John 4:1-26 The Woman at the Well

4:1-4

The Lord knew – This is a reference to Jesus.

He left Judea – Probably to avoid conflict with the Pharisees at this time.

He had to pass through Samaria – The most direct route from Judea to Galilee.

4:5-6

Sychar… Jacob’s well was there – Jacob had purchased this plot of ground in Genesis 33:18-20 and later gave it to Joseph in Genesis 48:21-22.

Jesus…being wearied from His journey – Jesus experienced humanity fully.

The sixth hour – Around noon Jewish time.

4:7-9

A woman of Samaria – Samaritans were wholeheartedly despised by orthodox Judaism.

She had three strikes against her:

1 - She was a Samaritan

2 - She was a woman

3 - She was a sexual sinner

How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink - Jews did not associate with Samaritans. A Rabbinic law of that time stated that Samaritan women were considered as unclean. Therefore, a Jew who drank from a Samaritan woman’s vessel would become ceremonially unclean.

4:10-14

The gift of God – The gift of eternal life!

Living water – New life through the Spirit.

…greater than our father Jacob – Perhaps a way to remind Jesus that Jacob was the Samaritan’s ancestor. Jesus is not speaking about literal water but a spiritual source of refreshment that satisfies completely.

Shall never thirst – One drink results in a permanent refreshment.

Give me this water - The woman misunderstood what Jesus was offering but did want to avoid her work of continually drawing water so she asked for His gift.

4:16-19

Go, call your husband and come here - Jesus turns the conversation from her physical needs to her spiritual needs.

Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet - Uncomfortable with the subject of her personal life, she changed the topic to a theological controversy.

4:20-22

The real issue was not where people had worshipped God in the past, but how they would worship Him in the future.

That which you do not know – The Samaritans only accepted the Pentateuch and rejected the rest of the Old Testament.

That which we know – The Jews accepted all of God’s revelation.

Salvation is from the Jews – God intended His revelation to result in salvation for humankind. Also, Messiah had to come through Judah’s tribe whereas the Samaritans traced their ancestry through Joseph.

4:23

An hour is coming – The hour of Jesus’ passion when the old way of worship would end.

In spirit and truth – Spirit is the true realm of worship, truth is in the person of Jesus.

What is truly spiritual worship?

Its Source – A person who has spiritual life because of the new birth.

Its Mediator – The Person of Jesus

Its Object – God, who is spirit.

Its Subject – Spiritual matters.

Its Basis – The finished work of Christ.

Its Method – The interaction of the human spirit with the divine spirit.

4:24

God is Spirit – He is divine, invisible, and essentially unknowable, yet He chose to reveal Himself through His Son. Those who worship Him must do so in a spiritual rather than material way.

4:25-26

I know Messiah is coming – The Samaritans anticipated Messiah’s arrival but viewed Him primarily as a teacher.

*I who speak to you am He *– This is the only time Jesus clearly identified Himself as the Messiah before His trial. It is a clear invitation to the Samaritan woman to come to Him for eternal life.