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John 3:1–21 & 4:1–42 — Born Again, Living Water & Worship in Spirit and Truth

·12 min read·Dennis Mercado
#bible-study#john#theology#discipleship

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John 3:1–21 & 4:1–42 — Born Again, Living Water & Worship in Spirit and Truth

Study Diagram Overview

From my Excalidraw study notes—a visual map of Nicodemus and the new birth, the woman at the well, and worship in Spirit and truth. Open diagram in full size →

Nicodemus (3) Belief & judgment Woman at the well (4) Spirit and truth
Born again; water and Spirit 3:16–21 God gave His Son; light vs darkness Jacob's well; living water 4:23–24 True worshipers; Savior of the world

Key themes in the diagram: New birth from above | Signs and titles don't save; regeneration does | Living water that satisfies forever | Worship neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem | An hour coming and now here | Mission: point others to Jesus

Introduction: From Nicodemus to the Well

John 3 and 4 present two contrasting encounters: a respected Jewish ruler who comes at night, and a marginalized Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at noon. In both, Jesus goes straight to what matters—entrance into the kingdom by new birth, and the gift of living water and true worship. The Pharisees had investigated John the Baptist's credentials (1:19, 24); now they were looking into Jesus. These passages reveal that signs and titles do not save; regeneration and faith in the Son do. True worship is in Spirit and in truth, and salvation is from the Jews but offered to the world.

Structure at a Glance

Section Verses Focus
Nicodemus by night 3:1–15 Born again; water and Spirit; God gave His Son
Belief and judgment 3:16–21 Eternal life for believers; condemnation for those who reject the light
Jesus in Samaria 4:1–15 Jacob's well; living water that satisfies forever
The woman's past 4:16–26 Husband; prophet; worship neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem
Spirit and truth 4:23–24 True worshipers worship the Father in Spirit and in truth
Harvest and belief 4:27–42 Disciples return; woman testifies; many Samaritans believe

Summary: Jesus and Nicodemus (3:1–21)

Setting and link to 2:24–25. Jesus had refused to entrust Himself to those who "believed" only because of signs, because He knew what was in man (2:24–25). Nicodemus illustrates that theme: a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews (Sanhedrin) who comes at night—whether from caution or, in John's symbolism, because he is still in moral and spiritual "night" until he comes to the light.

From intellectual acknowledgement to new birth. Nicodemus addresses Jesus as "Rabbi" and acknowledges His divine authority on the basis of signs: "We know that you are a teacher who has come from God." Jesus does not deny it but redirects: that is an intellectual affirmation, not personal transformation. He goes straight to the one thing that matters—entrance into the kingdom requires new birth. Signs and titles do not save; regeneration does.

Born again / from above. The phrase gennēthē anōthen (born again) uses anōthen, which primarily means "from above" or "from on high." To see the kingdom one must be born again; to enter it one must be born of water and the Spirit. "Water and Spirit" points to spiritual birth that cleanses from sin and brings spiritual transformation (cf. Ezekiel 36:25–27; the bronze laver for priestly cleansing). Physical birth (flesh) gives limited life with sin; birth of the Spirit gives eternal life. The wind/Spirit analogy (pneuma = wind and Spirit): the Spirit's work is invisible, mysterious, and sovereign—like the wind, you hear its effect but do not control its source. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Earthly and heavenly things. Nicodemus asks, "How can these things be?" Jesus gently rebukes him: as a teacher of Israel he ought to grasp this. If he does not believe "earthly" things (birth, wind), how will he believe "heavenly" things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Jesus alone has the authority to speak of both.

Lifted up like the bronze snake. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4–9) so that those who looked lived, the Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life; everyone who does not believe is already condemned. The judgment: the light has come, but people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. Those who live by the truth come to the light.

New creation. To believe in the Son is to receive the gift of God and become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17): the old has passed away, the new has come. Nicodemus had to move from "teacher from God" to believing in the Son. Later he stepped into the light: he defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin (7:50–51) and helped bury Him with Joseph of Arimathea (19:39–40).

▶ Discipleship application: Come to Jesus not only for insight but for new birth. You cannot earn or schedule it; it is a sovereign work of God. Believe in the one and only Son—and live as one who has passed from death to life and walks in the light.

Jesus at Jacob's Well (4:1–15)

6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. "Give me a drink," Jesus said to her. … 10 Jesus answered, "If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would ask him, and he would give you living water." … 13 Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life."

Notes drawn from your study:

  • Jacob's well—The well is tied to the patriarch Jacob (Genesis 33:18–20). He had met Rachel at a well; now Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the same kind of place—but He is greater than Jacob and offers living water that does not run out.
  • Jesus was worn out—John underscores Jesus' genuine, full humanity. He is weary and thirsty; He is also the one who gives the water that satisfies the soul (cf. Isaiah 12:3: "You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation").
  • Living water—The woman thinks of physical water (you don't have a bucket; the well is deep). Jesus speaks of eternal life and the Spirit (cf. 7:37–39). Whoever drinks from Him will never thirst again; the water becomes a spring in the believer for eternal life. Living water transforms life—leading to fruitfulness and mission.

