John 4:16-26

Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts

S – What verse stands out to me today?

O – What is God revealing about Jesus?

A – How should this change my life today?

P – What is my prayer in response?

Scripture

John 4:16-26 (LEB) 16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have said rightly, ‘I do not have a husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband; this you have said truthfully!” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, that an hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming—and now is here—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. 24 God isspirit, and the ones who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever that one comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.

Observation

• It appears that Jesus had special insight into this woman’s life. He knew the exact question to ask her. 

• It is revealed that this Samaritan woman has had five husbands, and the one she is with currently is not her husband. 

• As a result, the Samaritan woman confesses that Jesus must be a prophet for knowing this information about her. 

• I notice she changes the subject. She moves the conversation from talking about her to talking about the proper place of worship. 

• Jesus cuts through everything and declares that where we worship no longer matters. The tension has been resolved by his coming. 

• “Spirit and truth” are mentioned twice. Jesus is presenting this as the true way of worship. God is spirit and desires a people who worship him in “spirit and truth.”

• The woman is open to the Messiah coming, and Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah.

Application

• Jesus always knows what is really going on. Trying to hide makes no sense. 

• I need to spend less time distracting and more time accepting the facts. 

• I desire to worship God in spirit and truth.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for sending Jesus as Messiah (the anointed one) to bring all your children under one banner. Search me, O Lord, and know my thoughts. I give you permission to investigate all the rooms in my heart. I desire to be holy just like you. May my life-worship be full of both spirit and truth. In Jesus’ name, amen!

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