JOHN 4
OPENS WITH A SAMARITAN WOMAN AND A NOBLEMAN MEET JESUS
Verses 1-4 tells us Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee, passing though Samaria.
"Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria."
When the Lord knew … He left Judea:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
JESUS KNEW, ACCORDING TO OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY AND HIS FATHER'S EXACTING TIME...that the time was NOT yet right for a confrontation in Jerusalem, so Jesus returned to Galilee.
He needed to go through Samaria:
Although the road through Samaria was the shortest route to Galilee, pious Jews avoided it. They avoided it because there was a deep distrust and dislike between Jews and Samaritans.
WHY?
THE BIBLE AND SECULAR HISTORY CONFIRMS...When the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians, they took almost every captive, exiling them to the Babylonian Empire. All they left behind were the LOWEST classes of society, because they did NOT want "that type" in Babylonia. These Jews that were left behind intermarried with other peoples who slowly came into the region, and the Samaritans emerged as an ethnic and religious group.
Because the Samaritans had a historical connection to the people of Israel, their faith was a combination of law and ritual from the Law of Moses, and various superstitions. Most Jews in Jesus' time despised the Samaritans, even more than Gentiles - because they were, religiously speaking, "half-breeds" who had an eclectic, mongrel faith.
Why must Jesus go through Samaria?
Because there were people there who needed to hear Him.
Verses 5-9 tells us Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well.
"So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink. " For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans."
Being wearied from His journey:
John records Jesus' weariness. THESE TWO WORDS....BEING WEARIED...TELLS US THAT OUR JESUS GENUINELY SUBMITTED TO AND RESTRICTED HIMSELF AND HIS BODY TO OUR HUMAN LIMITATIONS.
It was about the sixth hour:
THE SIXTH HOUR...WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT JOHN RECORDS THE TIME?
This woman came for water at an UNUSUAL hour and ALONE. Typically, women came for water earlier in the day and in groups.
FOR THE MOST PART...SOCIAL OUTCASTS HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE SURE THE ACCEPTABLE WOMEN HAD ALREADY COME AND GATHERED THEIR WATER...THE ACCEPTABLE AND HONORABLE WOMEN OF THAT DAY HAD SPECIAL, COMFORTABLE, COOL AND COMFORTABLE TIMES OF THE DAY FOR GATHERING WATER...
Jesus said to her:
WHY IS THIS SO SHOCKING?
WE NEED TO REMEMBER, IN THAT TIME AND TIME, AND BY STRICT RABBINICAL LAW AND TRADITION, a rabbi would NOT speak to or with a woman in public, even his own wife.
It was also VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN for a Jewish person of that time to ask a favor or accept a drink from a Samaritan's cup. Jesus' request genuinely surprised the woman.
How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me:
Immediately, the woman was impressed by the friendliness of Jesus. This was probably the FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE she had ever heard a kind greeting from a Jewish man.
Verses 10-15 tells us Jesus interests the woman in living water.
"Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. " The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. " The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
IF YOU KNEW the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink":
Jesus draws the woman into conversation, making her curious about the things of God (the gift of God), about who Jesus is (who it is who says to you), and about what He can give her (He would have given you living water).
Living water...
DID YOU KNOW...In ancient times, they called spring water living water because it seemed "alive" as it bubbled up from the ground. At first glance, it might seem that Jesus tells this woman about a nearby active spring. But Jesus makes a play on words with the phrase "living water," because He means the SPIRITUAL water that quenches our spiritual thirst and gives life ETERNAL.
Are you greater than our father Jacob:
It is hard to tell if the woman asks a sincere question, or if she is a cynical critic. All depends on the tone of her voice; but WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE is that she DOES come to belief at the end.
Verses 16-26 tells us Jesus directs her from her sinful life to true worship.
"Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here. " The woman answered and said, "I have no husband. " Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly. " The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. " Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. " The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things. " Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He. "
You have had five husbands:
THIS TELLS US THAT THOUGH JESUS LIMITED HIS PHYSICAL BODY, HIS WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE WAS ALL KNOWING, ALL SEEING, AND STILL ALL UNDERSTANDING. Jesus READ THIS WOMAN PERFECTLY AND USED HIS HEAVENLY WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE IN ministering to this woman. We should all PRAY AND ASK JESUS TO ALWAYS GUIDE AND EMPOWER US BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT WHEN WE MEET, DEAL, SHARE OUR JESUS WITH OTHERS.
