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Good morning and welcome to today’s Bible Study. The title of our lesson is: “The Woman at the Well: From Thirst to Testimony.”
Our scripture text is found in John 4:5-19, 28, and 29.
May the Lord guide this lesson by His grace and touch our hearts to receive it, retain it, and apply it in Jesus’ name. Amen
John 4:5 says, “Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.”
This verse sets the scene for one of Scripture’s most life-changing encounters. Jesus arrives at Sychar, a Samaritan city filled with historical and spiritual meaning.
It was near the land Jacob gave to Joseph—a reminder of God’s covenant faithfulness across generations.
This wasn’t a random stop on Jesus’ journey; it was a divine appointment. Though Jews avoided Samaria due to long-standing prejudice, Jesus chose to go through it, demonstrating that His mission was for all people, regardless of race, reputation, or religion.
By traveling to Sychar, Jesus broke cultural barriers to bring salvation to an outcast woman and, ultimately, to an entire community. The mention of Jacob’s gift connects the old covenant with the new.
The same land where physical wells once satisfied human thirst would now become the place where Jesus offered living water for the soul.
This verse reminds us that no place is too ordinary for God’s purpose and no person too distant for His grace. Where others see division, Jesus sees opportunity. Sychar represents the world—thirsty, weary, and waiting.
And Christ still comes to meet us there, turning everyday locations into places of eternal transformation.
John 4:6 says, “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.”
This verse gives us a touching glimpse into the humanity and compassion of Jesus. The Savior of the world, though divine, became fully human—capable of weariness, thirst, and hunger.
After a long journey through the rugged terrain of Samaria, He sat by Jacob’s well at noon—the hottest time of the day. This scene reveals that God’s Son willingly entered into the experiences of our weakness so He might fully understand and comfort us in ours.
Yet, His physical weariness had a divine purpose. What seemed like an ordinary rest stop became a moment of eternal significance. Jesus’ decision to sit at that well was no accident—it was a setup for a soul’s salvation.
While the disciples were gone to buy food, the Lord was preparing to satisfy a far deeper hunger: the hunger of a lost heart.
We learn from this verse that even in our moments of exhaustion, God can still use us for His glory. Jesus’ weariness became an opportunity for ministry.
The same well that refreshed bodies became the place where living water was offered to a thirsty soul. Truly, our Savior transforms ordinary moments into divine encounters.
John 4:7 says, “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”
This verse marks the beginning of a divine encounter that would forever change a life. The Samaritan woman came to the well at noon, in the heat of the day, likely to avoid others because of her reputation. Yet, Jesus was already there waiting for her.
This was no coincidence—it was a divine appointment. The Savior who “must needs go through Samaria” (John 4:4) came specifically to meet this outcast and offer her the living water of eternal life.
When Jesus said, “Give me to drink,” He broke every social and cultural barrier. Jews did not speak with Samaritans, and Jewish men rarely spoke publicly with women.
But Jesus looked beyond customs and prejudice to the soul that needed saving. His request for water was not about His thirst but about awakening hers—her thirst for truth, forgiveness, and relationship with God.
We see how Jesus initiates conversations of grace in simple, everyday moments. He did not begin with condemnation but with compassion.
His humility opened the door to her heart. Likewise, we are reminded that God often begins His work in our lives through small, ordinary requests that lead to extraordinary revelations. Jesus’ thirst created an opportunity to satisfy a sinner’s soul.
John 4:8 says, “(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)”
At first, this verse seems like a small side note, but it holds deep spiritual significance. The disciples had gone into the city to buy food, leaving Jesus alone at the well.
This was no accident—it was divine orchestration. Their absence allowed Jesus to have a private, uninterrupted conversation with the Samaritan woman.
Some moments of ministry are too delicate to happen in a crowd; God works best in the quiet when He has our full attention.
While the disciples were focused on satisfying physical hunger, Jesus remained focused on satisfying a spiritual thirst. They sought food for the body; He sought a soul for the kingdom.
The contrast between their errands and His mission reminds us that God’s priorities are eternal, not temporary.
We learn that divine appointments often happen in solitude. Sometimes God removes distractions and even familiar company so He can speak personally to us.
Jesus wasn’t resting idly—He was preparing to do the Father’s work. The disciples saw a meal; He saw a mission.
This verse challenges us to look beyond the physical needs of life and see the spiritual opportunities God places before us. While others may go to “buy meat,” Jesus stays behind to feed the hungry soul with the bread of life.
John 4:9 says, “Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.”
This verse captures the shock of grace breaking through centuries of hostility. The Samaritan woman is astonished that Jesus, a Jewish man, would speak to her—a Samaritan and a woman. In her culture, this was unheard of.
