John 4 Jesus and the Woman at the Well

1 Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John,

2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

3 When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4 Now he had to go through Samaria.

5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”

8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.

18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21 Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

27 The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,

29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

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

35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.

38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

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

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

41 And because of his words many more became believers.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

43 Jesus Heals the Official’s Son
After the two days he left for Galilee.

44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

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

50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.

52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.

54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

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Analysis of John Chapter 4

The fourth chapter of the Gospel of John is rich in narrative, theological depth, and symbolism. It comprises significant stories and dialogues that illustrate Jesus’ mission, his understanding of worship, and the universal offer of salvation. This chapter contains the famous encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, His discourse on true worship, the healing of an official’s son, and many important teachings that reveal the heart of Jesus’ ministry. In this analysis, we will delve deeply into these aspects to uncover the meanings and implications for readers both then and now.

The Encounter with the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-26)

“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria.” (John 4:1-4)

The chapter begins with Jesus leaving Judea for Galilee due to mounting attention from the Pharisees. The phrase “he had to go through Samaria” is intriguing because Jews typically avoided Samaria due to longstanding enmity. This geographical note symbolizes Jesus deliberately breaking social norms to engage directly with Samaritans, reflecting the universal nature of his ministry.

“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’” (John 4:7)

Jesus initiates the conversation with the Samaritan woman, which is revolutionary. Jews and Samaritans avoided each other, and men generally did not speak publicly with women, especially on intimate matters like water (a symbol of life). Jesus’ request bridges several social divides, signaling inclusivity.

Living Water (John 4:10-15)

Jesus introduces the concept of “living water,” which contrasts with the physical water the woman came to draw. Living water symbolizes the eternal life and spiritual rejuvenation that Jesus offers.

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14)

The living water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, which quenches the spiritual thirst of humanity, providing eternal satisfaction while physical water provides temporary relief. This highlights the transformative power of spiritual renewal that Jesus offers.

Revelation of True Worship (John 4:16-26)

Jesus further reveals himself by addressing the woman’s personal life.

“He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’ ‘I have no husband,’ she replied. Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.'” (John 4:16-18)

By revealing her past and current life, Jesus demonstrates his omniscience and offers a form of compassionate confrontation, urging introspection and repentance. This interaction prompts a theological dialogue.

“‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.’ ‘Woman,’ Jesus replied, ‘believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. […] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.'” (John 4:19-24)

Jesus elevates the discussion to transcend geographical and ethnic boundaries. True worship is not about places but about worshiping in spirit and truth. This redefines worship to focus on the inner spiritual state rather than external rites or locations, amplifying the message that God’s presence is accessible to all.

The Samaritans’ Belief (John 4:27-42)

This encounter bears fruit when the woman shares her experience with her townspeople.

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ […] And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.'” (John 4:39, 41-42)

This passage illustrates the power of personal testimony and its role in spreading the Gospel. The woman’s experience prompts others to investigate and eventually leads them to an authentic belief based on their encounter with Jesus. This marks the acceptance of Jesus not merely as the Messiah of the Jews but as the Savior of the world.

Healing of the Official’s Son (John 4:43-54)

After staying in Samaria, Jesus returns to Galilee, where he performs the second sign (miracle) recorded in John.

“After the two days he left for Galilee. […] Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.” (John 4:43, 46)

This miracle unfolds when a desperate royal official pleads for his son’s healing.

“The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.” (John 4:49-51)

This account emphasizes faith in Jesus’ word. The official’s belief in Jesus’ promise without requiring his physical presence signifies a deeper level of faith—trusting in Jesus’ authority and compassion.

The Significance of Signs

Throughout John’s Gospel, “signs” (miracles) are critical as they reveal Jesus’ divine nature and mission.

“This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.” (John 4:54)

These signs are not mere wonders but manifestations meant to evoke faith and indicate Jesus’ origin from God. The healing of the official’s son reinforces that belief in Jesus’ word is powerful, and miracles serve as personal assurances of Jesus’ divinity for both the individual and the community witnessing them.

Conclusions and Reflections

John Chapter 4 provides a profound exploration of several pivotal themes:

Inclusive Compassion: Jesus breaks through cultural, social, and religious barriers to offer salvation to all, symbolized by his interaction with the Samaritan woman.
True Worship: Worship transcends location and ritual to encompass sincerity and truth, emphasizing inner spirituality over outward forms.
Faith and Testimony: The narrative underscores the importance of personal faith and how personal encounters with Jesus can lead to wider community belief through testimony.
Authority of Jesus: Jesus’ ability to heal from a distance reaffirms his divine authority and the power inherent in his word.

This chapter invites readers to reflect on the universality of Jesus’ message, the depth of true worship, the role of personal testimony in spreading the Gospel, and the faith required to trust in Jesus’ promises. John 4 challenges believers to break social barriers in their own lives, prioritize a heartfelt and truthful relationship with God, and understand the transformative power inherent in encountering Jesus.

Understanding the Key Messages in John 4: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well and offers her living water, revealing his knowledge of her sinful past. He teaches about true worship and declares himself as the Messiah. Through this encounter, the woman and many Samaritans come to believe in Jesus.

Notes

This chapter showcases Jesus' compassion towards all people, breaking societal norms by engaging with a Samaritan woman. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual thirst and genuine worship.