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John – Lesson 6 John Chapter 4:1-27   

 

Introduction:

In Chapter 3, we saw the explanation of what happens to the lost man or woman when they turn their life over to Christ by repentance and faith. Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews, did not understand this concept of being "born again" at all. Chapter 3 is about as clear on salvation as any book in the bible. The love of God is shown forth through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 ended with the affirmation about how we are condemned already if we do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. 

I.  Jesus Departs into Galilee 

John 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

John 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

Verse one is interesting in that it mentions "when therefore the Lord knew…" Jesus was God himself in the flesh, yet he knew what others thought, even before they spoke. There are many verses in the bible that speak of how he perceived things that were not yet done or spoken. It is important to notice that verse 2 tells us that Jesus did not baptize, and this was done I believe on purpose that man not get the significance of baptism mixed up with salvation. We see that verse one even states that "Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John." This points to how that a person is saved and accepts Christ for salvation. Baptism is the first command we are to follow after being saved, and it is our entrance into the local church. But salvation is wholly of the Lord, and water has no significance in being born again. Baptism is a picture (symbolism) of our death to the old life when we enter the baptismal waters, and the picture of the new life when we are raised to walk in newness of life.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

1 Pet 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

1 Pet 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Note the words "like figure" pointing to the baptism being a picture of salvation.

John 4:3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

John 4:4 And he must needs go through Samaria.

John 4:5 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.

It says that they departed into Galilee because Jesus must needs go through Samaria. Samaria was between Judea and Galilee. When the Jews traveled from Judea to Galilee, they would go around Samaria on the east side and not enter into this country. But Jesus was a Jew, and he did enter the country. We might ask why was it needful for him to go through Samaria. It was due to God having a reason. What happens in our life may not always make sense, but God orders the steps of a good man. Trials may beset us, and we may not understand why things happen the way they do, but trust God. He does have a reason. We see that Jesus first came to the city of Sychar in Samaria.

 

II. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

John 4:6 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.

John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

John 4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

We see Jesus tired from his journey come and sit on the well. It says it was the sixth hour in Jewish time, making it 12 noon in our time. Six is the number of man, where seven is the perfect number of God. At six, we see Jesus as a man, weary from the flesh. Jesus comes to a woman here, which was exactly God’s Will in His life. (remember he must needs go through Samaria.) What a contrast between the person he met in Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This woman was a woman of the world, an immoral woman who was living in sin with a man. We see here that Jesus came to all types of people, not just religious people but those who did not know God also.

John 4:9 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.

We might wonder why this woman was at the well at noon. It was the custom of the women to come and draw water at the end of the day. Most likely, due to her immoral background, she was shunned by the other women of the city. Jesus comes to her and asks a drink of this woman, the one that Jesus knows is living in sin. What a contrast, the one who is totally without sin, the Water of Life, asking of a sinner a drink of water. Anytime God uses us in His service, I think of what a blessing it is to be used. Even at our best, we are so far from the righteousness of God. How was it that Isaiah put it?

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

So our righteousness before God is like filthy rags. But praise God, He still uses us when we are willing to be used. This woman marvels that a Jew would ask a drink of a Samaritan. The Jews had very low respect to the Samaritans, sometimes referring to them as dogs. This woman did not know who it was that asked a drink of her.

John 4:10 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.

John 4:11 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?

John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus tells the woman that she could have eternal life if she would believe on Him, and accept that living water that only God can give. The woman could not have known it was Jesus who asked, or she would have given the drink without questioning him. Her mind was clearly on material things. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the day to day battle to the point that we forsake the important things. God help us to stay focused on our families, and on the work of the Lord in our lives. Those are the important things. Money, car problems, bills, the in-laws, all of these pale in comparison to the work of the Lord. The woman concentrates on the means of getting the living water than understanding the meaning of what Jesus was saying. She says it is a deep well, and he had nothing to even draw water with. Of course, the water Jesus gives has nothing to do with physical, earthly water. This Samaritan woman was ignorant of the spiritual teachings that Jesus was trying to reveal unto her. She questions if Jesus is greater than their father Jacob. The answer is a resounding "YES." Jesus was God himself, the very Messiah that the people were looking to come. He is the one that the Jews still pray at the wailing wall that He will come. They don’t realize that they have overlooked the very one that God sent to save them.