▶ Discipleship application: Do you keep coming back to the same "wells" (approval, success, comfort) that never satisfy? Ask the Lord for the water He gives. Once you drink from Him, He becomes a spring inside you—satisfying and overflowing.

The Woman's Past and the Prophet (4:16–26)

16 "Go call your husband," he told her, "and come back here." 17 "I don't have a husband," she said. Jesus replied, "You have correctly said, 'I don't have a husband.' 18 For you've had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." 19 The woman said, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus told her, "Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. … 23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth."

Notes drawn from your study:

  • Husband—Jesus' instruction gives the woman the opportunity to admit the truth: she was living with a man who was not her husband, after five previous husbands. She had come to the well at noon (the sixth hour)—likely to avoid others because of shame. Jesus knows her completely and still offers her living water.
  • Prophet / place of worship—"This mountain" is Mount Gerizim, where Samaritans had built their temple (cf. Deuteronomy 11; Joshua 8). Jews insisted worship belonged in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 12). Jesus does not take a side in the geography debate; He announces that an hour is coming, and is now here, when place will no longer define true worship.
  • Spirit and truth—True worship is in Spirit and in truth: led by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the revelation of God (in the Son). "Salvation is from the Jews"—the Jewish Scriptures and the Jewish Messiah are the conduit—but the offer is to Samaritans and the world. The Samaritans worshiped what they did not fully know (they had only the Pentateuch); true worship requires true knowledge of God, which comes through Christ.

▶ Discipleship application: Jesus knows your past and still invites you to drink. Worship is not about the right mountain or building but about the Spirit and the truth revealed in Christ. Ask Him to make you a true worshiper—in Spirit and in truth.

The Hour That Is Coming and Is Now Here (4:27–42)

25 The woman said, "I know that the Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26 Jesus told her, "I, the one speaking to you, am he." … 34 Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." … 39 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said. … 42 They told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this one really is the Savior of the world."

Notes drawn from your study:

  • "My hour"—In 2:4 at Cana, Jesus said, "My hour has not yet come." Here in 4:23 He says an hour is coming, and is now here—the first time in John that His "hour" is both future and present. True worship in Spirit and truth is possible because He has come; the cross will complete the hour.
  • Food and mission—When the disciples urge Him to eat, Jesus says His food is to do the will of the Father and finish His work. His mission is more important than physical food; the woman (and the Samaritans) are part of that work.
  • Savior of the world—The woman goes back to her town and many believe. At first they believe because of her word; then they hear Jesus for themselves and confess that He really is the Savior of the world. The gift of living water leads to transformation, fruitfulness, and mission—others come to the well.

▶ Discipleship application: Your "food" is to do the Father's will. The living water you receive is meant to flow out—so that others hear for themselves and know that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Point people to Him, then let them meet Him.

Summary: Theological Themes from Your Notes

  1. New birth: Entrance into the kingdom requires birth from above—of water and the Spirit. Signs and titles do not save; regeneration does. It is a mysterious, sovereign work of God, like the wind.
  2. God gave His Son: Eternal life is only through belief in the one and only Son. He was lifted up so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. Belief or unbelief divides light from darkness.
  3. Living water: Jesus offers water that satisfies forever and becomes a spring inside the believer for eternal life. He is greater than Jacob; He is the gift of God. Drinking from Him transforms life and leads to fruitfulness.
  4. True worship: An hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Place (mountain or Jerusalem) gives way to the Spirit and the truth revealed in Christ. Salvation is from the Jews, but the Savior is for the world.
  5. Mission and testimony: Jesus' food is to do the Father's will. The Samaritan woman testified; many believed, then heard for themselves and confessed Him as the Savior of the world. Living water leads to mission.

For Further Study

  • Born again / from above: Trace "birth" and "Spirit" in John (1:12–13; 3:3–8; 19:34 with 1 John 5:6–8). Compare with Ezekiel 36:25–27 and Titus 3:5.
  • Living water: Follow the theme from 4:10–14 to 7:37–39 (Spirit as living water) and Revelation 21:6; 22:1, 17.
  • Worship in Spirit and truth: Connect 4:21–24 with the temple theme in 2:13–22 and the promise of the Spirit in 14–16. How does the Spirit make "true" worship possible?
  • Savior of the world: Compare 4:42 with 1:29; 3:17; 12:47. How does John present the scope of salvation?

Reflection & Response

How does this shape your walk?

  • New birth: Have you come to Jesus for new birth, not only for insight? Do you rely on the Spirit's sovereign work, not on your own effort?
  • Living water: What "wells" do you keep returning to that never satisfy? Have you asked Him for the water He gives, and do you live as one in whom that water springs up?
  • Worship: Is your worship in Spirit and in truth—grounded in Christ and led by the Spirit—or still tied mainly to place, tradition, or feeling?
  • Mission: Is your "food" to do the Father's will? Are you pointing others to Jesus so they can hear for themselves and know that He is the Savior of the world?

Documentation compiled from study notes. Scripture references from CSB (Christian Standard Bible).