John 4: Do you REALLY Believe?

The fourth chapter of John recounts two stories highlighting what belief in Jesus looks like.

Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Galilee and the most direct route was to go through Samaria. This area was originally part of Israel, but around 931 BC, the northern part of the country separated itself politically from the rulers in Jerusalem. The Samaritan leaders didn’t want their people going to Jerusalem, so they built a temple and began worshiping in Samaria.

So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from His journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour (noon). A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (John 4:5-8 ESV)

By the time Jesus appeared, Samaria was not considered part of Israel, though they still claimed to be descendants of Jacob who was referred to as Israel.

And he said, “Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28 AKJV)

The descendants of Jacob would establish a nation and call it Israel until after the death of King Solomon. At this time the country was divided into Judea in the south and Samaria in the north. Knowing that both areas are technically Israel helps us understand the upcoming narrative.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you Living Water.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”(John 4:10-15 ESV)

Jesus speaks to the woman at the well about the Holy Spirit who is referred to as the Living Water. In Israel, a stream was referred to as “living water.” This is where baptisms took place if at all possible. This was a foreshadow of the baptism of the Holy Spirit who is the Living Water from God. The Samaritan woman assumes Jesus is speaking about a stream of water, even after Jesus tells her that this living water will bring eternal life. Because of the lack of understanding, the Lord shifts the discussion into a new direction:

Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

The woman answered Him, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” (John 4:16-19 ESV)

I love to see the cleverness of Jesus. He asks a question to get her to state a fact. Using her statement about not having a husband, Jesus reveals the truth behind her statement and, wallah, a breakthrough at last! The woman finally realizes that there is something special about the man she is talking to. It is beautiful to see Jesus's lack of condemnation; he reveals the truth, but in a matter-of-fact way.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17 AKJV)

Jesus didn’t criticize the woman for living with a man outside of marriage. He revealed the truth in love. This allowed her heart to remain open to what He would say next!

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but You say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:20-22 ESV)

The Samaritans no longer considered themselves Jewish because the word stems from those who come from the tribe of Judah. Southern Israel was called Judah. Jesus was born from the tribe of Judah. Even though she was not a Jew, she was part of Israel, which is why Jesus could make Himself known to her:

But he answered and said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24 KJV)

You don’t get much more lost than no longer worshiping at the Temple in Jerusalem and no longer considering yourself a Jew! Because she was a descendant of Israel (Jacob), Jesus could continue ministering to her. Let’s see what He had to say:

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:23-26 ESV)

Though this woman didn’t claim to be a Jew, she still expected the Messiah to come! This was the first record of Jesus openly claiming that He was the Messiah. Really, He had no other choice: He is Truth. When she claimed she was waiting for the Messiah, the Truth was revealed.

Could this be a foreshadowing of what will happen in the return of our Lord? Could the Lord reveal His coming to a woman first? The disciples were shocked that he was talking to this woman who wasn’t a Jew. How would you respond to the witness of the second coming being a woman? Let’s see how this woman responded to His claim.

So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a Man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to Him. (John 4:28-30 ESV)

This is what believing in Jesus looks like. There is excitement and action! She went out and told everyone what Jesus had done. Most scholars recognize the Samaritan woman as Photini who, like Phebe, would later become instrumental in expanding the Church.

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea… (Romans 16:1 KJV)

The word servant is the Greek word diakonos same word translated as deacon in 1 Timothy 3. Though Paul suggests the elders (bishops) and deacons are the husbands of only one wife, it does not mean that only men can hold these positions. Men were the only ones able to have multiple spouses, so Paul only needed to mention their marital condition.

In this scripture we see a woman described as a deacon by Paul, so we can assume the mention of only one wife doesn’t eliminate women from those positions.

There are other letters from Paul where a woman’s place within the church needs to be rightly understood. But that is another class in the Removing Attacks course: Attacks from People.

Back to John. Photini was so enthusiastic in her recommendation of Jesus that the people from the town went out to see Jesus. The crowd gathered so quickly that He didn’t have time to eat!

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him something to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work. (John 4:31-34 ESV)

Here we have another brilliant exchange where Jesus is speaking in metaphors to the dismay of the recipient. It is like Jesus is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. This shows the divine connection He had to the Father. Jesus’ thoughts were so far above the populous that only looking back at what was said can it be fully understood. Here we see that Jesus is saying that doing the will of God should be a necessity to us, as necessary as food!

This is what believing in Jesus was like to the Samaritan woman. She didn’t hold back, wondering what people might think. No, she was all in! And a lot of good came from it:

So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:40-42 ESV)

The actions of one woman led to Jesus staying with the Samaritans for two days. This produced much fruit for now many more believed! After cleaning up her life and being part of the 3000 baptized on Pentecost, Photini returned home where she and her family spread the gospel for 30 years. During this time she was as famous as the apostles and her story was faithfully written down because of the extreme circumstance of her martyrdom. This well-documented apostolic work for the Kingdom is further proof that women can be church leaders.

