Session 5
When the disciples return they are stunned
to see Jesus in conversation with the woman.
Think about the cultural situation they are
in - the barriers between the Jews and the
Samaritans were already complicated enough
by their long history, let alone the barrier
between Jesus, a man, and this Samaritan, a
woman, conversing so openly.
The conversation was so life-giving for this
woman that she went back to her village and
told the people about it, forgetting all about
the reason she had gone to the well in the
first place. With this interaction the Samaritan
woman now becomes a missionary herself.
She goes and tells the village of the Good
News that comes through knowing God. This
is a stark transformation from when she first
met Jesus.
The disciples are so shocked that their teacher
is happily talking with this woman that they
quickly focus on the food they’ve just bought.
Yet Jesus turns their attention away from the
food to the mission that they are on. The food
may well be physically sustaining for a short
period but it is the long-term food, the mission
of God, that is of greater importance.
Jesus, the Living Water, is all-satisfying to all
peoples, including those who may seem of least
importance or of complete difference to us.
Jesus turns the understanding of the disciples
to the conversation with the Samaritan woman,
showing them that this is the way of Jesus. In
following Him the mission of God is for all, it
is a new way of seeing the world and crosses
cultural barriers, with transformation open to all
individuals and ethnicities.
Think about it
› › D
o you find the reaction of the disciples surprising
considering they’ve been following Jesus for a
little while already? What about the reaction of
the Samaritan woman post-conversation with
Jesus? How or why?
› › With such urgency the woman goes back to her
village and tells them about this person Jesus. Was
there a time you had similar urgency in your faith?
What do you think you could do to foster that now?
› › The mission of God becomes surprising and
unexpected to the disciples. Jesus explains that
things are different on His watch. What baggage
would they need to let go of to approach this
mission in a new way?
› › How are you invited into this story? How are you
invited into God’s mission through the principles
of this passage?
Live it
› › What do you sense God calling you to in terms of
His mission to the world? Is it time to take a first
step at talk to someone about it?
› › Spend time with God this week, reading his Word and
praying, asking Him to increase your urgency in letting
others know about this all-satisfying living water.
› › Consider a short-term Global Xposure team, would
this be something you would like to be part of?
Contact your Global Interaction State Office for
more information and how to make this a reality.
› › Is there a particular mission endeavour you can get
involved in with your church? Take the next step in
joining in with your church family in pursuing God’s
mission in your local community.
Jon Coombs is the Youth & Young Adult Pastor of Rowville
Baptist Church in Melbourne, Australia. For over 15 years he
has been working with youth and young adults in churches,
schools, mission agencies and not-for-profit organisations.
He enjoys watching test match cricket with his wife, and
blogs regularly at joncoombs.com.
resonate · issue 29 · page 11