Samaritan Woman
Introduction: This passage is found only in John’s gospel, and it has a variety of unique elements. Jesus had been in Jerusalem, and as he and his disciples were returning to Galilee they passed through Samaria. While Jesus was resting alone by Jacob’s well, he had an encounter with a Samaritan woman that ultimately led many in her city to confess Jesus as “the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
NOTE: Bible verses are taken from the 1833 Webster Bible.
A — Some Very Unusual Events Before Jesus’ Return to Galilee
John 4 “1 When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John… 3 He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria.”
Comments: Before Jesus went up to Jerusalem with his disciples, his first miracle was performed at a wedding in Galilee, as he turned water into wine. When Jesus was at the temple in Jerusalem his surprising actions raised strong objections from the religious leaders. Jesus and his disciples then left Jerusalem and Judea to return to Galilee — the most direct route being north through Samaria. Jesus did not plan to stay in Jerusalem as this was not the time for his final appearance there; he knew what was in man.
B — Brief Background of Samaria
2 Kings 17 “20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria to this day. 24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon… and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel.”
Comments: When Rehoboam the son of Solomon assumed the throne, Jeroboam led ten tribes in rebellion and formed the separated northern kingdom of Israel. The priests and Levites from the north left their possessions and went into the southern kingdom to truly follow the LORD. Jeroboam set up calves to be worshipped. After centuries of long suffering by the LORD through the reign of many kings in Israel, he brought judgment as the northern kingdom was carried into captivity. Gradually some Jews were allowed to return to Samaria with some degree of worship of the LORD. But the Samaritans would not worship at the temple in Jerusalem after it was rebuilt.
C — Jacob’s Well at Sychar in Samaria
John 4 “5 Then he cometh to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith to her, Give me to drink. 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria to him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.”
Comments: The Samaritans still called the well on this property Jacob’s well, and they identified themselves as descendants of Jacob. Since Jesus was weary from his journey, he sat down on the well at about noon. When a woman of Samaria came to draw water, Jesus asked her for a drink. She was quite surprised because she could tell he was a Jew, and she said Jews had no dealings whatever with people of Samaria. Jesus had made his request not to get a drink of water, but to open the conversation.
D — Well of Water Springing Up into Everlasting Life
John 4 “10 Jesus answered and said to her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked him, and he would have given thee living water. 13 Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again: 14 But whoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Comments: Jesus told the woman that if she knew who he was, she would have asked of him, and he would have given her living water as the gift from God. As the woman followed a literal train of thought, she asked where he would get that living water since the well was deep. Jesus differentiated between the natural water in the well that quenches thirst temporarily, and the water he offered that would become a well springing up into everlasting life for the person who received it. This was a wonderful example of the grace of God being offered to a Samaritan while most of the Jews had still failed to recognize Jesus as the Christ.
E — Salvation Is from the Jews
John 4 “19 The woman saith to him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith to her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews.”
Comments: After Jesus demonstrated his supernatural knowledge of her personal life, the woman said she could tell he was a prophet. She then probed about the proper place of worship since the Jews said Jerusalem was the only acceptable place. Jesus advised her that a time was coming when worship of the Father would not be in the Samaritan mountain nor in Jerusalem. He told her the Samaritans did not know what they were worshipping, but the Jews knew — for salvation is of the Jews. The woman did not dispute this, and since she knew about the Christ she may have known from scripture that he would be a son of King David and therefore of the tribe of Judah.
F — God Is Spirit and Must Be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth
John 4 “23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith to him, I know that Messiah cometh, who is called Christ; when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith to her, I that speak to thee am he.”
Comments: Jesus declared that God is a Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. This woman was aware of scripture that gave prophecy of the Christ who was to come. She said she believed that when the Christ came, he would tell the people all things. Next, Jesus told her very directly that he was the Christ. Before any more conversation, the disciples arrived at the well. The woman left her water pot and rushed off to tell others about this encounter — so stirred was she that she completely abandoned her original reason for going to the well.
G — One Sows and Another Reaps the Harvest
John 4 “34 Jesus saith to them, My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit to life eternal: that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice together.”
Comments: When the disciples returned with provisions they encouraged Jesus to eat. He gave them a curious reply that he had food to eat they did not know about — his food was to do the will of the one who sent him and to finish his work. Jesus reminded the disciples of how it is said that in four months it would be time to harvest, but urged them through a figure of speech to see that the spiritual harvest time had arrived. The ones who reap this harvest will receive the wages of the fruit of eternal life, and the ones who sow and the ones who reap will rejoice together.
H — Jesus Christ Is Savior of the World
John 4 “39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, who testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans had come to him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 42 And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Comments: God had prepared not only this woman, but a number of people of Samaria who accepted her testimony about him. When they came out from the city they invited Jesus to stay with them and he accepted a visit that lasted two days. After the two days, many more had believed because of the words of Jesus that he personally spoke to them. They told the woman they now believed because of the words of Jesus, and they knew he is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. How interesting it is that many Jews had yet to receive the Word of God and that living water of the Holy Spirit offered as a gift by the Christ of God; but many in this Samaritan city confessed Jesus as Savior of the whole world.
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, I thank you for the way your Word had been around me through individual Christians who knew me, and through the Christian ministry on radio and television. Though I had no real desire to go to a local church for worship, when the circumstances of my life caused me to turn to you, you accepted my weak faith as I asked you to take control of my life. I now know Jesus, that you are the promised son of King David, the Christ, and the Son of God. The water of life that you gave to me by your Spirit has helped me to search the scriptures to learn more about your kingdom and the manner of life you desire for me to follow as one of your subjects. I want to worship my Lord in spirit and in truth, and to be part of the continued sowing and reaping for the spread of the gospel of Christ. Hallelujah, Amen.
Published 5 November 2016