John 4

John 4:1

Since the word “but” can also be translated “except,” the idea here could be that, although Jesus did not baptize the masses, He did baptize His disciples. Or it could mean His disciples were doing the baptizing. Either way, people were responding to Jesus’ ministry.

John 4:3

As the number of Jesus’ followers multiplied, the Pharisees realized that their enemy was no longer John the Baptist, but an itinerant Preacher from Galilee. At this point, not wanting to get involved in confrontation with the Pharisees, Jesus decided to go north to Galilee.

John 4:4

Israel is divided into three regions: Judea in the south, Galilee in the north, and Samaria in the middle. When a Jew wanted to go from Judea to Galilee, the most direct route led through Samaria. But good Jews would never go that way. They would go through Perea on the other side of the Jordan River. Why? Because there was such tension between the Samaritans and the Jews, that Jews uttered the word “Samaritan” only as a curse word.

Why were the Samaritans so despised? In the year 722 B.C., the Assyrians invaded Israel from the north and carried the majority of the people from the ten northern tribes into captivity. The Assyrians then sent some of their people to Israel, where they intermarried with the Jews not taken into captivity. The marriages that took place between the Assyrians and the Jews produced the Samaritanshalf-breeds in the eyes of the Jews. Barred from the temple, the Samaritans built their own temple on Mount Gerizim. Although they still believed in the Pentateuchthe first five books of Mosesthey changed the stories.

The Garden of Eden was on Mount Gerizim. Noah’s ark landed on Mount Gerizim. And Abraham offered Isaacyou guessed iton Mount Gerizim. As Jesus headed north to Galilee, He said, “I’m going straight through Samaria.” Why? Because there was a divine appointment awaiting Him there. The following story is another classic illustration of how to witness and share our faith. Contrast this fourth chapter of John with John 3. In John 3, Jesus talks to a religious man named Nicodemus. In John 4, He talks to an immoral woman whose name is not given.

In John 3, Nicodemus is a calm contemplator. In John 4, the woman is a fiery debater. In John 3, Jesus speaks with Nicodemus in the cool of the night. In John 4, Jesus speaks with the woman in the heat of the day. In John 3, Nicodemus initiates the conversation. In John 4, Jesus begins the dialogue.

For you who are interested in personal evangelism, there is much to chew on as you see the different methods our Lord employs to draw people to Himself.

John 4:5

Jacob’s well still stands. One hundred fifty feet deep, it’s one of few verifiably authentic biblical sites. But if you get the opportunity to visit Jacob’s well, take your helmet, as it’s located in the war-torn West Bank. Heb_2:11 says Jesus was made like unto his brethrenlike you. He knows how it feels to be bone-tired. I’m glad about that because I feel that way not infrequently. The battles rage. The problems mount. The struggles continue. And I just feel weary. Yet it is often at the point when we are weary or feeling weak that we will be used to the greatest degree (2Co_12:10). Women typically drew water in the morning or in the evening. But this woman, for reasons we shall see, wanted to avoid the other women of the community. Consequently, she would wait until the hot, noontime hourwhen everyone else would be resting or eatingto make her journey to the well.

John 4:7

Jesusthe One who fed five thousand on the hillside by the Sea of Galilee with a few loaves and fishes, the One who fed four thousand shortly thereafter, the One who is the Provider of all good giftsis hungry. And what does He do? He sends His disciples into town to pick up some food. You’ll never once see Jesus perform a miracle solely to satisfy His own need, desire, or hunger. “Turn these stones into bread,” Satan taunted after Jesus had fasted forty days in the wilderness (see Mat_4:3). But Jesus’ refusal to do so causes me to analyze my own prayers and consider how often I make requests of the Lord for my own satisfaction versus how often I pray for the needs of others and the glory of the kingdom.