Jews and Samaritans had a long-standing hatred, rooted in history, religion, and prejudice. Yet, Jesus ignored all cultural boundaries to reach her heart. He wasn’t concerned with her race, gender, or reputation—He was concerned with her soul.
Her question reveals both surprise and curiosity. “How is it…?” shows that she had never experienced kindness or acceptance from a Jew before. What others avoided, Jesus embraced.
His love went where religious pride refused to go. By asking her for a drink, He gave her dignity and opened the door to a life-changing conversation.
This verse teaches that the gospel crosses every human barrier. Jesus didn’t just talk about love—He demonstrated it. He reached across divides of race, gender, and morality to offer salvation.
We, too, are called to share Christ’s love with those society overlooks. Grace doesn’t discriminate; it seeks the lost wherever they are found. Jesus shows that no one is beyond the reach of His redeeming love.
John 4:10 says, “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
In this verse, Jesus gently lifts the woman’s thoughts from the physical to the spiritual. She came seeking water for her body, but Jesus offers living water for her soul.
“If thou knewest the gift of God” reveals the great tragedy of spiritual blindness—standing before the Savior and not recognizing Him. The “gift of God” is salvation, freely offered through Jesus Christ. It is not earned or deserved but given by grace to those who ask.
“Living water” symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the eternal life that flows from knowing Christ. Unlike the stagnant water of a well, living water is fresh, pure, and constantly flowing.
It cleanses, refreshes, and gives life. Jesus was offering her something that no earthly well could provide—complete satisfaction for the deepest thirst of her soul.
We learn that many still miss the “gift of God” because they do not recognize who Jesus truly is. If we only knew the value of what He offers, we would run to Him in faith.
This verse invites us to ask, to believe, and to receive. For everyone who comes to Jesus thirsty finds a fountain that never runs dry.
John 4:11 says, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?”
Here, the Samaritan woman responds to Jesus’ offer with confusion. She is still thinking in physical terms, unable to grasp the spiritual truth behind His words.
Seeing that Jesus had no bucket or rope, she questions how He could possibly provide water from such a deep well. Her eyes are fixed on the natural, while Jesus is speaking of the supernatural. This reveals how often people try to understand divine things through human reasoning.
The well indeed was deep—not just physically, but symbolically. It represents the depth of human need, the emptiness of man’s efforts, and the inability of earthly things to satisfy spiritual thirst.
The woman thought she was standing beside the source of water, but the true source of living water was standing right in front of her.
This verse reminds us that spiritual blindness keeps many from seeing who Jesus truly is. Like the Samaritan woman, people look for fulfillment in tangible things—possessions, pleasure, or position—but still remain thirsty.
Jesus alone can reach into the depths of the soul and fill it with eternal life. The well of the world runs dry, but the living water of Christ flows forever for all who believe.
John 4:12 says, “Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”
In this verse, the Samaritan woman reveals her limited understanding and deep attachment to tradition. She proudly identifies with her ancestor Jacob, who gave them the well.
To her, this well was sacred—an inheritance from a patriarch of faith and a source of daily sustenance. Her question, “Art thou greater than our father Jacob?” shows both curiosity and skepticism.
She could not yet see that the One speaking to her was not just greater than Jacob, but the very God of Jacob Himself.
Like many today, she valued the gift more than the Giver. She looked to the well for refreshment, unaware that the true Fountain of Life stood before her. The well could meet physical needs for a moment, but Jesus came to meet eternal needs forever.
This verse teaches that tradition and heritage, though valuable, cannot replace a personal relationship with Christ. Many people still rely on the faith of their ancestors, their church background, or past blessings, while missing the living Savior who offers new life today.
Jesus didn’t come to dismiss Jacob’s legacy but to fulfill it. The water Jacob provided sustained life temporarily; the water Jesus offers gives life eternally. True greatness is found in Him alone.
John 4:13 says, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.”
With this statement, Jesus begins to draw a clear line between the temporary and the eternal. The water from Jacob’s well could satisfy physical thirst for a time, but it could never quench the deeper thirst of the soul.
Every drink would eventually lead to another, symbolizing humanity’s endless search for satisfaction in worldly things—money, pleasure, relationships, success, or religion. These things may refresh us briefly, but they cannot fill the void that only God can satisfy.
Jesus was lovingly revealing to the Samaritan woman that her repeated trips to the well mirrored her repeated attempts to find fulfillment in life apart from God.
Just as she would return day after day for water, she had returned again and again to empty pursuits. Her soul was thirsty, and she didn’t even realize it.
This verse teaches that all human effort and earthly satisfaction are temporary. The things of this world can never bring lasting peace or contentment.
