John 4:1-26

The first four verses of this passage set the background for the story; John the Baptist has been arrested (3:24; Matt. 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:20). Opposition was brewing amongst the Pharisees in Jerusalem because Jesus’ reputation was growing and He was gaining followers and Jesus decided that this was the time to move back to Galilee. It seems that the arrest of John had the affect of freeing Jesus from John’s ministry; John was decreasing, Jesus was increasing.  Jesus takes the mountain road that goes through Samaria that He would later send His disciples on (Acts 1:8).  When Jesus arrives in Samaria our story begins.

The plot of ground referred to here is referred to in Gen. 48:22 and is roughly a half mile from Jacob’s well (see also Josh. 24:32).  Jacob’s well was certainly a well-known location, famous for the spring of bubbling water that it created access to.  Jesus arrived there that day at about noon, tired and thirsty.

Approaching a woman at the well He asked for a drink, and the woman’s response is interesting in that she seems to have assumed a superior tone; you are a Jew and yet you ask me for a drink?  Jews did not associate with Samaritans; in fact, the Jewish teaching of the time said that associating with Samaritans would cause a Jew to be defiled.  If that were not enough, Jewish men did not speak to women in public; not even their own wives, and here is Jesus boldly walking up to a Samaritan woman and asking for water.

As was His custom, Jesus went directly to the lesson He was going to teach, ignoring the customs and traditions of men.  The ‘gift of God’ and His identity are the real topics they would discuss: Jesus could provide ‘living water’ and if she understood this, she would be asking Him for a drink.  Taking Him literally, she notes that Jesus has no means by which to draw water and asks Him if He is greater than Jacob whose water isn’t so effective.  Of course, when Jesus mentions water that would quench a thirst for a lifetime, the woman is interested so that she wouldn’t have to draw water anymore which was very hard work.  Notice that in v. 14 Jesus refers to a “spring of water welling up” which is a direct reference to the reputation of Jacob’s well. The water that Jesus was talking about here is a metaphor for eternal life that was the ultimate gift of God; accomplished by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Himself.

In verses 16-19, an interesting thing happens: In response to Jesus directive to go and get her husband, the woman tells a falsehood with a half-truth.  Jesus knows the whole story, to her amazement, and this insight on His part is the probable reason for why she is drawing water at high noon instead of in the cool of the morning with all of the other women.  Apparently shocked, she perceives that Jesus is a prophet.

Changing the subject, the woman goes on to religious matters… after all Jesus must be a prophet.  Jesus tells her that God isn’t really interested in where a person worships; God cares how a person worships.  In God’s sight what is important is that a person worships in ‘spirit and in truth’:  The time has come for this epochal change.  From the coming of Christ forward the old regulations and traditions are set aside and replaced with reality.  In modern vernacular you can almost hear the woman say “whatever”.  She says that when the Messiah comes, He will tell us all about this (not you, a mere prophet).  Jesus’ reply reveals to her who He really is, for He is the Messiah. (v. 26)

Isn’t it interesting how much like this woman we can be!