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Explore the layers of thirst and hunger in John 4 through the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. Unpack themes of physical and spiritual thirst, relating to justice for individuals and communities. Understand this important Johannine story beyond surface meanings.
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Thirst & Hunger in John 4: What Can the Samaritan Woman Teach Us About Justice? Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. Jesuit Biblical Ministries http://catholic-resources.org L.A. Religious Education Congress Session 2-10: Friday, 3/22/19
Thank You! • For participating in R.E. Congress! • For sharing our faith as catechists! • For helping in many other ministries!
Workshop Title & Description Thirst & Hunger in John 4: What Can the Samaritan Woman Teach Us About Justice? “The biblical story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is so much deeper than you might realize, dealing with themes of thirst as well as hunger, on the physical and spiritual levels, for both individuals and communities. This workshop will explore in depth this important Johannine story, which is read on the Third Sunday of Lent and used in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Scrutinies.”
Lenten Scrutiny Gospels • 3rd Sunday of Lent – WATER: • The Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42) • 4th Sunday of Lent – LIGHT: • The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) • 5th Sunday of Lent – LIFE: • Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (John 11:1-54)
Gosp. John vs. Synoptic Gospels • Most stories in John are NOT in Synoptics;Most material in Synoptics are NOT in John • Outside of the Passion Narrative, the only exception is the Feeding of the 5000! • Synoptics are often considered “historical”while John more “spiritual” & “theological” • All four Gospels: both historical and theological! • But differing circumstances & different recipientsled to different historical & theological emphases
John vs. Synoptics 1) Material found only in the Fourth Gospel, not in the Synoptics (Matt, Mark, Luke): • Prologue (1:1-18) • "Signs," starting with Wedding at Cana (2:1-12) • Dialogue with Nicodemus (2:23—3:21) • Samaritan Woman at the Well (4:1-42) • Sick Man at the Pool of Bethesda (5:1-18) • Bread of Life Discourse (6:22-65) • [ Woman caught in Adultery(7:53—8:11) ]
John vs. Synoptics (cont.) 1) Material only in John, not in Synoptics (cont.): • Man Born Blind (9:1-41) • Lazarus Raised from the Dead (11:1-44) • Washing the Disciples’ Feet (13:1-20) • Last Supper Discourses (13:31—16:33) • Great Prayer of Jesus (17:1-26) • Resurrection Appearance to Mary Magdalene (20:11-18; cf. Matt 28:9) • Resurrection Appearance to Thomas (20:24-29) • Resurrection Appearance at Sea of Tiberias (21:1-25; cf. Luke 5:1-11)
John vs. Synoptics(cont.) 2) Synoptic materials • No Infancy Narrative • No Childhood Episodes • No Baptism of Jesus • No Temptation in the Desert • No Calls to Repentance • No Sermon on the Mount • No Beatitudes • No Lord’s Prayer • No List of "Twelve Apostles" • No Mission of the Disciples during Jesus’ Lifetime not in John’s Gospel: • No Parables • No "Kingdom of God" • No Ethical Teachings • No Exorcisms • No Transfiguration • No Passion Predictions • No Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper • No Predictions of Jesus’ Return • No Ascension Narrative • Etc. ?
Gosp. John vs. Synoptic Gospels • John doesn’t repeat most Synoptic materials,but assumes you already know them! • It doesn’t contradict, but supplements the Synoptics and/or provides new & different emphases. • John has no direct “social justice” stories or commands: “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc.” • John assumes we already know and do these, and invites us to focus on even more important things! • John’s Gospel is also more highly literary!
Conventions of Ancient Theater Only two “active characters” on stage at any time • “Characters” can be individuals or groups. • Other characters may be nearby, or looking on silently, but not engaged in the dialogue or action. • This convention helps readers determine the “scenes” into which a larger story can be subdivided. • Apply this to John 11, John 9, and John 4: • How many different scenes are there in each story? • Consider which two characters are active at one time! • Also consider content: what they are doing or saying.
