John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus’ meeting the “bad Samaritan” at the well was not a coincidence, but it certainly was a face off between religion and having a personal relationship with God – really worshipping.
We see the prejudice in religion (vs. 9), the place of religion (vs. 20), and the pride of religion (vs. 25). To some, religious dogmas are the final authority instead of God and the Bible. Certain religions are exclusive to particular ethnic groups, and even refuse to welcome converts from other religions. The Jews have Jerusalem, the Catholics Rome, and the Arabs Mecca. But for true believers the “body is the temple” (1 Cor. 6:19). True worship is not confined to a place, but toward a Person.
The starting of this relationship began with Jesus. She didn’t seek Him out. Instead of avoiding her, like most orthodox Jews did, He engaged her (vs. 7). She was shocked that He would even speak to her! Next, He enraged her (vss. 17-18) by confronting her sin. A person can’t be saved from their sin, if they are not convinced they are a sinner. Then, He endeared her (vs. 26) by revealing Himself as the Messiah, not merely presenting a list of rules and regulations from a religious code.
Her belief was evident. She left her water pot (vs. 28), and began sharing her relationship with others (vss. 28-19). She didn’t invite people to religion; she invited them to meet Jesus.
The disciples were challenged to grow in their relationship by emphasizing the spiritual over the physical (vss. 31-34); by reaping the harvest instead of merely talking about it (vs. 35); and by working together instead of comparing and competing with one another (vss. 36-38).
