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Notes and Information from the Holy Ground Bible Study on Thursday, October 2, 2003.

In our study of John 4, after considering the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, we looked at the conversation that is recorded in Genesis chapter 3 in which the serpent tempts Eve.

We examined the two conversations paying careful attention to the way the conversations proceeded while noting the apparent goal of Satan and comparing it with the apparent goal of Jesus. Of particular note is the manner in which Jesus directs the woman towards that which will bring life while the serpent points Eve towards that which will bring death.

Listed below are a number of noted differences between the "Two Conversations." The notes related to each conversation are listed separately with the conversation of Genesis 3 listed first.

I have provided scripture references to describe the result that was experienced by Adam and Eve as well as the rest of humanity as a result of giving in to the temptation of Satan. I have also provided references to describe the benefits that can be experienced by humanity if they willingly respond to the invitation of Jesus as recorded in John 4.

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In the first conversation:
1. Satan initiates the conversation. A conversation about the tree / a tree that’s different.
2. Satan doesn't point out what she already has, all the other trees, but highlights what she doesn't have.
3. Satan tells her the tree in the midst of the garden is special, better than the others because of what it offers.
4. Satan urges her to reach for more than she needs / Satan stirs up a spirit of covetousness.
5. If everything you already have is good, having something more is better.
6. How can you truly be satisfied unless you get all there is to get.
7. The fall of man has changed the way mankind thinks.
8. Adam and Eve knew good but now, with their eyes opened, they have another option available. The introduction of evil leads to an ever increasing deterioration of their whole being, leading to complication, chaos, despair and destruction.
9. The new option clouds their awareness of God and new interests and desires begin to rise. The introduction of competing interests / The Rise of Idolatry.
10. Adam and Eve's ability to focus is lost and their ability to see is impacted.

Verses that speak of that which came as a result of the desire for more which led to the fall.
Ezekiel 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Ephesians 4:17-19
Proverbs 27:20, Romans 1:28-32, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, James 5:1-6, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude I I

In the second conversation:
1. Jesus initiates the conversation. A conversation about a well / to introduce water that is different.
2. Jesus points out what she has and points her towards that which will really satisfy.
3. The water from the midst of one's heart is the water that is special, better because of what it offers.
4. Recognizing what God has given / Jesus points her towards appreciation and contentment.
5. Jesus says that if she knew the "gift of God" she would discover what truly satisfies.
6. Knowing what it is that God gives is the way to be truly satisfied.
7. The spiritual awakening of man will bring renewal to the way a man thinks.
8. Being born of the Spirit will lead the Samaritan woman to an awakened spiritual condition that will allow her to see that it's what God has given that she should seek after. In God we find simplicity, order, peace and life.
9. With the new awakening clears away the blindness. Old interests and desires begin to fade. Competing interests diminish in importance / The Lord rises in the heart of the believer.
10. The Samaritan woman’s vision is restored. She has eyes to see and ears to hear.

Verses that speak of the4 new perspective which came as a result of the new awakening.
John3:2-3, John 11:39-41, 2 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 4:6, l Peter 2:9
Matthew 6:25-34, James l:17, 1 Timothy 6:6-8

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The verses given above are listed here in their complete form:

Scriptures Supporting Premise of "Two Conversation": Conversation with Eve

Ezekiel 12:2
2) "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Ephesians 4:17-19
17) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;
19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Proverbs 27:20
20) Hell and Destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Romans 1:28-32
28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

I Timothy 6:9-10
9) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

James 5:1-6
1) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3) Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat our flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
4) Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5) You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
6) You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

2 Peter 2:15
15) They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Jude 11
11) Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

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Scriptures Supporting Premise of "Two Conversation": Conversation with the Samaritan Woman

John 3:2-3
3) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 11:39-41
40) Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"

2 Corinthians 3:16
16) Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

2 Corinthians 4:6
6) For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9
9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Matthew 6:25-34
25) "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26) Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27) Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, 0 you of little faith?
31) Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear
32) "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

James 1:17
17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

1 Timothy 6:6-8
6) Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8) And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.