Mary, Martha, Lazarus (John 11:1-54) A) 1-6: Introduction: Jesus receives a message from Martha and Mary about Lazarus’ illness B) 7-16: Jesus and his disciples talk about Lazarus and the meaning of death C) 17-27: Jesus and Martha talk about resurrection and eternal life C') 28-37: Jesus and Mary express both deep sorrow and great love B') 38-44: Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb, raising him from the dead A') 45-54: Conclusion: Reactions of people who saw or heard about the raising of Lazarus
The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) A) 1-5: Jesus & the disciplesrelation of sin & blindness B) 6-7: Jesus & the blind personbringing the person to physical sight C1) 8-12: neighbors & ex-blind personquestion of person’s identity; process of healing D1) 13-17: ex-blind person & Phariseesdiscussion of Jesus’ origin: from God? sinful? C2) 18-23: parents & Jewish authoritiesquestion of person’s identity; process of healing D2) 24-34: ex-blind person & authoritiesdiscussion of Jesus’ origin: from God? sinful? B') 35-38: Jesus & ex-blind personbringing the person to full spiritual insight A') 39-41: Jesus & the Phariseesrelation of sin & blindness
Jesus & Samaritan Woman (Jn 4:1-42) A) 1-4: Transition: Departure from Judea toward Galilee B) 5-6: Jesus arrives at Jacob’s well near Sychar in Samaria C) 7-15: Dialogue: Jesus & Woman, about Water & Thirst D) 16-26: Dialogue: Jesus & Woman, about Worship and the Messiah A') 27: Transition: Disciples return & wonder about the Woman B') 28-30: Woman tells her villagers about the Messiah C') 31-38: Dialogue: Jesus & disciples, about Food & Work D') 39-42: Reaction of Samaritan Villagers to the Woman and to Jesus
John 4:1-42 – Overview • Lectionary for Mass: • Year A: Third Sunday of Lent (RCIA Scrutinies) • Multiple Dialogues • Dual-meanings: • Flowing/living Water • Thirst: physical/eternal • True Worship • Messiah / “I Am” • Food / Work • Testimony / Believing
John 4 – Geography A) Transition: Departure from Judea to Galilee 1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John” 2--although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized-- 3he left Judea and started back to Galilee. 4But he had to go through Samaria. • Headed north (2:13–3:21 Jesus in Jerusalem; 3:22-36 in Judea; JohnB baptizing near Aenon/Salim) • “Had to go through Samaria”???
John 4:1-42 B) Arrival at Jacob’s Well near Sychar in Samaria 5So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. • Jacob’s well – lit. “spring” (pēgē), but translated “well” most in English Bibles;no direct mention in OT of this “gift” • Gen 33:18–19; 48:22 – OT ”Shechem”;Josh 24:32 – Jacob buried on Joseph’s land
John 4:1-42 – Jesus & Samaritan Woman C) Dialogue of Jesus and Samaritan Woman about Water & Thirst 7A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus 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.” Lots going on here: • Jesus’ Disciples & the Woman • Samaritans vs. Judeans/Jews • Themes of Initial Dialogue
Disciples in John’s Gospel • No “apostles” in John • Gk. apostolos only in 13:16 = generic “messenger” • Verb apostelloused mostly of Jesus, sent by God! • Jesus has “disciples, brothers/sisters, friends” • First five disciples (1:19-51; and later refs.) • Andrew & Anon.; Simon/Peter; Philip & Nathanael • Jesus often dialogues with them (Q & A) • “The Twelve” • Not individually named; ref. only in 6:67-71; 20:24 • The “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (BD)” • From Last Supper to Resurrection(also earlier?) • Other named & anonymous disciples (next screen)
Named & Anonymous Disciples • Jesus’ mother(2:1-12; 6:42; 19:25-27) • Judas Iscariot (6:70-71; 12:4-8; 13:2, 21-30; 18:2-5) • Man Born Blind (9:1-41, esp. v. 28) • Martha, Mary, Lazarus of Bethany (11:1-45; 12:1-8) • Thomas Didymus/Twin (11:16; 14:5; 20:24-28; 21:2) • Another Judas (14:22) • Mary of Magdala (19:25; 20:1-2; 20:11-18) • “his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas” (19:25) • Joseph of Arimathea (19:38-42) & Nicodemus? • Sons of Zebedee (21:2)
Women in the Fourth Gospel • 2:1-12Mother of Jesusat Cana Wedding • 4:1-42Samaritan Woman at the Well • 11:1-45 Martha & Mary intercede with Jesus for their brother Lazarus • 12:1-8 Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus • 19:25b-27Mother of Jesus& other Women at Foot of Cross (incl. “Mary of Clopas”) • 20:1-2 Mary Magdalene discovers Tomb Empty • 20:11-18 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene • [8:1-11] Adulterous Woman [not originally in John’s Gospel] Fourth Gospel has fairly few, but highly important women!
