.

 

  • Where does verse 5 say Jesus has traveled to?
  • What do verses 7 through 9 say about who Jesus was speaking with and whether this was socially normative?
  • In verses 11 to 15, Jesus speaks of “living water”. Does the woman seem to understand what Jesus is speaking of at this time?
  • In verses 25 to 26, who does Jesus tell the woman He is? What does verse 29 show about her response?

 

Pray today in adoration of and thanksgiving for the God who knows our needs and provides for them, today, tomorrow, and forever.

Day 2

Understand their story

Read John 4:1-42 again, focusing today on verses 31 to 42.

 

  • In verses 31 to 34, Jesus speaks to His disciples about food. Do they seem to understand what He is speaking of?
  • How does Jesus describe His food in verse 34? Food is meant primarily to sustain us. What sustains Jesus?
  • Verses 39 to 42 show the response of the Samaritans to Jesus. Note from this passage who was responsible for bringing Jesus to their attention and Who was ultimately responsible for their belief.

 

If you are a Christian, reflect today on how you came to hear about Jesus and how you ultimately came to believe in Him, and pray in thanksgiving for His saving grace. If you are not yet a Christian, think about what is keeping you from believing and ask a mature Christian that you know to pray for you!

Day 3

Connect to His story

Read John 4:1-15 again. We will look further at the “living water” discussed in these passages.

 

  • Read Jeremiah 2:12-13 and Jeremiah 17:13. Who is described as the provider of living water in these verses?
  • What is Jesus saying when He says He can provide “living water”?
  • Read the description of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21:1-7. What are the thirsty offered in verse 6? What do they have to do to get it?
  • Reflect upon the truths you’ve learned about living water. Without water we cannot survive. But the water that Jesus offers means that we will never be thirsty again!

 

Pray today in confession of the times that you have put your desire for “earthly things” ahead of your thirst for spiritual things. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the truth that Jesus’ living water is more valuable than anything on earth!

Day 4

Connect to His story

Read John 4:16-42 again, focusing specifically on verses 39 to 42.

 

  • Verse 41 says that many more Samaritans believed Jesus because of His word. How does Jesus’ word go forth in the world beyond His earthly ministry?
  • Read John 16:12-14. Who guides us in all the truth?
  • Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Who has given us (“breathed out”) the Scriptures?
  • Read Romans 10:13-15. How do we hear the truths of the Scriptures?
  • Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. What do we learn from the Scriptures?
  • Jesus wants His word to continue to go out to the nations – that’s why He has given us His Spirit, and why we have the Scriptures – to make much of Him and soften hearts to be open to His promise of eternal life.

 

Pray today in supplication for the Spirit to fan into flame within you a desire to read, study, and understand God’s word, so that you may come to know, or know more assuredly, that Jesus is the Saviour of the world!

Day 5

Apply to our story

Verses 16 to 29 almost seem like Jesus is changing the subject of the conversation from His living water to the Samaritan woman’s sin. But He is actually showing us how we need to understand the bitterness of our own sin and how we fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Note that it is only after this conversation that the woman begins to understand that Jesus is the promised Messiah and that His living water is our only hope for eternal life.

 

  • Reflect on your life. Is there sin in your past that you have not confessed before God?
  • Ask yourself what is stopping you from bringing that sin to Him. Just as with the woman in this passage, God knows all that you have ever done. You cannot hide from Him. So turn to Him, confess your sin, and rejoice in the freedom of His grace!

 

Romans 8:1 says “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you are in Him, give thanks for his rivers of abundant grace! If you have not yet confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that He is Lord, recognize that in doing so, He takes your guilt and shame and bears it Himself. We invite you to receive this wonderful truth!