By T. W. Parker

The popularity of Christ was increasing to the extent that the Pharisees became alarmed. Therefore, to avoid a confrontation, Jesus traveled north, returning to Galilee, where He met a Samaritan woman. Also, two contrasting conversations must be mentioned from (John. 4&5). Further, these two conversions share some similarities, especially early on, such as Jesus’ use of symbolism (new birth in 3:3 and living water in 4:10). Above all, the misunderstanding of that symbolic language by both Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman (3:4 and 4:11) calls for a deeper look into the account’s progress. As a result, the contrast becomes much more pronounced than the similarities.

Nicodemus (John 3) Samaritan Woman (John 4)
Jewish (The true faith) Samaritan (Worship what is not known; 4:22)
Man Woman
Named Unnamed
Pharisee, member of the ruling council (3:1) Lesser status (draws her own water; 4:7)
Comes to Jesus at night (3:2) Meets Jesus at midday (4:6)
Refers to Jesus as a teacher (3:2) Refers to Jesus as a prophet (4:19)
No arrival at understanding (3:9) comes to understand and believe (4:29, 39).

(John. 4:1-3). In Greek, these verses form a single sentence, introducing the reader to a second lengthy interview with Jesus. The words, “When the Lord learned of this (vs. 3), are actually the first phrase in Greek in (vs. 1). The sudden prominence of Jesus, evidenced by the growth of His followers, caused the Pharisees to take special notice of Him. Accordingly, since Jesus was working on God’s schedule, He knew how His ministry would end. For this reason, until that appointed time, He must live carefully, so He withdrew from the conflict until His “hour” (John. 7:6, 8, 30, 8:20, 12:23, 13:1, 17:1). Hence, He left Judea (see, 3:22) and went back to Galilee. However, this second interview is another illustration of the fact that “He knew what was in a man” (2:25). The Samaritan woman contrasts sharply with Nicodemus. He was seeking; she was indifferent. He was a respected ruler; she was an outcast. He was serious; she was flippant. He was presumably moral; she was immoral. He was orthodox; she was heterodox. He was learned in religious matters; she was ignorant. Nevertheless, despite all the differences between this churchman and this woman of the world, they both needed to be born again! Indeed, both had needs only Christ could meet.

(John. 4:4). “Now He had to go through Samaria. This was the shortest route from Judea to Galilee, but not the only Way. The other route was through Perea, east of the Jordan River. Moreover, in Jesus’ day, the Jews, because of their hatred for the Samaritans, typically took the eastern route in order to avoid Samaria. Instead, Jesus chose the route through Samaria in order to reach the despised people of that region. As the Savior of the world, He seeks out and saves the despised and outcasts (Luke 19:10). Samaria in the NT times was a region in the middle of Palestine, with Judea to the south and Galilee to the north. Samaria had no separate political existence under the Roman governor. The people were racially mixed, and their religion resulted from syncretism and schism from Judaism. Its center of worship was Mount Gerizim. In addition, even today in Israel, a small group of Samaritans maintains their traditions.

(John. 4:5-6). The village of Sychar was near Shechem. Most identify the site with modern Akar, but others point to Tell-Balatah. Sychar was between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. A well near Sychar today may be the same as Jacob’s well. The plot of ground which Jacob gave to Joseph is mentioned in (Gen. 48:21-22). Jacob had purchased it years ago (Gen. 33:18-20). Jesus, tired from walking, sat down by the well. According to Scripture, it was about the sixth hour, which, by Roman reckoning, would have been 6 P.M. (see John 1:39, 19:14). Jesus, being truly human, experienced thirst, weariness, pain, and hunger. Nevertheless, He also possesses all the attributes of Deity (Omniscience, Omnipotence, etc.).

(John. 4:7-8). While His disciples were in the city buying food, Jesus did something surprising: He spoke to a Samaritan woman He had never met. She was of the region of Samaria, not the town of Samaria. The woman was shocked to hear a Jewish man ask her for a drink. The typical prejudices of the day prohibited the public conversation between men and women, between Jews and Samaritans, and especially between strangers. A Jewish Rabbi would rather go thirsty than violate these proprieties.

(John. 4:9). Surprised and curious, the woman could not understand how He would dare ask her for a drink, since Jews did not associate with Samaritans. The NIV margin gives an alternate translation to the Greek sentence with the word synchrontai (“associate” or “use together”): the Jews “do not use the dishes Samaritans have used.” This rendering may be correct—a Rabbinic law of A.D. 66 stated that Samaritan women were considered to be continually menstruating and thus unclean. Therefore, a Jew who drank from a Samaritan woman’s vessel would become ceremonially unclean.

(John. 4:10). Having captured her attention and stimulated her curiosity, Jesus then spoke an enigmatic saying to cause her to think. It was as if He had said, “Your shock would be infinitely greater if you really knew who I am. You-not-I would be asking!” Three things would have provoked her thinking: (1) Who is He? (2) What is the gift of God? (3) What is living water? “Living water” in one sense is running water, but in another sense it is the Holy Spirit (Jer. 2:13, Zech. 14:8, John. 7:38-39).

