Welcome to Week Two of Pursuing God’s Beauty: Stories from the Gospel of John. This summer, we’re digging deep into God’s Word and praying that with a word, passage, or story we will be wonderstruck by Scripture and fall in love with the Bible once again, or maybe for the first time.
Whether this is your first time reading John or your fortieth, we invite you to join us! It’s not too late. [Tweet this] You can recap from Week 1, here. Click here to purchase your Summer Bible Study Special today.
Here’s your homework for Week Two: When God Sees Through You:
- Watch Session Two (When God Sees Through You) on Your Pursuing God’s Beauty DVD (20 minutes) and begin working through the homework.
- Read John 4-8.
- Come back to MargaretFeinberg.com on Thursday, the same day you can enjoy the Midday Connection podcast on the session, to discuss what God’s revealing to you along the way. (To subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss a beat, click here).
If you have a blog, consider linking up with MargaretFeinberg.com each Thursday and share what God is teaching you through the Gospel of John!
Here are four interesting tidbits about John 4-8:
1) What is a Samaritan? Samaritan is a term describing the intermarriage between the Israelites and a mix of other nationalities during the captivity by the Assyrians. When Cyrus the Great released the captives to go back to their homelands, the Samaritans settled in Samaria (a Persian province). They set up their own place of worship on Mount Gerizim since Jews wouldn’t let them help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Calling a Jewish person a Samaritan was considered a hostile insult in ancient culture.
2) Some scholars believe the “sheep gate” referred to in John 5:2 (Nehemiah 3:1, 3:2; 12:39) was a small opening in the temple wall where the sheep entered and were washed before being taken into the sanctuary for sacrifice. The nearby pool became a waiting area for the sick and disabled who hoped for miraculous healing.
3) John 6:9 (the story of feeding the 5000) notes that the boy’s five loaves were made of barley, a food which was common among the poor since it had a less desirable flavor. Wealthy people preferred wheat bread, which cost at least twice as much. This suggests that it was a poor boy that gave his food to Jesus.
4) Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world in John 8:12 ties into the Feast of Tabernacles. Each night during the festival, large oil candles were lit. They traditionally unraveled the old garments of the priests and used the material as wicks. Many believe that Jesus’ declaration of being the light of the world was in the context of this familiar scene.
FOR DISCUSSION: Answer the following questions as a comment to this blog post. Feel free to ask questions, reply to others’ comments, and post prayer requests.
The Bible never tells us the name of the woman whom Jesus met at the well in John 4, but imagine that you had the opportunity to meet her and give her a name. What name would you give her that represents her life before meeting Jesus and after meeting Jesus? (Page 36)
Read Thursday’s post for week two, here.
Click here to download 20 Must-Read Passages from John’s Gospel Free PDF Download.
_______
Want to catch up on the online #SummerBibleStudy at MargaretFeinberg.com? Here are the links to the Pursuing God’s Beauty: Stories from the Gospel of John Online Bible Study Posts:
Session One: MONDAY | THURSDAY
Session Two: MONDAY | THURSDAY
Session Three: MONDAY | THURSDAY
Session Four: MONDAY | THURSDAY
I think before she met Jesus she could have a plethora of names: Broken, Independent, Unlovable. But after meeting Christ: Redeemed, Dependent on Him, Beloved.
I think before she would be Discarded and after she was Overflowing.
The name I would give her before Jesus is Empty. She was constantly searching for something or someone to fill her, but it never could.
After Jesus I would call her Filled. She was filled with love, joy, peace, everything that Jesus offers us. That had to feel amazing for her!
I gave her real names. Before she met Jesus her name was Sue. She thought of herself as plain, unloved, needed a man to tell her she amounted to something-anything. After she met Jesus her name became Elizabeth Anne. She was now self-assured, flowing over with the River of Life which made her feel wanted and loved.
by the way, giving the Samaritan woman her name(s) made this Bible story so much more real to me. I really feel connected with it now in a much deeper way. Thanks for the idea!
I love that. Overflowing with the living water. Beautiful, Kimberlee! The story of the woman at the well is one of my favorites. Jesus breaks all sorts of social norms there!!
Jacob, that’s perfect! Those names also echo the image that Jesus is offering her the Living Water: Himself.
Elizabeth Anne– what a beautiful picture of the grace and love that Christ offers us! I just looked up what “Elizabeth” and “Anne” mean. “Oath of God” and “Grace; Favor.” Not sure if you intended it that way, Birdie, but the name you gave her is the promise of God to extend grace to his children. WONDERSTRUCK!
It makes her story come alive to me, too. It isn’t just a distant story, but all of our stories when we choose to accept the invitation Christ extends to us!
Broken, Unsure, Unhappy…before she met Jesus, than Overflowing, Free, Grace. I not sure, but finally giving her a name helps out with this study she is no more a NOBODY, but a SOMEBODY.
I love your names, Sue Alice. What a beautiful picture of God’s work in her life!
Before she met Jesus I imagine her as just a “Plain Jane…one who tried to hide in the crowd. After her encounter at the well, I can see her as a Valerie…loving her nickname “Val”–realizing she has value, even in spite of her previous choices and circumstances.
Rob- what a perfect name. “Val.” Valued and deemed worthy by the King of kings!