John Chapter 4
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John 4: Living Water and True WorshipThe Journey Through Samaria“Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee” (John 4:1-3, ESV). He must pass through Samaria, a region Jews typically avoided due to ethnic and religious hostility.The Well at Sychar“And he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar... Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour” (John 4:5-6). Noon heat; Jesus, fully human, rests. “A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’” (John 4:7). His disciples had gone to buy food. The request shocks: Jews and Samaritans do not share vessels. She responds, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9).Living WaterJesus answers, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). She sees only the well and no bucket: “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?” (John 4:11). She recalls Jacob, who gave the well and drank from it.Jesus says, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). Physical water satisfies momentarily; His gift sustains forever.The Woman’s Past and Present“Sir, give me this water,” she says (John 4:15). Jesus replies, “Go, call your husband, and come here” (John 4:16). She answers, “I have no husband.” Jesus affirms: “You are right... for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband” (John 4:17-18). He exposes sin without condemnation; she perceives, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet” (John 4:19).True WorshipShe raises the divide: “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship” (John 4:20). Mount Gerizim versus Zion. Jesus declares, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father... The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-23). Location yields to reality; spirit and truth define worship.“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). She says, “I know that Messiah is coming... When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus responds, “I who speak to you am he” (John 4:25-26). Direct revelation.The Disciples and the HarvestThe disciples return, marveling He spoke with a woman, yet no one asks. She leaves her jar, goes to the town, and says, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). People stream out.Meanwhile, disciples urge, “Rabbi, eat.” Jesus says, “I have food to eat that you do not know about... My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:31-34). He points to fields: “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35). Samaritans in white garments approach.Many Believe“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:39). They urge Him to stay; He remains two days. “Many more believed because of his word” (John 4:41). They tell the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).The Official’s SonJesus returns to Cana. “A royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum” hears and begs, “Sir, come down before my child dies” (John 4:47-49). Jesus says, “Go; your son will live.” The man believes the word and departs. Servants meet him: the boy lives; fever left at the seventh hour, the exact moment Jesus spoke. “He himself believed, and all his household” (John 4:53). This second sign in Galilee confirms the first.