Tensions: Jews & Samaritans Roots in the History of Israel: • Ca. 1300-1030 BC – Confederation of 12 Tribes • Moses, Joshua, Judges, Prophet Samuel • 1030-930 BC – United Monarchy • Kings Saul, David, Solomon • 930-721-587 BC – Divided Monarchy • Northern Kingdom: 10 Tribes of Israel; capital Samaria • Conquered by Assyrian Empire in 721 BC • Assyrians deport many Israelites, import foreign peoples • Southern Kingdom: Judah (& Benjamin); capital Jerusalem • Conquered by Babylonian Empire in 587BC • Exiles allowed to return to Judea as of 520’s BC
Tensions: Jews & Samaritans • 5th to 3rd Centuries BC – Persian & Greek eras • Judea (south) & Samaria (north) are separate districts • Judeans develop “Judaism” – full Bible (TaNaK) • Samaritans only accept Torah (five books of Moses) • 2nd & 1st Centuries BC • Ca. 160’s to 63 BC: Macabbean/Hasmonean era • Judea regains its independence; slowly expand north • 111 BC – Judeans (Jews) re-conquer Samaria, and destroy Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim! • 63 BC – Romans take over all of Israel/Palestine;Judea & Samaria part of same Roman-governed district
Tensions: Jews & Samaritans • First Century AD (Jesus’ lifetime): • Jews consider Samaritans as foreigners, enemies, “half-breeds” at best, who don’t follow all of God’s Law • Samaritans resent that Jews destroyed their temple!(ca. 140 years earlier; days of their long-ago ancestors!) • “Samaritan” used as an insult: • Opponents tell Jesus: “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed?” (Jn 8:48) But Jesus doesn’t seem to mind! He doesn’t see “Samaritans” as enemies, but as humans!
“Samaritans” in LUKE & Acts • Lk 9:52-53 – Samaritan Villagers refuse hospitality • But rather than calling down punishment from heaven upon them, as James and John suggest, Jesus and his disciples simply go to another (also Samaritan!) village. • Lk 10:29-37 – Parable of the Good Samaritan • in response to “Who is my neighbor?” • Lk 17:11-19 – Jesus heals Ten Lepers • One of them was a Samaritan, the only one to return and give thanks to Jesus. • Acts – Church’s mission reaches out to Samaritans • Acts 1:8; 8:1-25; 9:31; 15:3.
John 4:7-10 – Initial Dialogue 7A Samaritan womancame to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus 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.” • Multiple Meanings of words: • “living water” = “flowing water” = spring water • Water in a “well” or “cistern” = “standing water” = “dead water”
Multiple Meanings & Misunderstandings Jesus speaks; people think he means a physical/historical level; Jesus or Evangelist then clarify: it’s meant on a spiritual level! • 2:19-22 - “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” – Jerusalem temple? • 3:3-10 - “No one can see the Kingdom of God without being born anôthen” – born a second time? • 4:10-15 - “he would have given you living water” – flowing water? • 4:32-34 - “I have food to eat that you do not know about” – lunch? • 6:41-51 - “I am the bread that came down from heaven” – manna? • 7:33-36 - “…I am going to him who sent me. / You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” – diaspora?