John 4:9

Why isn’t Jesus a gentleman here? Why doesn’t He say, “Let Me draw water for you?” It seems that would be the right thing to do. In actuality, however, Jesus is demonstrating a very important principle. “Give to Me,” He says to the womannot because He wants the water, but because He wants her heart. He wants to see her saved. As believers, oftentimes we err on this point. We think, What can I do for other people to find a way of entry into witnessing or sharing? While there certainly is a place for that, often letting people do something for youhumbling yourself and allowing them to make an investment in or give assistance to youis the most effective way to reach them. Jesus knew that wherever a person’s treasure is, there will his heart be also (Mat_6:21). If someone shares with you something of his “treasure,” something of his heart will be sure to followaffording you the opportunity of reaching it with the gospel. Our tendency is to want to be helpers rather than “help-ees.” We want to be the givers because it’s truly more blessed to give than to receive. But, as Jesus shows us, sometimes it’s imperative to receive in order that another might come into the kingdom. The classic biblical example of this principle is found in Numbers 10. As Moses prepares to lead the people of Israel on their journey toward the Promised Land, he invites his Gentile brother-in-law to join them. “Hobab, come with us. It’s a good land to which we are going, and good things will happen to you if you travel in our company.” “Sorry,” said Hobab. “I’m going back to my own people.” It was then that Moses changed his tactic. “Hobab,” he said, “we need you. You understand the wilderness. You can be our eyes. Would you help us?” Hobab agreed and ended up in the Promised Land with the people of Israel (Jdg_4:11). How important it is that we don’t come across simply as those who say, “We’re going to heaven. We’re great. Join us.” Rather, sometimes we need to say, “We need you. The talents you have and the abilities you’ve been given would be such an asset to us.” This woman had two strikes against her: She was a Samaritan and she was a woman. In Jesus’ day, rabbis refrained from talking to women in public to such an extent that even if one saw his own wife on the street, he would not acknowledge her. That is why this Samaritan woman was so shocked by Jesus’ request.

John 4:10

Jesus had a way of masterfully reaching the people with whom He shared. To the woman at the well, He spoke of living water. To aging Nicodemus, He talked about being born again. To the blind man, He identified Himself as the Light of the world (Joh_9:5). To sisters grieving the death of their brother, He was the Resurrection and the Life (Joh_11:25). To fishermen, He issued an invitation to become fishers of men (Mat_4:19).

John 4:11

I like this! The disdain the Jews had for the Samaritans being mutual, in verse Joh_4:9, the woman called Jesus a Jew. Here, however, she elevates Him to “Sir.” The woman was thinking in terms of material, physical water, when Jesus was, in fact, speaking of the eternal, spiritual realm. How often we make the same mistake today. “The kingdom is about prosperity, Cadillacs, and third homes,” thunder so many preachers. But Jesus said whoever drinks of this water shall thirst againbecause nothing material will ever satiate or satisfy the thirst of the soul. When believers get thirsty, sometimes it’s because they have drifted back to the old watering holes. They’ve pulled away from the Word, from ministry, from the things of the kingdomand they end up dry as bones, as miserable as fish out of water.

John 4:15

Why did Jesus ask her to call her husband? Because there is no true conversion without conviction.

John 4:17

Notice the skill with which the Physician of our soul handles the scalpel of conviction. “You said well,” He said. He found something to approve. Jesus shows grace and truth. I love Him for that because that’s the way He works with me. Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world. That’s grace. Yet, because there can be no salvation without conviction, He always speaks the truth. Notice also Jesus didn’t say, “You’ve had five husbands. Let’s talk about Husband number one: Sam. Then, we’ll talk about why you left George in session two. Come next week, and in the third session, we’ll talk about Pete. In session four, we’ll discuss Harry.” No, it didn’t take Jesus five sessions to discuss the five husbands. He didn’t delve into codependency or into the woman’s past iniquities. Yes, Jesus revealed her sinbut He didn’t revel in it. Big difference. I think it is dangerous for people who mean well to start reveling in the past sin of anothertalking about it, exploring it, pursuing it. Jesus does not model this for any minister of the gospel or for any servant of the kingdom. He simply says, “I know you’re a sinner. You know you’re a sinner. Now, let’s go on from there.”