(John. 4:11-12). She misunderstood the “living water” and thought only of water from the well. Since Jacob’s well was so deep, how could Jesus get this living water? Today, this well is identified by archeologists as one of the deepest in Palestine. “Are you greater than our father Jacob?” she asked. In Greek, this question expects a negative answer. She could not conceive of Him as greater than Jacob. Her claim, “our father Jacob,” is interesting because the Jews claim him as the founder of their nation. Moreover, that well had a great tradition behind it, but she wondered, what does this Stranger have?  

(John. 4:13-14). Jesus began to unveil the truth in an enigmatic statement. This water from Jacob’s well would satisfy only bodily thirst for a time. However, the water Jesus gives continually satisfies needs and desires. In addition, one who drinks His living water will have within him a spring of life-giving water (John 7:38-39). Therefore, this inner spring contrasts with the water from the well, which required hard work to acquire. Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who brings Salvation to those who believe and, through Him, offers Salvation to others.

(John. 4:15). The woman could not grasp this dark saying because of her sin and materialism. All she could understand was that if she had a spring, she would not get thirsty and would not have to work so hard.

(John. 4:16-18). Since she is unable to receive His truth (1 Cor. 2:14), Jesus addressed her most basic problem. Also, apparently, she never served Him a drink. He forgot His own physical needs to meet her spiritual needs. Christ suggested she bring her husband back with her. This suggestion was designed to show her that He knew everything about her (John 2:24-25). This Stranger was aware of her marital history, including that she was living in sin. Thus, in a few words, Jesus had revealed her life of sin and her need for Salvation.

(John. 4:19-20). Her response was most interesting! Jesus was not just a passing Jewish Rabbi. Since He had supernatural knowledge, He must be a prophet of God. Nevertheless, instead of confessing her sin and repenting, she threw out an intellectual “red herring.” Could He solve an ancient dispute? The Samaritans held that the one place of divinely ordained worship was on Mount Gerizim, whereas the Jews said it was on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Who was right in this controversy?

(John. 4:21). “A time is coming” (vs. 23) referred to the coming death of Jesus, which would inaugurate a new phase of worship in God’s economy. In the Church Age, because of the work of the Spirit, worship is no longer centered in temples like those on Mount Gerizim and Mount Zion.

(John. 4:22). Jesus was firm in His declaration of the issues involved. The Samaritan religion was confused and in error: “You Samaritans worship what you do not know.” They were not the vehicle for humanity’s Salvation. Israel was the nation chosen by God to have great privileges (Rom. 9:4-5). When Jesus said, Salvation is from the Jews, He did not mean that all Jews were saved or were especially pious. “Salvation is from the Jews” in the sense that it is available through Jesus, who was born of the seed of Abraham.

(John. 4:23). With the Advent of the Messiah, the time came for a new order of worship. True worshipers are those who realize that Jesus is the Truth of God (John 3:21, 14:6) and the only Way to the Father (Acts 4:12). To worship in truth is to worship in the Spirit, which is to worship in the new realm that God has revealed to His people. The Father is seeking true worshipers, not in falsehood. All believers are worshippers (Rom. 1:25), yet because of sin, many are blind and constantly put their trust in worthless objects.

(John. 4:24). God is Spirit is a better translation than the (KJV) “God is a Spirit.” God is not one Spirit among many. This is a declaration of His invisible nature. He is not confined to one location. Worship of God can be done only through the One (Jesus) who expresses God’s invisible nature (John. 1:18) and by virtue of the Holy Spirit who opens to a believer the new realm of the Kingdom (John. 3:3, 5, 7:38-39).

(John. 4:25). The Samaritans expected a coming messianic leader. However, they did not expect Him to be the anointed King of the Davidic line, since they rejected all the (OT) except the Pentateuch. Based on (Deut. 18:15-18), they expected a Moses-like figure who would solve all their problems. The Samaritan woman now understood a part of what Jesus said. She wistfully longed for the messianic days when the Messiah would explain.

(John. 4:26). The self-declaration by Jesus Himself-I-I am He (The Messiah)-is unusual. Normally, during His ministry in Galilee and Judea (John 6:15), for political reasons, He veiled His office and used the title “Son of Man.” On the contrary, with the Samaritan woman, the dangers of revolt by national zealots were not a problem.        

Note:

1. As believers we must break down cultural and social barriers.
2. We must meet and see unbelievers through the lens of Christ.
3. For true believers, the Holy Spirit is the living water that can truly quench any thrust and is our true satisfaction.
4. Also, we must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
5. We must tell others about Christ; the Samaritan woman immediately shared her encounter with Jesus to others.
6. Finally, like the Samaritan woman, we all must recognize our spiritual emptiness and need for God’s grace to receive salvation through Christ.