John 4:1-15 – Bible Study and Exploration
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well
(Verses 1-9) Jesus is venturing through Judea baptizing new believers with His disciples. He learns that He’s been gathering a great deal of attention with the Pharisee’s. So He decides to head toward Galilee. His journey is going to take him through Samaria.
Why Does the Samaritan Woman Question Jesus’ Request?
Samaria was both a region in Northern Israel and a city within the region of Samaria. It’s located 30 miles north of Jerusalem and about 6 miles northwest of Shechem. Some scholars believe that Shechem and Sychar are the same city. Others believe that Sychar was a distinct city separate from Shechem. There is a great deal of history that occurred in the region of Samaria.
Since the time Joshua entered the land of Canaan, it was the wish of God that the Israelites not intermarry with the pagan people that occupied the land at that time. They were sinful people who worshiped multiple gods and sacrificed their own children in pagan rituals.
During the time Northern Israel was captured by the Assyrians, Samaria was a part of the northern kingdom. As the Assyrians brought their own people in to occupy the land, the people of Samaria began to intermarry with the foreigners. This was quite the opposite of the Israelites that were brought into captivity by the Babylonians. They never intermarried with the Babylonians during their exile.
During the time of Jesus, many Jews considered Samaria an idolatrous area that they avoided. They disliked the Samaritans because of their mixed racial heritage. Samaria was also a place where many of the outlaws of Judea could go and find refuge and acceptance. Anyone who was excommunicated because of violating Jewish law could find a safe place in Samaria.
But as we can see, Jesus did not avoid this area. He chose to evangelize in this area because there were people that needed to be saved.
In fact, Jesus made it a part of the great commission that His disciples were to preach the word in this forsaken area of Israel.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.” (Acts 8:25)
He Will Give You Living Water
Jesus spoke in the third person and didn’t reveal Himself as the Son of Man when He spoke to Nicodemus. But to the female Samaritan outcast, He reveals Himself as the Messiah. But it took some work and a sign before she believed.
We see by her response to the offer of “living water” from Jesus that she speaks from the flesh and not from the spirit. Nicodemus replied in the same manner as he referred to being born again as reentering the womb.
Jesus challenges her like He did Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel but he was not knowledgeable of the things of heaven.
The Samaritan woman should have been familiar with the Old Testament and aware of the gift of God that Jesus offered.
What Is This Gift of God?
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)
(Verse 10-12) The gift that Jesus spoke of was the free gift of salvation that came from the Father through the Son for mankind. Jesus came to deliver the message of the kingdom which He declared that He was the Way back to the Father.
In other words, if she understood that He was the Messiah, sent from God for salvation from sin to all who believed, she wouldn’t have been concerned with His request for water. Rather, she would’ve asked for the gift of eternal life that He came to offer.
The term “living water’ refers to the Holy Spirit. It’s the Holy Spirit that leads believers on their journey of sanctification (Christian journey) and eternal life.
We see again Jesus and the Holy Spirit in unison offer this invitation to accept the living water. We see this in the final invitation of the Bible.
”The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)
They Will Never Thirst Again
(Verses 13-15) As the conversation continues, there paths run parallel to one another. As Jesus is speaking of His heavenly message, the Samaritan woman continues in her unbelief speaking from her worldly view and understanding. She’s not yet picking up on the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.
At this point, she’d love to get her hands on some of this living water. Is there a store this water can be purchased from? Where can I get this water? Anything that can save her from having to be thirsty and drawing water from this well everyday would be a welcome.
It was clear she did not understand the message of the kingdom and the gift of God that Jesus had to offer her.
Jesus decides that it’s now time to change the direction of the conversation. Her unbelief has gone on long enough.