John ch.4


John 4

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 

(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),

he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.


1-2 Jesus withdraws because His time has not yet come; This is not the only time we hear these words from Jesus: Besides John 7:8, we also hear these words several times in Luke’s Gospel - and Jesus himself says this to his mother in ch.2. And until his time does come, he will remain mostly hidden; exercising great wisdom, forbearance and patience - and obeying to the letter, the instructions of His Father, through the strength of the Holy Spirit. 
John the Baptist will himself, fall like a seed to the ground (John 12:24)…ultimately laying down his life, like all the OT prophets who went before him; who have now  fully prepared the soil…and paved the Way…for the One who has now come - and will soon, at exactly the right time - be revealed! (See John 12:31-32)
When we realize this…the significance of the Old Testament…who and what it is pointing to…and those (the Remnant of Israel from generation to generation) who laid down their lives because of it: How can we ever possibly take the Word of God, or the Jewish people lightly! See also Luke 24:13-32, 45.


And he had to pass through Samaria. 

Why?

vs 4 No Jew would ever pass through Samaria - even though it was directly in the way, between Judea and Galilee: No Jew wanted to: they would take the much longer  route around the side instead: Why?
In order to answer this question, we must first ask: who were the Samaritans?

Read 2Kings ch.17

In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


24 And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.


Following the exile of the northern kingdom of Israel by Assyria and the taking of its capital, Samaria, the King of Assyria proceeded to replace the Israelites with the peoples of other lands that had previously been conquered by Assyria. These would eventually intermarry, with the few Jews who had been left in the desolate land. (Likely the lowest of the low in Jewish society.) Later on, priests were sent back to Samaria, from the Jewish exiles, to teach these new residents the Laws and statues of God, but even so, they still continued to worship their own gods alongside, resulting in a watered-down and very strange form of pagan-like worship. This was still continuing in Samaria, in the time of Jesus - and still continues today!


So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. (midday)


This is most likely the land Jacob bought from Shechan (Genesis 33:19). Jacob lived there a long time and provided his children with water from the well. Now someone greater than Jacob is about to provide something far greater - eternal Life (see ch.8:37-38) - and this will be revealed, not to a pure-blooded descendant of the exiled Israelites - but to a descendant of those who moved in to take their place! For we are all like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36, Isaiah 53:6) - But God…God so loved the WORLD..! 

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 

(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

Who is she?

1. A Samaritan: Despised and rejected by the pure-blooded descendants of Abraham - and a constant reminder to them of their exile and displacement.

2. A woman: culturally of less value and importance than a man 

3. An outcast (see also vs 15). No woman would come to draw water in the heat of the moon-day sun - and by herself: Because this was a social occasion.

Now begins one of the longest and most amazing and beautiful dialogues between God and his Creation; and it begins with God asking one of his creation to meet a need! “Give me a drink.”


The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”


This at first seems a very peculiar statement for  Jesus to make: “If you knew…” Unless, this was actually EXACTLY what she wanted! The Pharisees would eventually know who he was - and wish they didn’t! This woman wanted to know! She had been asking…praying to this distant God of Jacob - because she wanted to know

If you knew..” It is as if Jesus is subtlety saying: “The One you have been waiting for is here.”


11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 

Again: She wanted to know..!


12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 

“Are you “greater”…are you the One - the Messiah?” She could possibly be wondering…because deep down she had been waiting…


13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.

The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” {Contrast this with ch.19:28 - he truly did drink the cup of  Death for us, so that we can drink of his Life - forever!} (also Matthew 26:39)


Again, Jesus already knows she is thirsty…for so much more than water! Slowly and deliberately, in a way we have not seen him do before, Jesus is beginning to remove the veil.


15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 

Again, she is thirsty - but not only for water… (see Matthew 1:21) - Jesus is now about to address…to bring into the Light…this woman’s greatest issue…so he can deal with it: 

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 

17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 

18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 

 

This is an obvious divine meeting, ordained by the Lord from the very beginning; for this woman, who was called by God from the very beginning.

And through the mystery of this conversation we begin to realize…that this woman actually sees


Firstly:  She sees a Jew (vs.9, 20 & 22) 

It seems, as we read through this dialogue, that at some time over the course of her life, she has come to recognize that Salvation is of the Jews and that somehow, the Way to know Messiah/the Savior is through them. (This is further evidenced by the reference to Jacob as her “father” in vs.12). Which tells us that deep down, she desperately wants to know the God of  Jacob - whose name is Salvation.


Secondly: She sees a prophet:

vs 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

How could she perceive such a thing? - Unless she was actually looking for one!

“…even if you aren’t the Messiah, you are a Jew and a prophet - and can surely direct me to him”, she may have been thinking. 

She is thirsty: for something so much more than water (vs. 11-12, 15) - to the point where she doesn’t even withdraw or recoil when the Lord reveals her sinful state… “I perceive you are a prophet” (help me Lord)…

It is as if she knows she has found someone who can hopefully lead her to this distant God she has  heard so much about: Which is why she immediately follows up this incredible perception, with a question - about WORSHIP!


