The Woman at The Well

Jesus had to go through Samaria

The back story on the Samaritans. -

The Jewish New Testament Commentary Yochanan (John), Chapter 4

A Jew, as distinct from a Samaritan. See 1:19N. Enmity between Jews and people from Shomron (Samaritans) is at least as old as the return of the southern tribes from the Babylonian Exile in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E. and has its roots in the division of Israel into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms after the death of King Solomon (931 B.C.E.; see 1 Kings 11–12), with the result that the Southern Kingdom worshipped in Jerusalem but the Northern did not.

Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C.E. and deported many of its people, who belonged to the ten northern tribes, replacing them with pagans; they intermarried with the remaining Jews to produce the Samaritans. Their descendants were not idolaters, but they acknowledged only the Pentateuch as inspired by God. They also denied Jerusalem as the religious center, opting instead for Mount Gerizim (v. 20 below); this explains why they tried to obstruct Nechemyah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:19, 4:2). See Lk 9:53N, 10:33N.

Look at Jesus’ earthly interaction here.

John 4:6

John 4:6 NLT

Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

He is tired. Wearied from is journey. Thirsty and hungry.

She is focused on cultural norms

John 4:9 NLT

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus is being led by the Spirit because is he is anointed. Luke 4:18. He does what the Father does! He does what the Father says!

The fruit and the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, even when Jesus, the man may be weary. When the flesh is weary the Spirit willing!

John 4:10 NLT

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

Buckets, ropes, and deep wells..

You think you're better than Jacob?

So watch!

John 4:13–14 NLT

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

John 4:16 NLT

“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

John 4:17–18 NLT

“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

The gifts of the Spirit laid a whammy down… now this was done in private - between Jesus and this woman. Don’t go giving out private words of knowledge in public settings. Jesus did not do that. He was in a private moment with this woman. Take note!

We are not told why this woman had had 5 husbands. 5 different men may have divorced her for invalid reasons, who knows? It is far too easy to just assume it was because she was a woman of ill character. Perhaps they all died of some dreadful disease? Who knows. I bet she was a very hurt woman and Jesus was carrying the His Gospel to her.

Luke 4:18–19 NLT

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

Jesus response drew her in!

Look at the woman’s response. It made her hungry for the Lord. It did not push her away.

John 4:19 NLT

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.

You must be a prophet!

This was not A prophet. This was THE PROPHET!

Where do we worship?

This woman took the conversation to “The instance on WHERE to worship?” It was obviously something that bothered her and something she was up on. In all of her hurt, 5 broken marriages, and this is the topic that comes up? I mean really?

Jesus is about to set her free!

John 4:21–24 NLT

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Jewish Bible Says - God is Spirit; and worshippers must worship Him spiritually and truly.

The Jewish New Testament Commentary Yochanan (John), Chapter 4

This verse is sometimes misappropriated to support the mistaken idea that the Torah is inferior or is no longer in force, having been replaced by worship “in spirit and in truth” (the literal rendering of spiritually and truly). But spiritual and true worship is not to be set alongside or compared with the Torah. Rather, true, spiritual worship is God’s universal standard, which he also commands in the Torah itself. The Torah opposes legalism and the mere performance of acts and routines without true, spiritual involvement.

Jesus boldly declares to her who He is!

John 4:26 NLT

Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

This woman returns to her town and begins to evangelize!

John 4:28–30 NLT

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

And what becomes of Jesus’ natural tiredness, his thirst, and His hunger?

John 4:31–34 NLT

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Our nourishment is to do God’s will, from finishing His work!

We are nourished when we gather in the harvest!

Let’s go get the harvest!

There is great joy at harvest!

Isaiah 9:3 NLT

You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.

Luke 15:7 NLT

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Luke 15:10 NLT

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Luke 10:32 NLT

A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.