And the one whom you now have is not your husband:
Why did Jesus bring up such an embarrassing issue?
Because the issue of her sinful life must be confronted. This woman had to decide what she loved more: her sin or the Messiah?
Our fathers worshipped on this mountain:
In bringing this issue up, it seems that the woman is evading the issue with her reply. It is possible that this was a genuine source of confusion and a stumbling block to her, but it is more likely that this simply was an evasion.
If she offered an argument here, Jesus did NOT take the bait. Jesus was more interested in winning a soul than in winning an argument.
You worship what you do not know:
WHY DID JESUS SAY THIS?
The Samaritans believed that Moses commissioned an altar on Mount Gerazim, the mountain of blessing - this was their justification of they system of worship on that mountain. But like all faith that try to combine elements of different MAN-ALTERED, MAN-CREATED, AND MAN REVISED religions, JESUS THEN AND NOW, SAYS IT PERFECTLY...they worship what they do NOT know.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth:
HERE IS AN IMPORTANT TEACHING AND COMMAND...Jesus establishes the basis for true worship: it is NOT of places and trappings, but in spirit and in truth.
WHY?
1. To worship in spirit means you are concerned with the spiritual realities, NOT outward sacrifices, cleansings and trappings.
2. To worship in truth means you worship according to the whole council of God's word, especially in light of the New Testament revelation.
AND DOES NOT THE BIBLE, OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRM THIS?
DAVID WORSHIPPED AND SANG PRAISES AND WORSHIP TO ALMIGHTY GOD IN THE DESOLATE PLACES, AS HE TENDED SHEEP, DID HE NOT?
PAUL WORSHIPPED AND SANG PRAISES AND WORSHIPPED JESUS IN PRISON, DID HE NOT?
MANY RELIGIOSITIES THEN AND NOW, FALSELY TEACH, PREACH, AND PROCLAIM THAT GOD IS ONLY PRESENT IN CHURCHES, BUILDINGS, OR MAN CREATED PLACES OF WORSHIP AND BEFORE IDOLS CREATED WITH MAN'S HANDS...RIGHT HERE JESUS TELLS US WORSHIP, PRAYER, AND PRAISES BEGIN IN THE HEART AND CAN BE LIFTED FROM ANYWHERE...AND EVERYWHERE!
I who speak to you am He:
Though this woman was a sinner, Jesus revealed Himself to her.
CONTRARY TO FALSE RELIGIOSITIES THEN AND NOW...Jesus reveals Himself to sinners...men, women, and children alike...to those the world says are unacceptable...to those the world considers weeds, ...to those the world considers low class.
JESUS BLEW THE MINDS OF THE RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ELITISTS OF THAT DAY AND TODAY...HE SPOKE TO WOMEN...THAT WAS TABU. JESUS SPOKE TO HEATHENS, PAGANS, TO GENTILES...WHO WERE CONSIDERED LOWER THAN DOGS. JESUS LOVED AND HUGGED AND SPOKE TO CHILDREN...ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE UNHEARD OF IN HIS DAY...AND SADLY SOME STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY TODAY. SOME SADLY BELIEVE THAT GOD ONLY CARES FOR AND SAVES THE JEWS...OR THEIR OWN MAN-CREATED RELIGIOSITIES....BUT OUR JESUS SPOKE TO, TOUCHED, LOVED, AND EAT WITH AND VISITED THE LOWEST AND THE INVISIBLE IN THAT DAY. HE WAS POLITE BUT HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED BY RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNMENTAL ICONS.
Verses 27-38 tells us The woman tells her neighbors; Jesus teaches His disciples.
"And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?" The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" Then they went out of the city and came to Him. In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat. " But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know. " Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps. ' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."
THE JEWISH DISCIPLES MARVELED... THEY WERE SHOCKED THAT JESUS WAS TALKING TO THE HEATHEN HALF JEW/HALF GENTILE AND WORSE A HEATHEN WOMAN...WHO WAS CLEARLY AN OUTCAST AMONG THE OUTCASTS...AND HE ACCEPTED AND DRANK FROM HER OWN CUP...THAT WAS JAW-DROPPING TO THEM.
My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me:
Jesus was right. There is nothing more satisfying than doing the work of God.
Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! The disciples can now reap a harvest immediately, and they reap it from seeds they did NOT sow.
Jesus sowed the seeds, and they had the opportunity to reap. Many times, this is how the work of God happens - one sows, and another reaps also confirmed to us by Paul himself in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8.
Verses 39-42 tells us MANY Samaritans believe on the Savior of the world.