20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

In other words: “I want to worship the Lord - Show me!”

She is hungry: for something so much more than food (she wants to know the Lord)

Imagine her desperation - mixed with excitement - and also hope. 


21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

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 is seeking such people to worship him. 


This is very good news for someone who, for much of her life has likely felt cut off and cast out. What is Jesus saying here? Physical, outward things do not matter anymore - Samaritan…outcast…sinner - it will no longer be an obstacle: the Temple…Jerusalem…Samaria: it is all about to become irrelevant: The Way to the Father is about to be opened - for everyone!

“The Father?” It is hard to imagine how the Holy Spirit is moving on this woman’s heart at this point; the revelation, the stirring of the hope being awakened deep inside: That this distant unknown God is not so distant…or unknown; and he is called “The Father”? We have never heard this title used before in the Gospel of John. And Jesus reveals it - to a Samaritan woman…


24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

It no longer matters if you are a Jew in Jerusalem, a Samaritan in Samaria, a Roman in Rome or a Greek in Macedonia! We must all without exception, be born again of the Spirit: for this is the Only Way to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth! (See 1Peter 2:5)


Thirdly & finally: She sees the Messiah (vs.25-26)

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 


And here, is where the truth within her heart finally comes out:I knowthat Messiah is coming.” She…out of all Samaria…out of all Israel…was one of a Remnant, who truly were looking for him…waiting for Him - and KNEW that he was coming! (“If you knew…” vs.10) ! 

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am

he.”



And here is where we finally understand - why “he had to go through Samaria”: This truly was a divine, God-ordained appointment: “…for the Father is SEEKING such people to worship him.” (vs23): The Lord sought this one out - he came to find her - because she was looking for him. (Jeremiah 29:13)


27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 


That the inquisitive, argumentative disciples are brought to silence here, shows us the holiness…the gravity…the Shekinah glory of this moment - where the Spirit of God has moved so powerfully. 


28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 

29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.”

She has no shame as she says this; only joy and excitement: Not because Jesus knew what she had done…But, because Jesus knew her!


Can this be the Christ?” 

“Can this possibly be the one I have been looking for…waiting for?” I believe deep down, she knew he was!


“Leaving her water jar…” - the very reason she had come to the well: Because the Lord has satisfied a far deeper need - even than water (vs.13-14). In this life, we will continue to need water and food…but this woman has tasted of the living water of eternity…


30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.


Because, when the veil is removed and we realize who Jesus Christ really is, the automatic instinct is to go and tell everyone you know! Andrew got Peter…Philip got Nathanael…and this woman gets almost her entire village! 

Why? Because Jesus of Nazareth is no ordinary man. (See Luke 24:28-32)


31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 

{They are still thinking carnally - I.e. with their bellies}

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.


When we are about our Father’s business, this seems to be exactly this way. I have often found this to be so after a powerful moment of evangelism or ministry: When the Spirit of the Lord is moving, food is the last thing on the mind. (See Matthew 6:25) Just as this woman has discovered something more than physical water, Jesus is demonstrating the same thing to his disciples. (See Matthew 6:31-33)

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:27

vs. 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

Who labored? Even among the pagan Samaritans with a distorted view of God, a faithful remnant of Jews, through the Scriptures, throughout the ages, have labored. And the Samaritan woman is the first fruits of that labor: Because God so loved the world…


39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 

(Again, this is not about shame- but joy…pure joy: “He knows me..!”)

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 

41 And many more believed because of his word.

42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (Again, see Luke 24:28-32)

See how he used this woman: This outcast from her society, had discovered a deep-seeded need - and hunger for the God of Israel (The Lord will often allow us to be “cast out” of our communities and societies for this exact reason - see 1Samuel 16:4-11) And now, this outcast is suddenly the most influential person in the community, as we see the Lord working through her in one of the most powerful “revivals” recorded in the New Testament! Her one encounter, with the Lord she had been searching for, had transformed, not only her, but her entire village. 


43 After the two days he departed for Galilee.

44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)

45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

It is unclear as to whether this is connected to the similar occurrences in Matthew 13, Mark 6 and Luke 4. We know that the Galileans received him because they saw what he had done at the feast -  i.e. the overturning of the tables - and this may have stirred up popularity amongst their large zealot population. This is no reason to follow Jesus and is possibly another reason why he was rejected.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 

47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 

48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 


It seems that this was a test; akin to that of Matthew 15:22-28, where a Canaanite woman also begs Jesus for help. It is a test of humility as well as faith.

It is also a warning to us: Do we need miracles, signs and wonders in order to believe? Or is the Word of God…the sacrifice of his Son…enough.


49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 


Again, this man did not need to see: Jesus’s Word was enough for him.


51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 

52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.


Lessons of Galilee 

Both these signs (healing the official’s son & the water into wine) were performed in Cana, through people who simply took Jesus at his word (“Do whatever he tells you” - ch.2:5) and OBEYED.




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