Only Jesus can fill the emptiness within. He alone satisfies the thirst of the heart with His presence, forgiveness, and Spirit. Every earthly well eventually runs dry, but those who drink of Christ’s grace will never thirst again.
True satisfaction is not found in what we draw from the world, but in what we receive from the Savior.
John 4:14 says, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Here, Jesus unveils the glorious promise of salvation through Him. He contrasts the temporary satisfaction of earthly water with the eternal satisfaction of the “living water” He gives.
This living water represents the Holy Spirit, who dwells within every believer and continually renews, refreshes, and sustains the soul.
Unlike physical water that must be drawn repeatedly, the water Jesus provides becomes an ever-flowing source within—a personal well of spiritual life that never runs dry.
“Shall never thirst” does not mean that a believer will never face struggles, but that their soul will never again be empty or without hope. The Holy Spirit within them is a constant fountain of grace, comfort, and strength.
The phrase “springing up into everlasting life” describes the active, overflowing nature of the Spirit—life that begins now and continues eternally.
This verse teaches that salvation is not a one-time experience but a living relationship. Jesus doesn’t merely give us a drink; He makes us wells from which His life flows to others.
When we receive Christ, we become living testimonies of His sustaining grace—forever satisfied, forever refreshed, and forever alive in Him.
John 4:15 says, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”
In this verse, the Samaritan woman responds to Jesus’ words with interest—but not yet with full understanding. She still thinks on a physical level, imagining that this “living water” will save her from the daily burden of drawing water from the well.
Her request, “Sir, give me this water,” shows both curiosity and longing. Though her perception is limited, her heart is beginning to open. Jesus has successfully awakened in her a deeper thirst—a spiritual hunger she didn’t realize she had.
This verse shows that salvation often begins with a spark of curiosity. God draws us to Himself gradually, moving us from misunderstanding to revelation.
The woman may have thought of convenience, but Jesus was speaking of conversion. She wanted rest from labor; He offered rest for her soul.
This verse reminds us that God meets us where we are. He doesn’t expect us to understand everything at once—He simply wants a willing heart.
The Samaritan woman’s small step of desire became the doorway to transformation. When we respond to God’s invitation, even imperfectly, He continues to reveal more of Himself.
The living water Jesus offers satisfies not the body, but the soul—and once received, it becomes the eternal answer to every human longing.
John 4:16 says, “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.”
At this point in the conversation, Jesus gently shifts the discussion from curiosity to conviction. Up to now, the Samaritan woman has been interested in the “living water,” but she has not yet faced the sin that has left her spiritually thirsty.
With divine wisdom and compassion, Jesus tells her, “Go, call thy husband.” These words uncover the hidden pain and brokenness of her life. Before she can receive the living water, her heart must be cleansed of deceit and denial.
Jesus’ request is not meant to embarrass or condemn her—it is meant to bring truth into the light. He knows her situation fully, yet He continues to speak with her tenderly. The Savior always addresses sin, but He does so with mercy. By confronting her past, He opens the door to her healing.
This verse teaches that before salvation can flow freely, sin must be acknowledged. God doesn’t ignore our past; He redeems it. Jesus calls us, as He did the woman, to face our sin honestly so that we can be set free.
Conviction is not cruelty—it is compassion. Only when the heart is laid bare before God can the living water fill it completely and transform it forever.
John 4:17 says, “The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband.”
In this verse, the Samaritan woman responds with partial honesty, saying, “I have no husband.” She tries to avoid the deeper truth, yet Jesus commends her limited honesty—“Thou hast well said.”
Even though she does not confess everything, she has taken the first small step toward truth. The Lord values honesty, even when it begins imperfectly.
Jesus gently leads her from hiding her sin to facing it, showing that real healing begins when we stop pretending.
By acknowledging even part of the truth, the woman opens the door for greater revelation. Jesus doesn’t humiliate her or harshly expose her failings; instead, He responds with grace and patience.
His gentle acknowledgment—“Thou hast well said”—shows that conviction from God is always mixed with compassion. He knows the full story but waits for her to invite Him deeper into it.
This verse teaches that honesty before God is essential for transformation. The Lord cannot fill what we keep closed off. Like the woman, we must stop covering our sins and start confessing them.
When we begin to tell the truth about our lives, even in small ways, Jesus meets us with grace, guiding us step by step toward forgiveness, freedom, and fullness of life.
John 4:18 says, “For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”
In this verse, Jesus reveals His divine knowledge of the Samaritan woman’s past. Without her saying a word, He exposes the truth of her life—five husbands and a current relationship outside of marriage.
His words are not spoken with condemnation but with compassion. Jesus uncovers her sin, not to shame her, but to heal her. He shows that He knows her completely and still chooses to speak with her. This is the grace of God—He sees all, yet loves still.
