Chautauqua Lakeside 2020 Faith For Living “Disciplines of Discipleship: The Witness of the Woman at the Well” Wednesday’s Session: Embodiment (John 4:20-26) Rev. Karoline M. Lewis, Ph.D. The Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN www.karolinelewis.com

20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in .” 21 said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

When a prophet of God stands in front of you… 4:20 Most important theological question that separated Jews and Theological crisis of post-70 C.E.

Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim/Jews in Jerusalem

4:21 Jesus is the temple now 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”

Temple incident moved to John 2:13-22

“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20 The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.”

Wednesday Outline 1 4:22-24 What is true worship? John 9:35-38, “Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ 36 He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ 38 He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped him.

John 19:15, “We have no king but Caesar.”

John 20:28, “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

4:25 Messiah – Jesus’ identity – who is Jesus? Who will recognize who Jesus is?

4:26 Jesus’ revelation – he tells his truth – I AM – in part because she told hers. Why? Because relationship, by definition, should be mutual.

The pronoun “he” is not in the Greek text

Unique to John; two kinds of “I AM” statements

Absolute “I AM” – without a predicate nominative: 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5, 7

“I AM” with a predicate nominative: 6:35; 6:51; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25-26; 14:6; 15:1, 5

Summary Embodiment means presence and abiding Mutual truth-telling: she shares her truth and Jesus shares his Discipleship is not just your mind – whole body experience

Wednesday Outline 2