John Chapter 4

At a Glance

  • John 4 unfolds as a chapter of boundary-crossing grace and expansive revelation.
  • The dialogue expands beyond personal thirst into a missional moment.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • John 4 is a quintessential example of John’s theme of breaking down barriers to reveal the universal scope of salvation.
  • The text sits within a Gospel that uses ordinary moments to unfold grand theological truths: Jesus as the source of life, the true form of worship, and the bringer of heavenly revelation.

Chapter Overview

John 4 unfolds as a chapter of boundary-crossing grace and expansive revelation. Jesus intentionally travels through Samaria, a region steeped in historical enmity with Jews, choosing a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well as the recipient of living water. The encounter begins with ordinary thirst, but Jesus pivots the conversation toward a transformative wellspring—eternal life that quenches deepest longing. The woman, initially focused on physical sustenance and tribal identity, gradually discerns that Jesus speaks of a water that can “never thirst” again, a water that becomes a spring of life within. Her question about Messiah leads to a decisive confession: “I know that the Messiah cometh...when he is come, he will tell us all things.” Jesus reveals, “I that speak unto thee am he,” making a pivotal self-disclosure.

The dialogue expands beyond personal thirst into a missional moment. The woman leaves her water jar, runs to her town, and testifies about Jesus, “Is not this the Christ?…Come, see a man.” Her testimony catalyzes many Samaritans to believe, illustrating how personal encounter with Jesus can ripple outward through even the most unlikely communities. The chapter then returns to Jesus’ travel narrative, revealing that true worship transcends the temple; it is worship in spirit and truth—where God seeks those who will worship him authentically. The Samaritans’ faith, born from encounter rather than pedigree, demonstrates the widening scope of Jesus’ mission, inviting all who will believe.

Historical & Literary Context

John 4 is a quintessential example of John’s theme of breaking down barriers to reveal the universal scope of salvation. The setting—a Jew and a Samaritan woman—highlights contested ethnicity, gender, and religious expectations, yet Jesus’ interaction dissolves those divides. The narrative style blends a vivid, concrete encounter with layered theological reflection about worship, living water, and the Messiah’s revelation. The road to Samaria, the well scene, and the town’s response together form a microcosm of the broader Johannine invitation: a personal encounter with Jesus leads to communal transformation.

The text sits within a Gospel that uses ordinary moments to unfold grand theological truths: Jesus as the source of life, the true form of worship, and the bringer of heavenly revelation. The “living water” motif becomes a thread connecting this chapter to larger themes—eternal life, the Spirit, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to all peoples.

Key Themes

- Universal salvation and boundary-crossing: Jesus moves beyond Jews to Samaritans, showing the breadth of God’s mercy.

- Living water and true worship: Jesus redefines worship as connected to Spirit and truth, not geography or ritual.

- Revelation and belief: The Samaritan townspeople respond to testimony and personal encounter with Jesus, highlighting belief’s social ripple effects.

- Identity and mission of Jesus: The revelation of the Messiah at a well confirms his messianic role in an unexpected setting.

- Transformation from ordinary to extraordinary: A common daily moment becomes a doorway to eternal life through faith.

Modern Application

- Breaking down divisions: The chapter challenges readers to cross social, religious, and cultural boundaries with grace, mirroring Jesus’ inclusive mission.

- Personal testimony as evangelism: The woman’s brief encounter inspires a community-wide movement, underscoring the power of everyday witness.

- Worship beyond place: Believers are invited to cultivate worship that is inward, Spirit-led, and truth-grounded, not constrained by sacred sites alone.

- Recognizing Jesus as life-giver: The living-water imagery invites individuals to seek nourishment in Christ rather than transient satisfactions.

- Humble discipleship: The Samaritan response shows that genuine belief leads to invitation and hospitality toward others who seek truth.

Cross-References

- John 7:37-39 (rivers of living water, Spirit)

- John 3:5-8 (birth of water and Spirit)

- Romans 10:9-13 (belief leading to salvation)

- Isaiah 56:6-7 (non-Jews welcome in God’s house)

- 1 Corinthians 12:13 (one Spirit, one body)

Recommended Personas

- Jesus (primary): to illuminate cross-cultural outreach and worship in Spirit and truth.

- The Samaritan Woman (insightful observer): to highlight personal testimony’s transformative power.

- Philip or Barnabas (apostolic executors): to illustrate broader church mission and outreach beyond cultural walls.

- Moses (typology): to connect water/river imagery with biblical salvation motifs.

Chapter Text

1

When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2

(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

3

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

4

And he must needs go through Samaria.

5

Then cometh he 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 unto her, Give me to drink.

8

(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14

But whosoever 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.

15

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

16

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

19

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21

Jesus saith unto 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 of the Jews.

23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers 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 unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

27

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

28

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

30

Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

31

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

32

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

33

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

35

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, 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 unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

37

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

38

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

39

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

40

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

41

And many more believed because of his own word;

42

And said unto 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 Saviour of the world.

43

Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

44

For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

45

Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

46

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

47

When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

48

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

49

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

50

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

51

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

52

Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

53

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

54

This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

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