V1-4
Jesus’ journey from Judea to Galilee. He avoided meeting the Pharisees,
not through fear, but to avoid the inevitable controversy and criticism. Jesus
could have avoided travelling through Samaria, as many Jews would do, since
there was hostility between Jews and Samaritans.
The town of Sychar (Samaria) was actually on the direct route;
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here Joshua had gathered the people together
(Josh 24);
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here Abimelech experienced conflict (Judg 9);
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this was the capital of the northern kingdom of
Israel (1 Kings 12.25).
v5
See Gen 33.19; Josh 24.32, a place of death and burial. It is here that
Jesus speaks of living water.
V6
Jesus was tired and thirsty, evidence of true humanity. It was the
hottest part of the day. We note that Jesus had sent His disciples on an errand;
this was no coincidence, for they had much to learn about serving Christ.
V7
The woman came to draw water by herself, and in the middle of the day;
she avoided contact with others, and she came at a time when people would not
generally draw water.
V8
Brief explanation in parenthesis. It may have been that the woman would
have stayed away had she seen a group of people by the well.
V9
There were several barriers to be overcome. The first barrier was one of
race. There were centuries of deep animosity between the two peoples. Yet there
was common ancestry, Jacob. In Christ this animosity is taken away, see Acts
1.8; 8.1.
V10-14
Physical and living water. Jesus brought an attractive offer, living
water, spiritual and eternal. The illustration is clear; the physical is used to
illustrate the spiritual. Jesus is indeed greater than Jacob who gave the well;
for He gives living water.
Jesus used illustrations in v32-34 and v35-38, in teaching the disciples.
We must listen and learn, and understand what He is saying. Nicodemus failed to
understand even earthly things (3.10-12), and we need the revelation of God, see
Luke 24.45.
V15
Reversing the request at v7, “give me this water.” Jesus’ words had
awakened a desire in her. See also Matt 3.13-15, where John confessed his need
to be baptised by Jesus.
V16-18
The next barrier; the woman’s sin had to be exposed and dealt with.
Jesus’ omniscience, “Go, call your husband.” He already knew all about
her; she could hide nothing from Him.
Note too the Lord’s mercy, to reveal sin, and to forgive sin. The
sinner is not judged immediately, but has an opportunity to repent.
V19
A growing spiritual interest, and understanding of Christ.
V20-24
A third barrier; the difference between ritual and real worship. The
woman perhaps raised the matter of worship to divert attention from her sins.
“This mountain” was Mount Gerizim; the Samaritans followed a false
religion which was a mixture of Judaism and paganism, see 2 Kings 17.24-40. This
was part of the reason for the antagonism between them and the Jews. We see that
false religion can be as much a barrier as no religion.
Worship, lit. ‘to bow oneself down,’ see Gen 24.26, 48; an act of the
heart and spirit, thereby exalting God. Worship is to be directed only to God,
Acts 10.25-26. Worship is based on truth, “we worship what we know,” God is
the God of Israel (Gen 33.20). Worship is not dependent upon place, but must be
in spirit and truth, a matter of the heart and mind. True worship of God
reflects an attitude of love and submission. The Father actually seeks such
worshippers.
The Lord respects the woman, answering her questions, developing her
understanding. He honours her interest in spiritual matters. And He deals with
her lack of understanding with grace and patience.
V25-26
The aim of witness is to help people understand the person of Jesus
Christ. The woman first described Him as a Jew (v9), then a prophet (v19), and
finally was able to accept His claim to be the Messiah, see v29.
V27
The disciples returned to find Jesus in conversation with a Samaritan
woman. A Jewish Rabbi would not ordinarily do this, but Jesus was no ordinary
Rabbi, and the disciples were growing in their own understanding of Jesus.
V28
The woman left her water pot; she accepted that spiritual things were
more important than physical.
V29
The woman’s zeal to tell others of Jesus; like Apollos, and the blind
man, her understanding was not perfect, but God honoured her.
V30
She brought others to meet Jesus; such is the work of a witness to
Christ; see v39-42.
V31
The disciples brought food, see v8. Jesus taught them that spiritual
things were more important than physical, even to the sacrificing of
‘essential’ physical food.
V32
The food of obedience and service, by which we are sanctified and
blessed.
V33
The disciples lacked understanding, thinking that someone else had
brought food for Him. Lack of understanding may be linked with unbelief or
disobedience, although those are not necessarily true here.
V34
Jesus’ priority was to do the will of the Father, and to complete that
work. The disciples needed to understand this priority.
V35-38
Physical and spiritual harvest; the Lord develops the themes of physical
and spiritual.
The fruitful fields referred to the Samaritans. The seed had been sown,
and the time had come for reaping. The labourers rejoice together; the sower is
not more important than the reaper; all are fellow- labourers. Jesus came to
bring fruit for God.
V39-42
The writer returns to the Samaritans, who came out to meet Jesus; He
stayed with them for a short period, during which others believed in Him. The
aim of all true witness is to encourage others to believe in Jesus; the
disciples believed, Jesus challenged Nicodemus to believe, then the woman, and
the Samaritans, and later the nobleman (v53); here is John’s aim, see 20.31.
The world despises true faith in Christ, yet this is the way to life. The
key also is to have a truly first-hand faith in Christ, and not simply rely on
the words of others, “we have heard for ourselves,” for we each need to
experience the revelation of Christ in our hearts.
V43-44
Jesus stayed with the Samaritans for two days. Had the Jewish leaders
known of this, there would have been further offence; but this was early in
Jesus’ ministry, and few knew of His movements.
It may also have been that Jesus planted the seeds of the Samaritan
church, Acts 8.1-25.
As Jesus returned to Galilee, He warned the Twelve that He would not be
treated so well there.
V45
Jesus had been busy, see 2.23; 3.2, which refer to other miracles; but
the gospel writers were selective, there being so much material to use, see
21.25.
V46-47
Jesus returned to Cana. The nobleman had perhaps heard of the wedding,
and that Jesus had turned water into wine.
The man was, quite rightly, concerned for his son. There was faith and
urgency. His request was “come down,” genuine and reasonable words; but see
Matt 27.40, Mark 15.30, where the same words were used to tempt Jesus to come
down from the cross. Jesus had “come down” to bring eternal life; ultimately
that was His initiative, rather than His response to needy humanity.
V48
Jesus rebuked those who sought miracles for their own sake. John
especially emphasises the purpose of miracles, see v53.
V49
The repeated prayer, reflecting a real concern.
V50
The command, “go your way,” which the nobleman believed and obeyed.
Sometimes answers to prayer are delayed until we act in obedience. The faith of
obedience leaves the consequences to God, confident that He will act in a way
consistent with His character.
V51
The nobleman’s servants saw that his son was healed; there must have
been a dramatic, short-term improvement and recovery, as the fever left him.
They came to report the news to the nobleman, the father.
“Your son lives,” see 1 Kings 17.24, where Elijah testified to a
miracle, and demonstrating his integrity as a prophet of God. In a similar way,
Christ’s claim to be the Messiah is demonstrated, albeit secretly.
This sign, although well attested, was hidden from the people. No one in
Cana saw the fulfilment of Christ’s words, they did not see the miracle (see
v48). The picture is of Israel’s restoration at Christ’s return, which is
initially something hidden.
V52
The discovery that Jesus’ words, although spoken at a distance, were
effective.
V53-54 Jesus’ Galilean ministry was to encourage faith, see 2.11, “His disciples put their faith in Him;” and 6.14, “surely this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”