"And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did. " So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."
He told me all that I ever did:
The woman was amazed not only that Jesus knew the facts of her life, but REMEMBER THIS...THIS JEWISH MAN...WHO TOLD HER HE WAS HER SAVIOR...AND HER MESSIAH COME TO EARTH...LOVED HER....LOVED HER EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW ALL THE FACTS OF HER LIFE AND HEART.
YOU KNOW THIS FALLEN, SELF-CENTERED, POLITICALLY, RELIGIOUSLY, AND SOCIALLY CORRECT AND FADIC AND EVER CHANGING WORLD TRIES TO TELL US TO FEAR GOD AND OUR JESUS. THEY TEACH, THROUGH THE WHISPERS OF LOST MANKIND AND SATAN, THAT if someone knew all that I ever did WRONG, KNEW OUR FAILINGS, KNEW OUR SHAMES, SORROWS, AND SINS....they could not love us - and sadly with mankind that is true, but NEVER WITH OUR JESUS....OUR Jesus loved this woman. OUR JESUS KNOWS US ALL TO THE VERY SOUL...AND HE LOVES US JUST THE SAME.
We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world:
The people of this Samaritan village came to faith in Jesus as the Christ. John's implied question to the reader is, "So what do you think of Jesus?"
THIS SECTION TELLS US OF JESUS HEALING THE NOBLEMAN...THIS IS THE SECOND SIGN.
Verses 43-48 tells us Jesus comes to Galilee and is greeted by a request.
"Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast. So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."
A prophet has no honor in his own country:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Galilee was Jesus' country - where He grew up. Because these people felt so familiar with Jesus, they did NOT honor Him the way they should have. In this we recognize that they really were NOT familiar with Jesus; they REJECTED WHO HE WAS, if they HAD ACCEPTED AND HAD KNOWN WHO HE REALLY WAS, they would have honored Him all the more.
AND WE LEARN SOMETHING IMPORTANT HERE FROM JESUS AS WELL...There is such a thing as a FALSE familiarity with Jesus; a dangerous feeling that we know ALL about Him. Such a dangerous feeling leads to a lack of honor towards Jesus.
Having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
It was customary for the Jews in Galilee to go to Jerusalem for the feasts (fulfilling Exodus 23:14-17). This particular time they remembered all that Jesus had done in Jerusalem.
What did Jesus do that they remembered?
1. His turning of the merchant's tables in the outer courts of the temple (John 2:13-17).
2. Jesus predicted His own miraculous resurrection (John 2:18-22).
3. Also, Jesus performed many other unspecified signs during this time in Jerusalem (John 2:23-25).
Unless YOU PEOPLE see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe:
THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT TEACHING AND WARNING FROM OUR JESUS OWN LIPS.
THEN AND NOW, WE HAVE ALL HEARD AND HAD PEOPLE PROCLAIM MIRACLES AND STATE THAT MIRACLES AND SIGNS AND WONDERS CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD.
BUT JESUS AND HIS WORD TELL US THAT SATAN AND THOSE WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY, AS WELL THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE WORD OF JESUS AND HIS WORD FALL FOR AND BELIEVE THAT ALL SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS CAME FROM GOD...WHEN THEY CAN VERY WELL....LIMITEDLY OF COURSE...COME FROM SATAN AS WELL.
WE SEE IN MANY FALSE RELIGIOSITIES AND FALSE CHURCHES TODAY....PROCLAIMING FIRE FALLS FROM HEAVEN, THEY WAVE FLAG TO SIGNAL TO ANGELS AND TO GUIDE THEM TO APPEAR IN THEIR CHURCHES, AS WELL THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT FIRE JUMPS ON ALL PEOPLE WHO BEGIN TO SPEAK GIBBERISH, VIBRATE, BARK, LAUGH, AND ROLL AROUND ON THE FLOOR. I SAW ONE VIDEO WHERE GOLD DUST POURED FROM THE AIR VENTS IN THE CHURCH AND PEOPLE HOWLED SWAYED, AND PASSED OUT SAYING GOD SENT GOLD DUST HOLY SPIRIT POWER TO FALL ON THEM.
FAMILY OF JESUS...BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST...DO NOT BE DECEIVED.
RIGHT HERE Jesus rebukes those who depend on signs and wonders BEFORE they will believe. It might seem that Jesus was harsh towards this man who wanted his son healed, but He encountered many in Galilee who were ONLY interested in His miracles - He therefore questions this man accordingly.
