JOHN 4

John 4:1 (NKJV) Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

 

4:3 - He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

WHY? Because, "[He] knew that the Pharisees had heard that [He] made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee." The quantitative term "more" implies the growing popularity of Jesus. It also seems to have been the cause for jealousy on the part of John's disciples.

 

"And they [John's disciples] came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him" (2:26).

In addition to this the Pharisees were eyeing Jesus suspiciously. To avoid premature conflict with these religious leaders and to relieve the tension His presence caused the disciples of John, Jesus left Judea (the southern region of Palestine) for Galilee (the northern region of Palestine).

 

Perhaps the better answer to "why" is found in the next verse.

4:4 - But He needed to go through Samaria.

The term "He needed to" is a translation of the Greek term jedei, third person, singular, imperfect of dew, to impel or compel. It "implies logical necessity rather than personal obligation. It is the term one would use in saying, 'A triangle must have three sides.'"

 

There were other roads that Jesus could have taken, so it was not a geographical necessity.

 

Though it was the shortest route, Jesus did not take this route because He was in a hurry. According to 4:40 and 43, Jesus spent two days with these Samaritans. This isn't something a man in a hurry would do, so it was not schedule necessity.

 

This route was avoided by most Jews of the day, so Jesus wasn't under social pressure to travel this route. To the contrary, Jews of Jesus' day avoided this route because of the enmity that existed between the Samaritans and the Jews. There was no war between them, but long standing walls separated them from one another.

John 4:5 (NKJV) So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

 

In fulfillment of His need to go through Samaria, Jesus "came to a city of Samaria." The city was called Sychar, meaning drunken or falsehood. "It is suggested, e.g., that it is a nickname applied in contempt by the Jews…." It was located in the district East of Shechem usually identified with Jacob's "parcel of ground."

 

The plot of ground mentioned here was purchased from Hamar by Jacob (Genesis 33:19) and later given to Joseph (Gen. 48:22). It was here that Jacob declares God to be El Elohe Israel, God, the God of Israel (Gen. 33:20).

 

 

John 4:6 (NKJV) Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from [His] journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

John tells us that "Jacob's well was there." He also tells us that Jesus sat by the well because He was weary or He was physically spent from the long walk. Even so, his physical exhaustion did not deter Him from obedience. He sat by the well or positioned Himself as one waiting for someone. John is quick to note that it was about the sixth hour or 12 noon, an hour when people would have been seeking shade.

John 4:7 (NKJV) A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."

The person who comes to the well is a woman of Samaria.. This woman was a Samaritan, a people ostracized by the Jews. In verse 9, John tells us "Jews will not use the same dishes that Samaritans use." Not only were the Samaritans considered unclean, but anything they touched was considered unclean.

 

Women usually drew water earlier or later in the day when the temperature was cooler. Her presence here at this time of day indicates that she may have been trying to avoid contact with other women from her community.

 

Another issue to be considered is the fact that Jewish men did not speak to women in public, not even their own wives. Jewish social behavior is reflected in the following statement: "Never speak to a woman in the street, even if she is your wife."

It is to this Samaritan woman that Jesus says, "Give Me a drink." Just the fact that He, a male Jew, spoke to her must have shocked her.

(To be continued)

 

Note: Greek font is "Greek Parse".

 

©1998 by Louis Bartet, all rights reserved.