John 4:19

Now the woman refers to Jesus as a prophet. As her knowledge of Him expands, her esteem for Him grows.

John 4:20

The woman is about to ask a hot theological question of her day. And the same thing will happen to you when you share with someone who feels the gentle hand of conviction upon him. You’ll hear questions like, “Did Adam have a belly button? Where did Cain get his wife? How could all of the animals fit on the ark?” To which mountain is the Samaritan woman referring? To Mount Gerizimwhere the Samaritan temple was built. The woman talked about “our fathers.” Jesus talked about the Father.

John 4:22

Why is salvation ofor throughthe Jews? Because Jesus was a Jew, and salvation is through Him.

John 4:23

Could it be that the woman was not simply raising a theological question? Could it be she was also revealing a subconscious desire within? Could it be that her question was not meant to sidestep the issue of her five husbands, but that she was saying, “I want to worshipbut where? And how? What does it mean to really worship?” When I was growing up, people basically had to choose between worshiping the Lord in spirit, and worshiping the Lord in truth. If they wanted to worship the Lord in spirit, they would go to churches where they would hear statements like, “Wow! Wasn’t that a great service? The Spirit was moving so powerfully, the preacher didn’t even have time to give a message!” If they wanted to worship the Lord in truth, they would go to churches that seemed to believe that the Trinity consisted of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Biblechurches where there was no room for the Spirit to work spontaneously or for the gifts to be exercised congregationally. That’s what’s neat about the time in which we live. There is an understanding that God must be worshiped in Spirit and truth.

They flow together. It’s not either/or. “The words which I speak are spirit and life,” Jesus said (see Joh_6:63). It’s trueas we take in the Word, we grow in the Spirit. The Father seeks worshipers. If this verse isn’t underlined in your Bible, underline it now. Whenever you feel far from God, don’t try to find Him. Let Him find you. He can find you a lot easier than you can find Him, so just start worshiping. With bended knee, lifted hand, and open heart, embrace Him through your praise. This is a real key for your Christian walk. When you feel God’s a million miles away, worship. If it’s in your car during lunch hour, if it’s locked in your bathroom when everyone else is still asleep, if it’s walking down the streetwhatever it might take, get away and start worshiping. Start acknowledging the greatness and goodness of God. The Father is seeking those who do.

John 4:24

The combination is unbeatable. Worship Him in spirit and in truth.

John 4:25

The first of Jesus’ Ego Eimi (I AM) statements, the word “he” in verse Joh_4:26 is absent in the original text. Some folks have the audacity to say Jesus never claimed to be Messiah. Turn them to this verse. Watch our Master as He witnesses. First, He establishes contact with the Samaritan. Then He stimulates curiosity by saying, “You’ve come to draw water; you’re thirsty; let Me tell you about the living water available to you.” Finally, He keeps focused. She wants to get off into a theological discussion. But He brings the conversation right back around again, saying that Jerusalem and Gerizim are not the issue, that her fathers are not the point. He brings the conversation back to Himself.

John 4:27

The disciples marveled but said nothing because, after spending time with Jesus, they had come to expect the unexpected.

John 4:28

Why did she leave her water pot? I suggest two possible reasons. The first is that it was an illustration. That which was previously important to her no longer mattered. Second, perhaps she left her water pot out of appreciation. “You have told me about my sin and my need,” said the woman. “You have told me about true worship. You want a cup of water? Take the whole pot. Take everything I have. It’s Yours.” When people truly get saved, they quit asking, “What can I get from God?” and ask instead, “What can I give to God?” You’ll always know when someone’s truly born again because, like a newborn baby, he’ll start cryingproclaiming the Good News of the gospel to all who will listen. Why did the woman talk only to the men? Most likely it was because the other women would have nothing to do with her.

