📖 Passage

John 4:1–26 Read John 4:1-26 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

Following growing attention from the Pharisees, Jesus leaves Judea and travels north to Galilee, intentionally passing through Samaria — a region avoided by most Jews due to deep historical and religious animosity. The Samaritans held a version of the Pentateuch and worshiped on Mount Gerizim, rejecting Jerusalem’s temple. At Jacob’s well in Sychar, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman, crossing cultural, gender, and moral barriers. Through this encounter, He reveals Himself as the giver of living water — the eternal life of the Spirit — and the true Messiah. This moment foreshadows the Gospel’s expansion beyond the Jews to the nations.

🌿 Key Themes

• Barrier-Breaking Grace — Jesus engages a Samaritan woman despite cultural hostility.
• Living Water — Symbol of eternal life through the Spirit.
• True Worship — Worship is in spirit and truth, not tied to a location.
• Messianic Revelation — Jesus openly declares His identity as Messiah.
• Evangelistic Foreshadowing — The Gospel is for all nations.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

John 4:1–3

"When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John... he left Judea and departed again for Galilee." - Strategic Withdrawal — Avoids premature confrontation with religious leaders.
- God’s Timing — Jesus acts according to the Father’s plan, not human pressure.

John 4:4–6

"And he had to pass through Samaria... Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well." - Divine Appointment — “Had to” reflects God’s sovereign purpose.
- Jesus’ Humanity — His physical weariness highlights His incarnation.
- Historic Setting — Jacob’s well connects the moment to Israel’s patriarchal heritage.

John 4:7–9

"A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.'" - Breaking Social Norms — A Jewish rabbi speaking to a Samaritan woman was unheard of.
- Initiating Grace — Jesus starts the conversation, showing God’s pursuit of sinners.
- Barrier of Hostility — Her surprise reveals the depth of ethnic division.

John 4:10–12

"If you knew the gift of God... you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." - Gift of God — Eternal life offered freely in Christ.
- Living Water Imagery — Suggests both flowing water and the Spirit’s life-giving work.
- Spiritual Misunderstanding — She interprets Jesus’ words in physical terms.

John 4:13–15

"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again." - Eternal Satisfaction — The life Jesus offers quenches spiritual thirst forever.
- Indwelling Spirit — Living water becomes a spring within, leading to eternal life.
- Drawn by Desire — Her request, though still physical, shows awakened interest.

John 4:16–18

"Go, call your husband, and come here." - Conviction Before Conversion — Jesus exposes her sin with truth and compassion.
- Omniscience — His knowledge of her life reveals His divine authority.
- Grace Meets Brokenness — Her morally complex past does not deter His offer.

John 4:19–20

"Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet." - Recognition of Spiritual Authority — She shifts to theological discussion.
- Worship Controversy — Raises the Samaritan-Jewish debate over proper worship location.

John 4:21–24

"The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father... God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." - New Covenant Worship — Not bound to geography but to the reality of God’s presence.
- Spirit and Truth — Worship that is genuine, God-centered, and Spirit-enabled.
- Christ-Centered Fulfillment — Jesus inaugurates the true way of worship.

John 4:25–26

"I know that Messiah is coming... Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.'" - Messianic Expectation — Even Samaritans awaited the coming Redeemer.
- Direct Revelation — Jesus clearly claims to be the Messiah.
- Personal Encounter — The Savior is revealed in a one-on-one conversation.

🔍 Trusted Insight

RC Sproul observed that Jesus’ choice to reveal His Messiahship to an outcast Samaritan woman illustrates the radical inclusivity of the Gospel and God’s sovereign grace. This account dismantles barriers of ethnicity, gender, and morality, showing that salvation is for all who believe.
Summary: In revealing Himself to the Samaritan woman, Jesus shows that living water — eternal life in the Spirit — is offered freely to all, and true worship is found only in Him.

🧩 Review Questions

1. How does Jesus’ journey through Samaria display divine sovereignty?
2. Why does Jesus address the woman’s personal life before revealing His identity?
3. What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?
4. How does this passage expand our understanding of who the Gospel is for?

🔍 Definitions

• Living Water — Symbol of eternal life and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
• Spirit and Truth — Worship empowered by the Spirit and aligned with God’s revealed truth.
• Messiah — The promised Deliverer sent by God.

🙋 Application Questions

1. What cultural or personal barriers might God be calling you to cross with the Gospel?
2. How can you ensure your worship is truly in spirit and truth?
3. In what ways does this passage encourage you to share your faith with unlikely people?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• Hydōr zōn (Living Water) — Flowing, fresh water; symbolically, the Spirit’s life-giving presence.
• Proskyneō (Worship) — To bow down in reverence and adoration.
• Pneuma (Spirit) — Refers to both the Holy Spirit and the nature of God as Spirit.

📚 Cross References

• Isaiah 55:1 — Invitation to come and drink without cost.
• Jeremiah 2:13 — God as the fountain of living waters.
• Ezekiel 36:25–27 — God gives His Spirit and a new heart.
• Acts 8:5 — Philip preaches in Samaria, fulfilling Gospel expansion.
• Revelation 22:17 — The invitation to take the water of life freely.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → John 4:27–42