Sermon Tone Analysis

The story continues

The story continues following

Jesus is now on his way back Galilee

On his way back Galilee

First, he encounters a woman at a well in Samaria ()

Second, he preaches and teaches to an entire village ().

John 4:1-

Verse 1

The Pharisees - they learned that Jesus was making more disciples than John the Baptist, and Jesus learned about it - He knew what they knew.

There is mention that Jesus didn’t perform the baptisms, but His disciples performed them.

The point seems to be that Jesus’ main emphasis of ministry was not baptism, his ministry was different than John the Baptist’s ministry.

We don’t know how Jesus learned this about the Pharisees, but from the way this is worded it seems like someone probably simply told Him about it.

This is the only time that it is mentioned that Jesus’ ministry performed water baptism.

Maybe this was the only time it was practiced in Jesus’ ministry.

Or, maybe it was part of his ministry later, but it just wasn’t mentioned.

Verse 2

There are three times that it is stated that Jesus “was baptizing”

john 3:22

John 4:1

But here, it is stated that Jesus himself did not perform the baptisms, but his disciples performed the baptisms.

The baptisms were performed under Jesus’ authority and as a part of his ministry.

The baptisms were performed under Jesus’ authority and as a part of his ministry.

The point is that baptism was not the core of Jesus’ ministry, like it was for John the Baptist.

Verse 3

The entire time spent in Samaria is two days, although it might seem like it was longer.

Joh

Verse 4

Why was it necessary?

Why was it necessary?

Was it because God, the Father, directed Jesus to pass through Samaria to bring these people the Gospel?

Or, was it simply because it was the quickest route, and saved time?

Was it because God, the Father, directed Jesus to pass through Samaria to bring these people the Gospel?

Or, was it simply because it was the quickest route, and saved time?

It might have even been something that people said about the route they took — A Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote: “Samaria was now under Roman rule, and for rabid travel it was essential to take that route, by which Jerusalem may be reached in three days from Galilee.”

It might have even been something that people said about the route they took — A Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote: “Samaria was now under Roman rule, and for rabid travel it was essential to take that route, by which Jerusalem may be reached in three days from Galilee.”

Verse 5

The first people to read this probably didn’t know much about Samaria, or this city.

The city of Sychar is near Sychar, the capital city of Samaria.

We learn that the field Jacob had given to his son, Joseph, is here.

Verse 6&7

Verse 6

John 4:7

Unlike Nicodemus, just before this story in chapter 3, this woman didn’t come looking for Jesus.

She was looking for water.

Unlike Nicodemus, just before this story in chapter 3, this woman didn’t come looking for Jesus.

She was looking for water.

Was Jesus abrupt?

Jesus, without any introduction says, “Give me a drink.”

He doesn’t even say, “Please.”

Yet, some similar words in the Old Testament, when Abraham’s servant met Rebekah, would later marry Jacob.

Well, at least the servant did say, “Please.”

But, he didn’t introduce himself, or explain what he was doing, which is probably what we would have done.

He just asks, politely, for a drink of water.

This is Jacob’s well.

Like the servant in the story, Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water.

Is history repeating itself?

Jesus was introduced as a bridegroom in chapter 3.

This may be Jacob’s well, and Jesus’ words may be similar to the words of the servant who sought a bride for Jacob, but this woman is no Rebekah: she is neither a bride nor a virgin.

Verse 8

They were completely alone.

The culture frowned on men who had a long conversation with a woman.

Using a vessel that had been handled by a Samaritan would make it impure to a Jewish person.

Drinking from a jar that had been handled by the woman, who it turns out was quite impure, would have been a problem of ritual purity.

Verse 9

Usually Jesus is said to be opposed to the Jews, or the Jews are opposed to Jesus, but here, the Samaritan woman identifies Jesus as a Jew.

That’s because he is a Jew.

Ironically, a few chapters later, the Jewish leaders call Jesus a Samaritan.

Both times Jesus is seen as the outsider.

Verse 10

Jesus seems almost playful here - “Oh, so, I am a Jew, am I?

You think you know who I really am?”

“If you knew” … If you only knew.

Actually, Jesus points out two things the woman doesn’t know:

First, there was a gift that she could receive from him, and he was ready to give it to her.

Second, she doesn’t really know his true identity.

As those who are reading the Gospel of John, however, we know these things.

The gift is Jesus - “For God so love the world that He gave his one and only Son”

We know Jesus is the one and only Son of God.

Verse 11

Verse 11

The woman is thinking literally - she’s thinking of physical water.

She mentions the fact that Jesus has nothing to hold water from the well.

Jesus is thinking of a very different kind of water.

Jesus is thinking of a very different kind of water.

Verse 12

Verse 12

The woman does not realize who Jesus is.

The reader should recognize that Jesus is greater than Jacob, and even greater than Abraham.

Verse 13

joh 13-14

Jesus explains that the “living water” (vs 10) is not from Jacob’s well.

The water from Jacob’s well will satisfy thirst only temporarily.

The “living water” (vs.

10) will quench thirst permanently.

“The living water” is:

“a spring of water” within the believer “welling up to eternal life”.

The “spring of water” is not “eternal life” but is a “gift of God” (vs.

10), the Holy Spirit.

Why say this gift is the Holy Spirit?

Joh 7:4