Her life story represents humanity’s search for satisfaction in the wrong places. Each broken relationship is like another empty well that failed to quench her thirst. She sought love, security, and meaning, but found only disappointment.
Jesus’ revelation is an invitation for her to stop running and start receiving the true fulfillment that only He can give.
This verse reminds us that Jesus knows our deepest failures and yet offers forgiveness instead of rejection. The living water is not for the perfect but for the repentant.
Before the soul can be filled, sin must be faced. Christ’s truth exposes what is wrong, but His grace restores what is broken. The One who knew her worst still offered her His best—eternal life.
John 4:19 says, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.”
Here, the Samaritan woman begins to recognize that the man before her is no ordinary traveler. Jesus’ revelation of her past pierces her heart, and she acknowledges, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.”
For the first time, she sees that this conversation is not just casual—it is divine. Her eyes are beginning to open to spiritual truth. What began as curiosity about water has now become an awareness of God’s presence.
Her response shows humility and reverence. Instead of running away in shame, she stays and listens. Conviction does not push her from Jesus—it draws her closer.
This moment reminds us that when the Lord exposes our sins, it is not to destroy us but to awaken us to who He is. She recognizes that only someone sent from God could know her so completely and still speak to her with kindness.
This verse teaches that spiritual awakening begins when we recognize Jesus for who He truly is. He is not just a teacher or prophet—He is the Son of God who knows us fully and loves us perfectly.
Like the woman, we must respond to conviction not with denial but with openness. When the light of truth shines into our hearts, it leads us one step closer to salvation.
John 4:28 says, “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,”
This verse beautifully captures the moment of transformation in the Samaritan woman’s life. The same woman who came to the well burdened with shame now leaves her waterpot behind—a symbol of her old life and former pursuits.
She came seeking physical water, but after meeting Jesus, her spiritual thirst was quenched. The waterpot, once essential, now represents the temporary things she no longer needs. Her priorities have changed—earthly needs fade in light of eternal truth.
Leaving her waterpot also symbolizes freedom. The burden she carried daily was both physical and emotional. But when she encountered the Living Water, she no longer carried the same weight.
The woman who once avoided people now runs to tell others about Jesus. Grace transformed her from a sinner hiding in shame to a witness proclaiming salvation.
This verse reminds us that when we truly encounter Christ, everything changes. The things we once valued lose their grip on us, and we become eager to share what we’ve found.
Just as she left her waterpot, we too must leave behind the things that tie us to our past. True conversion always produces testimony. When the heart is filled with living water, it overflows with the desire to tell others about Jesus.
John 4:29 says, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
This verse marks the joyful outburst of a transformed soul. The Samaritan woman, once ashamed and isolated, now rushes back to the city proclaiming the good news. Her words—“Come, see a man”—are simple yet powerful.
She does not try to impress with eloquence or debate theology; she simply shares her personal encounter with Jesus. Her testimony centers on what He has done for her—He knew everything about her and still offered grace. That kind of love demands to be shared.
Her invitation, “Is not this the Christ?” shows both wonder and faith. She may not fully grasp everything about Jesus yet, but she believes enough to tell others.
Her enthusiasm reveals that real salvation transforms the heart from silence to boldness. The same woman who once avoided others now becomes a messenger of hope.
This verse teaches that witnessing begins with personal experience. You don’t have to know everything—just tell what Jesus has done for you.
A genuine testimony carries divine power. Her story reminds us that God often uses the most unlikely people to reach others. When grace takes hold of a life, it becomes a light for others to see.
One encounter with Jesus turned her shame into a testimony that changed an entire city. Praise God! Hallelujah! Let’s close in prayer.
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the living water that flows freely through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Today, as we have studied the encounter at the well, we are reminded that You see us fully—our past, our pain, our thirst—and still invite us into Your grace.
Just as You transformed the Samaritan woman’s shame into testimony, transform our lives so that we, too, may boldly share the good news of Your love with others.
Lord, help us to leave behind our “waterpots”—the burdens, habits, and distractions that keep us from seeking You first.
Fill our hearts with the living water of Your Spirit, that we may never thirst for the things of this world again. Let that water spring up within us, bringing renewal, joy, and eternal life.
As we go forth, make us witnesses of Your mercy. Give us the courage to tell others, “Come, see a man,” who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. May our lives reflect Your truth and our words draw others closer to the Savior.
We thank You, Lord, for meeting us at our own wells today and for reminding us that no one is beyond Your reach. Keep us walking in Your grace, refreshed by Your Spirit, and faithful to Your calling.
In Jesus’ precious and powerful name we pray,
Amen.