AND REMEMBER...2 THESSALONIANS 2:9 Signs and wonders can also have no HEAR effect on a person, and Satan can also use lying signs and wonders to deceive.
NOW MAKE NO MISTAKE...Signs and wonders FROM God are obviously good things, but they should NOT EVER SOLELY form the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ.
We should NOT EVER depend on them to "prove" God to us. In themselves, signs and wonders cannot change the heart.
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE?
REMEMBER Israel saw incredible signs at Mount Sinai and even heard the very voice of God (Exodus 19:16-20:1), yet a short time later they worshipped a gold calf (Exodus 32:1-6).
Verses 49-54 tells us Jesus heals the nobleman's son.
"The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives. " So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. " So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives. " And he himself believed, and his whole household. This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee."
Sir, come down before my child dies!
The nobleman's plea comes from deep need, but did he ask in light of what Jesus said in John 4:48? It is as if He perfectly understood what Jesus just said was not meant to discourage signs and wonders in themselves, but to discourage a CARNAL dependence on them.
He was a nobleman, a man of high standing and stature. How little all his standing and stature seemed to be when he was at his point of need. Sometimes Jesus brings us low so we will come to Him with this kind of deep need, and find that the ground is ALWAYS level at the cross.
Go your way; your son lives:
Jesus severely tested this man's faith, forcing him to believe in Jesus' WORD alone. But the man BELIEVED Jesus at His word and departed. All Jesus gave him to trust in was His word, but real faith is simply that - taking Jesus at His word. What difference would it make in our lives if we really believed what Jesus says?
Your son lives:
Why did NOT Jesus use any dramatic effects in this healing?
Many long to see dramatic effects in God's work; and sometimes God provides them. But to REAL FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WORD, WE COME TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS AND MIRACLES ARE NOT NECESSARY TO OUR BELIEF AND OUR FAITH.
AND THE BIBLE SHOWS US, AND WE SEE IT TODAY AS WELL, Many times, dramatic EMOTIONAL, FEELINGS AND TEMPORARY effects in healing spur weak and ignorant faith; a mature faith in our Jesus Christ and His word, commands, and promises does NOT need them.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE KNOW IF WE ARE NOT HEALED IN THIS LIFE REGARDLESS IF WE LIVE WITH ILLNESS OUR ENTIRE EARTHLY LIVES...WE ARE PROMISED ETERNAL PERFECTION...AND WHEN WE REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDER IT...WHAT IS EVEN 100 YEARS OF TRIAL, PAIN, STRUGGLES, AND ILLNESS IN THIS LIFE...COMPARED TO FOREVER AND FOREVER IN PERFECTION WITH OUR JESUS.
And he himself believed, and his whole household:
The miraculous power of Jesus developed greater faith.
And he himself believed:
Did NOT this man believe before? Maybe he did, but now his faith is deepened by his personal experience of God's power. He asked believing in Jesus, without seeing it. He took Jesus at His word and went back home, and that TRUE BELIEF AND FAITH IN JESUS WORDS...NOT IN HIS MIRACLE...BUT IN HIS WORD ALONE...led to more faith. We can take God's past blessing, His Word, and His promises as ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
It is essential that we believe JESUS AND HIS WORD if we want to see His work done. There are definitely some people who are not healed or blessed simply because they lack faith.
And his whole household:
The whole group was touched by this nobleman's faith and God's power working through it. It is wonderful that these Jews from the region of Galilee believe; but they would not unless Jesus performed signs, and they were slow to believe even then.
AND WHAT WE SEE IN JOHN 4 IS POWERFUL AND SOMETHING FOR US TO THINK ABOUT...
DO WE SEE OURSELVES AS SAMARITAN CHRISTIANS OR ELITIST NOBLE GALILEANS?
WHAT DO I MEAN?
THINK ABOUT IT...These Jewish Galileans pale in comparison to the despised Samaritans who BELIEVED on Jesus WITHOUT a sign - they believed at HIS WORD.
JOHN 4 GIVES US THE SECOND SIGN. AND THE REASON JOHN GIVES US SAMPLES OF JESUS AND HIS WORD AND HIS LIFE AND HIS PROMISES ARE GIVEN BECAUSE OF JOHN 20:30-31.
"All of them are given that we might believe."
AND THE SAMARITANS AND THE NOBLEMAN AND HIS HOUSEHOLD IS GIVEN TO US TO BUILD OUR FAITH AND TRUST AND BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WORD ALONE.