 

Zec 13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

This prophecy speaks of Jesus returning and telling the Jews that the very holes in his hand, the wounds in his side, came from his friends. Jesus came first to the Jews, but they would not hear and God has now opened salvation to the Gentiles. I praise God that we are free to be saved. But even during the time of the law, many Gentiles were saved. God has always loved all men and women since the beginning of time. The Jews were just blessed to be the chosen nation of the Lord.

 

 John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

Is this not true? Have you in your life ever taken a earthly drink of water that filled you forever?

We can satisfy our thirst, but an hour or two later, we thirst again. But since that day I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior 34 years ago, I have never thirsted for salvation again. Praise the Lord that God does things perfectly and completely.

 

III. The Promise of the Indwelling Spirit

 John 4:14 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.

John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Jesus promises eternal life to this woman (and all who will come to Him) if she was willing to accept it. She is not clear on what Jesus means, but she desires this living water. In verse 15, it appears that she is still thinking in earthly terms. The water Jesus would give her would satisfy the Spiritual man forever, but the human fleshly side will always need the water we drink to allow us to live in the physical body.

John 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

Jesus I think tests this woman with verse 16. He already knew she had no husband, but he tells her to go and bring him. If we truly accept Christ as Savior, we will become honest and acknowledge our sin and be truthful in all things.

John 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

Jesus confirms her truthful answer. And then explains her background in such detail that the woman had to know that Jesus was no ordinary man. We may can fool the people around us about our daily lives, but God is omniscient. (all knowing). He knows all things, and when we try to lie and trick God, we are foolish.

John 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

 The woman acknowledges that Jesus is no ordinary man. She says she perceives that he is a prophet. Was he a prophet? Yes, He was. But he was so much more than a prophet. He came in the order to the great King Melchisedec. This king had no record of his genealogy, nor record of his death. But Melchisedec was a prophet, priest, and king. So is our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

John 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

It is interesting sometimes how that when men or women don’t follow after God, they still make reference to the fathers. John Calvin had three major comments about using the term "our fathers", but for times sake, I want to quote just the last of them.

"In later times men devoted themselves to the examples of the "fathers" without thinking that the Lord had given a different way of behavior which they ought to follow. This huge mass of ceremonies which Popery has buried the church under exemplifies this kind of ignorance. So that we do not make this mistake, we should always be careful to keep to the following rule: previously incense, candles, sacred vestments, an altar, vessels, and certain kinds of ceremonies pleased God. This was because nothing is more precious and acceptable to him than our obedience. But since Christ has come, everything has completely changed. So we should find out what please Christ under the Gospel dispensation so that we do not unthinkingly follow what the "fathers" did under the law. What was then a sacred observation in worshiping God would now be a wicked sacrilege. The Samaritans went wrong because they did not realize how differently their own time was from Jacob’s. The patriarchs were allowed to put up altars everywhere because the place which the Lord later chose what not yet been appointed."

We need to likewise be thinking on how God would have us to worship today. We no longer are to follow the traditions of the fathers, but we are to come into a local assembly. Jesus set up his church in his personal ministry, and we are to come together as people of a like mind and serve God in the local church. Not a synagogue, not a temple, but a local new testament church. One exactly like what Jesus started in his day.

1 Cor 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1 Cor 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1 Cor 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Cor 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

 

John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Jesus is explaining that things are changing. God will soon not be worshipped in the mountain, nor in Jerusalem alone like the Jews had become accustomed. Verse 22 should be thought over by every believer, and by every church. Are we worshipping like the Samaritans. "Ye worship ye know not what." I’m afraid many today will gather in assemblies in many countries, and the pastor will read something that is not the Word of God and fail to preach about Jesus Christ. When we fail to lift up Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World, we too have come to worship "ye know not what."

Jesus said they (the Jews) knew what they were worshipping, and salvation was of the Jews. If you are ever going to be saved, you will come to a Jew. And that one and only one that will save you is Jesus Christ. Salvation truly is of the Jews, but it is open to all mankind.

John 4:23 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.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

What kind of people does God want to worship Him? Those that are honest, truthful people. Those that with the heart and soul worship God. And the day has come already. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that the hour had now already come. It is high time that we recognize how to please God, and come to him that way.

John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

John 4:27 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?

 The woman says she knows that one day that one would come, the Messiah, and he would tell them all things. She was right about that. And then Jesus reveals who He is, that one and only Begotten Son of God. In verse 26 he says, "I that speak unto thee am he." What a revelation this woman received.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And the disciples return, and they do not ask Jesus why he was talking to the woman. Perhaps even they perceived that God was working a miracle in this woman’s life. She was never the same after that day. Next week we see her reaction.

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Prov 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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