Text :John 4: 16-26
Introduction
The Gospel of John is predominantly theological in comparison with the other gospels. His initial assertion--"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us" (John 1:1, 14) declares that Jesus was no ordinary person. He was the incarnation of the eternal God, who chose that means of revealing himself perfectly to human.
In the gospel we see that Jesus was an inclusive messiah, one who came for all. Jesus broke the social barrier and went through Samaria. He proves that there are no Jews, no Samaritans, no higher and lower but all are equal in the sight of God.
Christianity and Islam:
No believing Muslims accept the idea of sources or human influence as having a bearing on the Quran, for he holds that it is, in its entirely, revealed by Allah. Not only do Muslims reject the historical-critical method of investigation of Quranic material, they similarly reject and oppose any attempt to explain the Quran and its contents in purely historical terms. . It is divinely revealed in its entirety and one doesn’t investigate God, it is accepted as Arab Muslim say “bila kaif” or without question.
Old Testament parallel in the Quran:
A. The One god:
Pre-Islamic poetry frequently used the term “Allah” not name only but the conception of his unity as well. Thus the unique designation of God was most probably not the result of Jewish or Christian teaching.
B. Revelation:
It’s a cause of wonder that there is only one direct quotation in the Quran that parallels a biblical reference and that is Psalm 37:29.
Four sets of scriptures are singled out in the Quran as being given by the divine revelation.
The Tawrat (Pentateuch) given to Moses, the Zabus (psalms) to David the injil(Gospel)to Jesus;and the quran to Mohammad. All are to be received and believed alike for all confirm one another.
C. The prophet are chosen by God:
The concept of prophet are closely parallel to Hebrew model but the Word was not the Judeo-Christian term “nabi:,prophet,but the Arabic designation “Rasul” messenger.
The prophet in Islam is the divinely appointed viceroy of Allah with even kings being a little lower in status. After many inner conflicts he was eventually convinced that he was Allah’s chosen spokesman and once set on this course, there was no turning back.
D. The Last judgment:
Quran stresses that on this fateful day each will stand or fall accounting to his own recorded deeds, also present the possibility of some awful calamity befalling that transgressor in the present life.
Application
Christianity and Islam share common elements about origins, worship one God who is benevolent, judgement, prophetic .there are elements where they differ too.
In view of the history of religion wars in the past, the present situation where Muslim brothers and sisters feel wronged by the Christian west, one walks in to a vitiated atmosphere.
Islam also denies that Christ died on the cross and questions the concept of the son ship of God.
Though we cannot draw absolute similarities, Jesus walks in to a location where animosity to him can arise from social, cultural and especially religious background.
Jesus draws the conversation into one about deeper meanings of life in terms of in quality, quantity and about an authentic worship of God that demands that one move beyond a handful of fixed rituals. Such a discussion bound to make one reflect.
Jesus also uses His ability to see in to a person’s life. In our setting this could mean that we use our own gifts creatively with discernment and sensitivity.
One cannot in the end avoid a discussion about Jesus himself. But the above themes can be useful rather than engaging in polemic from the outset.
Jesus had something precious to offer and he was not overawed by a potentially explosive and different situation. Instead John’ Portrayal of Jesus shows him engaging with sensitivity and honesty. The ending of the engagement is very positive- people realise that Jesus is the saviour of the world. Our hope is that we could learn lessons from this passage to share the precious gift- the Lord Himself in a way that will result in similar outcomes.
[This Bible study is Prepared by:Anima Samad, Sudhir Kumar Burh, Yacub Kumsr Mundu, Alex Das, Byju Eapen, John Allwyn, Dr.Samuel Sidhartha swamidoss, BD IV Students of Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, India]