Multiple Meanings & Misunderstandings • 8:21-29 - “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” – suicide? • 8:31-47 - “you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – we’ve never been slaves! • 8:56-59 - “Your ancestor Abrahamrejoiced that he would see my day; he saw itand was glad.” – you’re not yet 50 years old! • 11:11-15 - “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” – sleeping? • 12:27-33 - “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” – thunder, or angel? • 14:4-6 - “You know the way to the place where I am going” – where? • 14:7-14 - “If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” – show us your Father!
John 4:1-42 – Jesus & Samaritan Woman 10Jesus 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.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirstyagain, 14but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirstyor have to keep coming here to draw water.” • Note: Jesus doesn’t directly answer the questions of v. 11-12. • Jesus speaks of spiritual realities; Woman is still on physical level. • Yet he doesn’t scold her, but invites her to go deeper!
What is the “Living Water”? Holy Spirit ! Biblical Images for Holy Spirit: Wind Fire Dove Water!
John 4:1-42 – Dialogue Continues D) Dialogue of Jesus and Samaritan Woman about Worship & Messiah 16Jesussaid to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17The woman answered him, “I have no husband.”Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” 19The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet….” • Why does Jesus make this request? Is he changing the topic? • Prophet – not just “clairvoyant” nor “predicting the future”! • Biblical pro-phetes= one who “speaks on behalf of” God! • Jesus knows & speaks the truth about her personal life, but again does not reject or condemn her! • What does that imply for US?
John 4:20-24 – Dialogue Continues [Woman continues]: 20 “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21Jesussaid to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22Youworship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” • Woman now asks something deeper, a religious question: Samaria (Mount Gerizim) vs. Jerusalem (Mount Moriah or Mount Zion) • Jesus’ response again shifts to the theological/spiritual level! • What does that teach US about inter-religious disputes?
John 4:1-42 – First Dialogue Concludes 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26Jesussaid to her, “I am [he], the one who is speaking to you.” • Woman again changes topic, going deeper in seeking truth! • Messiah? Jews expected God to send an “Anointed One” as leader • Did most Samaritans also expect a “Messiah”? • Jesus answers with this Gospel’s first “I AM” statement • Alluding to Divine Name (tetragrammaton) – cf. Exod 3:14 • Many other “I AM” statements in John • Who is Jesus? What titles are most appropriate? • Christ/Messiah? King? Lord? Son of God?
John 4:1-42 – Second Half (vv. 27-42) A’) Transition: Jesus’ Disciples Return and Wonder about the Woman 27Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” • Semitic cultures: men and women generally didn’t interact.(often still don’t today!) • Again, for Jesus this is a non-issue! Gender simply doesn’t matter! He doesn’t bother to defend himself, or address this issue!
John 4:1-42 – Second Half (vv. 27-42) B’) Samaritan Woman tells Villagers about the Messiah 28Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” 30They left the city and were on their way to him. • Why did she leave her water jar behind? • answer on historical level? • answer on spiritual level? • Note: Woman uses a “hesitant question” • it doesn’t express her own doubt • but subtly invite a “yes” answer!
John 4:1-42 – Second Half (vv. 27-42) C’) Dialogue of Jesus and His Disciples about Food & Work 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. • Another double-meaning (food), with misunderstanding, then clarification • Disciples think food for the physical body; • But Jesus is speaking metaphorically, on a spiritual level. • Does Jesus “spiritualizing” things mean earthly food doesn’t matter? • No; he takes earthly “justice” for granted; but emphasizes greater priorities!
John 4:1-42 – Second Half (vv. 27-42) 35Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” • No “parable” stories in John, as are common in Synoptic Gospels • Somewhat related are Good Shepherd (Jn 10) and Vine & Branches (Jn 15) • And this text, usually common sayings & agricultural images symbolically;emphasizing cooperation, not competition, in working for God’s ministry • Goal: “fruit for eternal life”! • “Eternal life” in John is available NOW, for all who believe! • But again, that does NOT imply that present earthly life is unimportant!
