The Chosen - Discussion 8

Viewing Jesus through the eyes of those who met Him
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Episode 8 – I Am He

In Canaan, 1952 BC, Jacob and his sons dig a well in Shechem. In Sychar, 26 AD, Photina, a suffering Samaritan woman, fetches water from Jacob’s Well. At Matthew’s house in Capernaum, Jesus answers questions from the Pharisees, including Yussif, with the words of Hosea. Shmuel petitions Nicodemus concerning false prophecy. Jesus goes to Simon’s house and heals his mother-in-law. Learning Matthew left, Quintus issues a decree against religious gatherings outside synagogues. As Jesus and his students complete their preparations to depart Capernaum, Nicodemus leaves money for them. Gaius bequeaths Matthew’s wealth to Matthew’s father, Alphaeus. On the road, Jesus decides to go through Samaria, much to the shock of the disciples, especially Big James and John. When they arrive in Sychar, the disciples go to town to buy food while Jesus stays at Jacob’s Well, where he meets Photina, asking her for water. Jesus offers her “living water”, expresses true worship, and announces that he is the Messiah. After hearing Jesus telling her everything she did, Photina believes Jesus is the Christ and tells everyone about him. The disciples return and Jesus publicly launches his ministry.

Pray

Pray together for the group meeting, and any pressing needs within the group.

Watch

Watch the following discussion-starter video. It’ll set the topic of discussion for the group.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

  • Genesis 33:18-20
  • Matthew 9:9-13
  • Hosea 6:6
  • Luke 4:38-39
  • Genesis 16 (Story of Hagar)
  • Daniel 7:13-14
  • John 4:1-42

EPISODE CHARACTERS

Jesus, Nicodemus, Simon, Mary Magdalene, Andrew, Eden, Simon’s Mother-in-Law, Samaritan Woman

We didn’t choose him, he chose us.

~Jacob

Personal Impact

What quote from this episode was the most meaningful/impactful to you? Why?

Discuss

  1. In what ways is obedience difficult at the risk of ridicule from others?
  2. Discuss the different ways characters like Simon, Eden, Matthew, Nicodemus, etc. reacted to the directions of Jesus, their family, and their peers.
  3. Jesus mentions several times that he’s not trying to make his followers lives “easy,” nor is he here to deliver them from their oppressive government. What is Jesus’ purpose in coming and in bringing His disciples to follow him?
  4. Who were the first told about Jesus’ birth? Who did He first tell about His ministry? What were their social statuses?
  5. What was significant about Jesus choosing to talk to a Samaritan woman? How can you model that today?
  6. Can you recall a time when Jesus seemed to “go out of his way” to meet you in your need?
  7. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman a time is coming, and now is, when God will seek “true worshipers” to worship Him? What did He mean? How are we to worship God now?
  8. Has there ever been a time in your life where you were as excited about Jesus as the woman at the well was? How can we experience some of that excitement today?

Explore Deeper – John 4:1-30

  1. READ: One person will first read the scripture selection in the King James Version.
  2. RE-READ: Next, another person will read the same passages in a modern language or amplified version for more clarity such as the New Living Translation (NLT), Message Bible (MSG), New English Translation (NET), Amplified Bible (AMP), etc. We recommend using the YouVersion Bible app.
  3. RETELL: One person will begin retelling the scripture passage in their own words (a new person to start each week is great!) Then as a group, work together to fill in gaps and build the story. This will help us internalize and own it. Be sure everyone participates.

The Contact- verses 1-8

  • To get from Judea to Galilee, there were multiple routes to take… to the east, to the west, or straight through Samaria. Which way did Jesus take?
  • The Bible says he, “must needs” or “had to” go through. What does this mean?
  • The Jews would rarely go through Samaria. Why was this?
  • Note: Samaritans were a mixed Gentile race that settled near Jerusalem in the Old Testament after the Jews and other nations were defeated by Assyria. These non-Jews adopted some of the Jewish religious beliefs and mixed them with their Pagan beliefs… these people were eventually called Samaritans and were despised by the Jews as both racial and religious half-breed heretics.
  • Did Jesus know the woman would be coming to the well at precisely the time she did?
  • Was the woman expecting Jesus to be there?
  • What was she hoping to find at the well?
  • How would you define the idea of, “divine appointments”?
  • Can you describe a time when God made a divine appointment for you?
  • When you’re reaching someone for Christ, what obstacles or inconveniences might you encounter?
  • The woman came to the well at noontime when most people would come in the morning or the evening. Why do you think she came now?
  • What was the question Jesus asked her?
  • Each of them were thirsty, but for different things. What were each thirsty for?
  • What does this encounter with Jesus tell us about racial prejudice?

The Challenge – verses 9-15

  • How might the woman have known Jesus was Jewish?
  • Note: There were three issues here: 1) Jesus was a Jew (racial issue), 2) Jesus was a man talking to a woman (gender issue), and 3) Jesus was willing to drink from a Samaritan’s cup (religious issue).
  • Where were Jesus’ disciples at this time?
  • What was the woman’s response to Jesus’ request for water?
  • How did Jesus begin to make her see her need?
  • How did he begin revealing to her who he was?
  • What did Jesus mean when he told her about “living water”?
  • What might the woman have thought “living water” was?
  • How does Jesus compare “worldly water” to “living water”?
  • Describe a time when the world left you thirsty.
  • What was Jesus referring to when he spoke of water “springing up into everlasting life”?
  • What was the woman’s response to his offer now?
  • Did she at this time fully understand what he was offering?

The Confrontation – verses 16-18

  • Why might Jesus have confronted the woman about her living situation?
  • How did he coax the truth from her?
  • Was this part of the conversation comfortable for her? What can this tell us about our approach to Jesus?
  • Describe a time when you had a painful medical procedure that resulted in better health.
  • Did the woman tell Jesus the truth? Did she tell him the whole truth?
  • What was Jesus’ response? Why was it important for him to describe her reality to her?

The Conversion – verses 19-26

  • Who did the woman now think Jesus was?
  • Why did she engage Jesus in a debate about beliefs?
  • What two things did Jesus tell her were most important about worship?
  • From this passage, what things are not important about worship?
  • Did the woman know that Jesus was the Messiah?
  • What is significant about Jesus’ declaration that “I… am”?

The Changed Life – verses 27-30

  • How did his disciples react when they saw Jesus talking to her?
  • What does the woman now do with her new-found knowledge?
  • When she began reaching people about Jesus, how knowledgeable was she?
  • What is required in order to be an effective witness?
  • In what ways can this woman’s experience change your approach to witnessing to others?