John 4:29

From “Jew” to “Sir” to “Prophet” to “Christ,” we see the woman’s understanding of Jesus expanding after spending only a few moments with Him.

John 4:30

This woman, whose morality was suspect at best, said, “There’s a Man who told me everything I’ve ever done.” Thus, it was, no doubt, with a certain degree of apprehension they wanted to find out just how much He knew about them as well.

John 4:31

When the disciples arrived with food, Jesus was no longer hungry because He had experienced revival, refreshment, and renewal as a result of reaching out.

John 4:34

“My meat,” said Jesus"that which sustains, refreshes, and nourishes Meis to do My Father’s will and to finish His work."

John 4:35

See with me in your mind’s eye the Samaritan men to whom the women had witnessed coming toward Jesus, dressed in turbans and robes of white. What harvest was white and ready to reap? To which harvest was Jesus referring? The field of the Samaritans. The same is true today. The people in our culture who are ignored and forgotten, those no one else wants to be around, those others we pass by are the ones who are ripe for the picking.

We say, “How can we win the quarterback of the high-school football team or the president of the company for Christ?” But the real action lies with the Samaritansthe people others aren’t interested in, the people who won’t help our business or gain us a reputation in ministry. I am not negating the importance of sharing with those whom the world esteems highly. Yet here we see our Lord’s wisdom in gleaning from a field that was already ripe.

John 4:36

Because the Samaritans were a broken people, despicable in the eyes of the Jews, barred from the templethe soil for their salvation had already been tilled and cultivated. Truly, they were ready for harvest. The same is still true today. The harvest is ready. Go out and pick it. “He that winneth souls is wise,” Solomon declared (Pro_11:30). Daniel said the one who turns many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever (Dan_12:3). Jesus says he who reaps presently shall receive wages eternally. “I don’t care about that,” you say. “Heaven is too far away. I’ve got enough problems now. I have to mow my lawn, clean my house, buy a car.” If those are your priorities, if that’s what you’re living for, if that’s where your energy is going, you will become exhausted. Those pursuits will not fulfill you here on earthand when you get to heaven, you’ll be bankrupt. “But it’s so tough to witness,” you say. Find the Samaritans. Reach out to the unlovely, to the unlovable, to the ignored person where you work. Reach out and you’ll see they’re prime for harvest.

John 4:39

Previously, Jesus used masterful metaphors, perfect parallels in His gentle yet convicting presentation of the gospel. But the woman? She was simple and untrainedjust like me. While I long to be more like Jesus as a masterful witness, I also realize that even in very simple, straightforward testimony, there will be fruit. I don’t need to be intimidated when I can’t answer questions or come up with the right illustrations. I can join the Samaritan woman and say, “Come and see,” for Scripture records that many believed because of her simple testimony.

John 4:40

Many believed because of the simple testimony of the woman and many more believed when Jesus Himself began to share more fully the Scriptures and the truths of the kingdom.

John 4:42

“Jew,” “Sir,” “Prophet,” “Christ,” and finally “Savior of the world.” The Samaritans understood Jesus was not only the Messiah for the Jews, but a Savior for all of humanityeven for them.

John 4:43

It must have been hard for Jesus to leave the revival in Samariawhere people were responding and folks were getting savedto return to Galilee, where He knew He would not be received in the same way. Why, then, did He go to Galilee? Mat_4:12-16 gives us a clue. You see, the prophet Isaiah predicted Messiah would go into the dark region called “Galilee of the nations.” Truly, it was an area of darkness and death, for not only was Galilee far removed from Jerusalem, the center of worship, it was also constantly attacked and overrun by Gentiles. Yet Isaiah prophesied that when Messiah came, He would go to this very place and shine brightly (Isa_9:1-2). Therefore, I believe Jesus returned to Galilee because He understood what the Word said about His ministry. Think through this with me. The Scriptures to Jesus were not only predictive, but directive. That is, when Jesus read the Scriptures, He found not only predictions about His ministry, but direction for His ministry. As He matured in His understanding, He realized increasingly that the prophecies written about Him must be fulfilled by Him. Thus, Jesus was not just a hearer of the Word, He was the quintessential Doer of the Word.