John 4:1-42 – Second Half (vv. 27-42) D’) Reaction of Samaritans to the Woman & to Jesus 39Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They 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 truly the Savior of the world.” • Are the Samaritan villagers putting the woman down? – NO! • Point here: Coming to believe in Jesus based on other people’s witnessis good, but not enough. We need to hear, believe, know him directly ourselves, based on our own experiences with Jesus!
Discipleship in John: “Believing” • Biblical Vocabulary • “Faith” (pistiV; noun) – esp. in Paul • “Have Faith” sounds like possessing an object • “Believe” (pisteuw; verb) – esp. in John • Action: to trust, entrust oneself to, believe in
“Believing” in the Fourth Gospel • John never uses the noun (“faith, belief”), but always/only the verb (“to believe”) • Believing is an action one does • Not an object one possesses (not “having faith”) • Believing involves relationship • Even better translation: “trusting someone” or “entrusting oneself to someone” • Synonyms for “believing”: • knowing, seeing, receiving, coming to, accepting, remaining, etc. • Opposites of “believing” • “not believing, rejecting, denying, not receiving, going away, etc.”
Possible Reactions to Jesus in FG • Refusing to believe, despite seeing/hearing • Ex.: “world”; “chief priests”; most “Jews” • Beginning to believe, but not fully knowing • Ex.: “crowds”; some early “disciples”; some “Jews” • Believing, but being afraid to profess publicly • Ex.: Nicodemus, Joseph Arimathea; some “Jews” • Seeing and believing; becoming a disciple • Ex.: “disciples”; Samaritans; blind man; Thomas • Believing even without seeing, just hearing • Ex.: royal official; Martha; readers of Gosp.John
Texts with “Believe” in John • Believe! • w/o direct object; “You just gotta trust”! • Believe IN God / IN me / IN… • NT Greek lit. says “believe INTO…” • “put your trust in/intoGod & Jesus” • “entrust yourself to God & Jesus” • Believe ME/HIM/… • Trust God/Jesus; believe what he says • Believe THAT… • Doctrines/beliefs aboutGod & Jesus
Results/Effects of Believing • Becoming "children of God" (1:12) • Having "eternal life" (3:15-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47) • Not "perishing" (3:16); not "being condemned" (3:18) • Not "coming under judgment" (5:24); never being "hungry/thirsty" (6:35) • "Knowing" Jesus and the Father (4:42; 6:64, 69; 10:38) • Passing from death to life (5:24); living and never dying (11:25-26) • Having "living water" flow out of one's heart (7:38) • Receiving the Spirit (7:39) • Being "disciples" of Jesus (8:31); being Jesus' "friends" (15:14-15) • Seeing the "glory of God" (11:40); seeing "greater things" (1:50) • Becoming "children of light" (12:36); not "remaining in darkness" (12:46) • Doing the works that Jesus does, or even greater works (14:12) • Having "life in his name" (20:31)
Recap: Implications for “Justice” • Fourth Gospel emphasizes “discipleship of equals” • All believers are children of God, friends of Jesus, filled with Holy Spirit (“living water”), brothers & sisters to one another • No one has privileged status (“apostles”; “teachers”; “kings”; etc.) • FG emphasizes the prominent role of women • As those who themselves believe in Jesus! • As those who bring other people to believe! • FG presents other external differences as irrelevant • Jews vs. Samaritans; Jerusalem (Zion) vs. Samaria (Gerizim) • No “enemies” based on race or ethnicity, religion or culture;the only “opponents” are those who reject/deny Jesus
Caution: Danger of Over-Spiritualizing • When Jesus speaks in John’s Gospel, don’t misunderstand him(earthly/physical/historical levels) when he means the spiritual/theological level. • This doesn’t imply the earthly level is unimportant. • John takes “social justice concerns” for granted (as expressed more explicitly in Gospels of Matthew & Luke). • Helping those with physical hunger & thirst is essential.Yet spiritual hunger & thirst are even more important! • How do we see evangelization & social ministry related? • Two main “commandments” in John: • Believe in Jesus (as Word made flesh, Son of God) • Love one another (not only believers; but everyone)