Hi, friends. I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, and the miracles.

If you were invited to join us by your friend, welcome. This is a perfect week to start listening with us, no matter what you already know or think about Jesus, where your faith journey has led you so far.

I really encourage you to stick with us this week as we read through the book of John. Even take some time, jump back to yesterday and listen to John chapters 1 through 3, and then continue on with us today.

Each month, we're going to read all four books. So go ahead and subscribe today. Join us as we read the Gospels together.

Here's how it works. I'm going to read you three chapters, and then you can listen. You can read along in your Bible or online, and then I'll pray, and that's it.

In just a reminder, we have two resources for you besides this daily podcast. We have an April reading plan, and we have a let's read the Gospels guidebook. You can get all of that at antifdowns.com slash Gospels.

So let's jump in today. Today is April 10th, day 10, and I'll be reading John chapters four through six. And this month, I'm reading from the message.

John four. Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed, although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing.

They have posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.

To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sikarp as Samaritan village that bordered the field. Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was still there. Jesus worn out by the trip sat down at the well. It was noon.

A woman as Samaritan came to draw water. Jesus said, would you give me a drink of water? His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.

The Samaritan woman taken a back asked, how come you a Jew are asking me a Samaritan woman for a drink? Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans. Jesus answered, if you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink. And I would give you fresh living water.

The woman said, sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with. And this well is deep. So how are you going to get this living water? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob who dug this well and drank from it? He and his sons and livestock and passed it down to us.

Jesus said, everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst, not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within gushing, fountains of endless life.

The woman said, sir, give me this water so I won't ever get thirsty, won't ever have to come back to this well again. He said, go call your husband and then come back. I have no husband, she said.

That's nicely put. I have no husband. You've had five husbands and the man you're living with now isn't even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.

Oh, so you're a prophet. Well, tell me this. Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?

Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the father, neither here at this mountain, nor there in Jerusalem.

You worship guessing in the dark, we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews, but the time is coming.

It has in fact come when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It's who you are and the way you live that count before God.

Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the father is out looking for those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.

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