The great need for the church corporately as well as for you and me personally is not just to be hearers of the Scriptures but to do them. Jesus would later say, “Happy are ye if ye do these things” (Joh_13:17). Happiness does not come from hearing Scripture or agreeing with theology. Happiness comes when we get it in gear and carry out the things the Word directs us to do.

John 4:45

The Galileans received Jesus as a curious miracle-workerbut not as their Savior. They were not interested in who He was, but only in what He could do.

John 4:46

This nobleman was popular, prominent, and powerfula courtier in Herod’s court. Yet the saying of Jesus’ day is still true today: “The black camel of grief kneels at every man’s gate.” It doesn’t matter how rich, powerful, or successful one might be. Sooner or later, we all experience sorrow and tragedy.

John 4:47

The nobleman besought Jesus. The idea in the Greek is that he begged Jesus to come and heal his son.

John 4:48

While the Samaritans simply heard His word and believed (verse Joh_4:42), the Galilaeans needed miracles, signs, and wonders to believe.

John 4:49

In Matthew 8, another Gentile noblemana Roman centurionfaced sickness in his house. He too was a man of prominence and political power. He too lived in the region of Capernaum. He too came to Jesus. But there the similarities end. “My son is dying,” said the Roman centurion. “I’ll come to your house and heal him,” said Jesus. “Oh, I’m not worthy to have you come into my house,” protested the centurion. “Just speak the word.” And Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith. Contrast this with the account here in John 4, wherein the nobleman directed Jesus to go to his house. Although Jesus did indeed heal his son, He didn’t comply with the nobleman’s order to go to his house. I wonder how often we are guilty of the nobleman’s errorof giving directions to Jesus. “Okay, Lord, there are the bills, here is the need, and this is what You need to do to make it happen.” “There he is. I’m single and so is he. Let’s get this relationship going, Lord.” “Lord, this is a great business opportunity. So bless it by next Monday.” We have a tendency to give instructions and directions. But that is not the finest and highest way to approach our Lord. The centurion in Matthew 8 was a much wiser, deeper man. He simply said, “Lord, here’s the situation.” Period. No directions. No instructions. No advice. And Jesus said, “I’ll respond to that.” In fairness to our brother, the nobleman, when the Lord said, “Go your way,” he went his way. His wasn’t the same quality of faith as the centurion’s, but it was a high degree of faith nonetheless.

John 4:51

The implication here is fascinating because the distance from Cana to Capernaum being only a four-hour walk means that when the nobleman heard Jesus say his son would be well, he didn’t go straight home. My tendency would have been to jog home, to rush home, to run home and see. But to this man’s credit, he heard the word and didn’t show up until the next daywhich means he believed the Word he heard. How stress-free and happy you and I could be if we too would just read the Word and believe it.

John 4:53

I like this because, although his faith was rather feeble initially, once he heard the Word of Jesus, the nobleman embraced it wholeheartedly. As I have observed families, I have found that when Dad becomes a believer, almost without exception, the whole household will come into real faith. “As for me and my house,” said Joshua, “we will serve the Lord” (see Jos_24:15). How I encourage and bless you men who are taking that kind of stand. You watch. Your family will follow. That’s what happened here.

John 4:54

The first miracle performed in Cana when Jesus turned water into wine was at a time of family celebration. Here, His second miracle was performed at a time of family devastation. Whether you are experiencing times of gladness or times of sadness, Jesus is the Man for the moment. Whether celebration or devastation, a wedding party or a funeral gathering, Jesus is the One you can count on, look to, and receive from miraculously.