In today’s edition of The Vine, a spin off of the Sunday Branch feature, my notes refer to John 4 (Amplified Version).

John Archive
John 1
John 2
John 3

Currently Listening To:
“Echo” by Colton Dixon

In John 1-3, Jesus interacts a lot with the Jews. In John 4, Jesus interacts with the Gentiles.

The Jews avoided Samaria and its people like the plague so for Jesus to talk to a Samaritan was scandalous!!!! In the beginning of John 4, Jesus decides to go to Galilee through Samaria where he meets a Samaritan woman and He sends the disciples away to talk to her alone. He probably sent them away so the woman would open up more and no one would be there to deter her. You know those times, when you won’t open up when certain people are around. We’ve all been there.

Jesus saw a need and went to help. Keep this in mind when going about your daily life. When you see a need, if you can fill it, do so.

I love verse 10. 13. 14. Recognize the limitless gifts of God. Natural things won’t quench your thirst. The physical won’t sustain you. But God. He will.

Verse 15 Notes:
The Samaritan woman fetches water at the hottest time of the day when no other women are around because she doesn’t want to be shamed. The lengths people go to avoid shame. Before you toss this away as not wanting to be embarrassed, it’s so much more than that. This woman was doing everything she could to hold onto her dignity. The thing is, she doesn’t want to get the water from the area at the hottest time of the day, alone, ashamed as a Samaritan woman.

Verses 16-18 Notes:
Jesus drew out the weight on the Samaritan woman’s shoulders and gave her a need for rest. For peace. Draw people out. Listen. People will tell you their heart.

Verse 19-20 Notes:
She didn’t deny his claims.
She tried to divert the conversation.
Do these patterns sound familiar?

Verse 31-33 Notes:
Even His disciples were seeing in the physical. Open your eyes. Your ears. See, hear in the spiritual.

How can you say you love God when there’s no effort? Where are your priorities? Where is your focus? Actions speak louder. Love is louder. Act now. Live John 4:34.

Verse 36-54 Notes:
People will reap from stuff they didn’t sow and labor over. We ALL benefited. We all benefit from God’s goodness. Other people have labored and will labor for you. (John the Baptist, Moses, etc…) You have an inheritance and you have a responsibility to keep this going. If you are not affecting people, you’re being infected.

Verse 47-48 Notes:
A nobleman in Capernaum heard of Jesus’s water into wine miracle (after the Samaritan woman spread the word) and the nobleman believed. Then, Jesus basically said, “You people just won’t believe until you see a sign.” He was preparing the people to believe without signs. Be always abounding in your faith, no matter if there are or aren’t signs. Be steadfast. Immovable. Remember John 14:17-21, John 20:29.

Verse 49 Notes:
The nobleman begged Jesus to heal his son. A nobleman. That’s beautiful.

Tomorrow…John 5.