Let’s contrast Photini’s experience with Jesus to the next story in this chapter:

So He came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. (John 4:46-47 ESV)

It was about 17 miles from Capernaum to Cana. This man traveled more than a day's walk to find Jesus. Surely this was great faith? The Lord always sees what is in the heart:

So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

The official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” (John 4:48-50 ESV)

Notice the official doesn’t call Jesus, rabbi, which means teacher. That title would imply that the man respected Jesus as someone who knew Jewish law well enough to teach others. It was a title of honor. This man didn’t honor Jesus, he just wanted help for his kid. Let’s look at one of the other parents who approached Jesus:

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for often he falls into the fire, and oft into the water.” (Matthew 17:14-15 AKJV)

In most of the other cases of parents needing healing for their child, the parents honor the Lord or worship Him. This is why Jesus rebuked the father for not believing. Despite this, Jesus does a great miracle and speaks healing into the child who was miles away. The father begins walking back home. Let’s see what happened:

As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”

The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. (John 4:51-53 ESV)

To receive this miracle, the father had to believe what Jesus said and obey Him, even though he didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah nor was he willing to show Him respect. It isn’t until a servant confirms the son was healed at the hour Jesus spoke that the man truly believes Jesus is the Messiah. Not only this man but his entire household is saved!

There is believing in what you’ve heard someone say about Jesus, then there is believing in Jesus as the Son of God, powerful enough to solve any problem. As God, Jesus knows all things. What you are going through is not a surprise to Him.

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (Romans 8:28 AMPC)

Is God a partner in your work? Do you acknowledge God as your provider? He has a plan, and you are part of it. If you love God and are willing to submit to His design and purpose for your life, He will works all things out for you!

When you BELIEVE in Jesus, you are all in! You want to talk about Him and what He has done to anyone, anytime. When the woman at the well believed, the whole town came to Jesus. When the father finally believed, his whole household was saved.

Many people experience this euphoria when they first become saved. They tell everyone about Jesus. Older Christians chalk this up to a “new birth” experience.

According to scripture, there may be a big problem if you no longer have enthusiasm for Jesus. There are two types of people described in the Word who have lost their passion for Jesus:

1. Those who still work for Him:

I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: And have borne, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted. (Revelation 2:2-3 AKJV)

This group of people are working for the Lord and they reject evil and false doctrine. They know about the name of Jesus, so what could possibly be wrong?

Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:4-7 AKJV)

The love in the hearts of some people, even though they are working for God, grows cold. The Nicolaitanes where telling people it was okay to sin. So they hate sin and say away from it. You’d think that was enough, right?

Look at the benefit of recovering your love for Jesus: You get to eat from the tree of life. That fruit grants eternal life. This means that if you no longer love the Lord as you first did, you may not have eternity with God! You may die!

There is a second group of people who have a similar issue

2. Those who are not working for God.

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things said he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. (Revelation 3:1-2)

This church calls themselves Christians and thinks they are spiritually alive, that they will have eternal life, but in fact, they are headed for eternal suffering and destruction because they are dead. Why? They have no perfect works. They are not trying to do what their Lord wants them to do.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come on you. You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:3-5 AKJV)

For some people, the return of Jesus will be “like a thief in the night.” They will not know when the time is close. This is written to a church, but not all within the church are guilty. This means it can apply to Christians individually.

What is the reward for starting to work for Jesus? You receive a white robe of righteousness and your name is not blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. Having your name in this book is necessary if you are to avoid being cast into the Lake of Fire! This means your salvation is danger of being lost.

Where are you?

• Do you believe in what is said about Jesus or do you KNOW He is the Son of God and God, Himself?

• Are you willing to work for Him?

  • Some are called to work for a ministry

  • All are called to support it with tithes and offerings

If you truly believe there will be actions in your life because of that belief. Are you doing the work of God? Are you supporting the work of God?

He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward. (Matthew 10:41-42 AMPC)

Just like this man, you may have only believed in what you’ve heard. Has the Lord shown up in your life yet?

• Do you love talking about Him?

  • The official believed in what was said.

  • The official did what Jesus said to do.

Are you willing to obey Jesus? Did you even know that was necessary? It isn’t too late. A simple prayer is the first step:

Jesus, I accepted you as my Lord, but I didn’t realize that meant I needed to learn about You so that I could obey my new Master. Jesus, you own me. Help me to learn your ways and I will do them!

There are free online classes that will teach you God’s ways according to His Word. There is free tutoring, too! I hope to see you there soon!