Reading of God’s Word

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour [noon].

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 

The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 

Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 

Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:1–42, ESV)

Introduction

The story of Jesus’ interaction with the woman of Samaria is beautiful, in my opinion. It seems to be carefully chosen, masterfully crafted, and strategically placed, by John as he was moved along under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I believe it plays a very specific and important role in John’s gospel.

That is one of the questions I ask when beginning to study a particular passage of scripture: what role does this passage play in the book? Why did John tell this story as he did and place here in his gospel?

A careful reading of John 4:1-45 reveals that this story of Jesus’ interaction with a Samaritan woman serves to gather up the major themes that have been introduced by John in chapters 1-3, showing, or illustrating, how the themes contained within chapters 1-3 were actually true of Jesus in his life. I have six things in mind. We will look at three of them today and three of them next week, as this passage is simply to large to deal with in one sermon.

The story of Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman illustrates six truths that have already been stated: one, Jesus did indeed come as savior of the world; two, he does indeed offer life giving water; three, he is the light of the world, able to shine light into the darkness of the human heart; four, he is the true temple trough whom all peoples are to approach the Father; five, he was the long awaited Messiah; and six he did come for the purpose of gathering in a great harvest from all the peoples of the earth. As I said, these themes have already been introduced in chapters 1-3. Here these truths about Jesus are shown in action.

I. Jesus is the Savior of the World

Consider, first of all, the way that this story illustrates the truth that has been stated time and again in John’s gospel, that Jesus was and is the Savior of the world.

He came to provide salvation for Jewish people and gentile people and mixed peoples alike – fallen and sinful people from every tongue, tribe, and nation under the sun. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This truth has been stated time and again in chapters 1-3; here we see played out in real life!

Jesus Journeys from Judea to Galilee by Way of Samaria

We are told in verses 1-3 that Jesus left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

The region of Judea was located to the west and north of the dead sea. The city of Jerusalem was at the heart of it. Jesus baptized in that region, as did John the Baptist for a time (actually, Jesus did not baptize, but his disciples did). But it came time for him to leave. Why? Because the Pharisees had found out that Jesus was now baptizing and making more disciples than John. There was obviously tension between Jesus and these religious elite, and so Jesus decided to journey to the north back towards Galilee, where he had turned water to wine at the wedding feast.

The Samaritans

Verse 4 tells us that Jesus “had to pass through Samaria”. It’s true that between the region of Judea in the south, and the region of Galilee in the north, lay another region, called Samaria. The most direct route for Jesus to take would involve passing through the region of Samaria, but there was another well known route to take. In fact many devout Jews would take the longer route which in involved crossing over the Jordan river and traveling through the region of Perea, thus avoiding contact with the Samaritans.

Devout Jew’s despised the Samaritan people. they considered them unclean. And, to be fair, Samaritans were not particularly fond of the Jewish people either. Understanding this fact is essential to understanding the significance of this story.

The hatred that existed between the Jews and Samaritans went back hundreds of years. The Samaritan people came into existence after the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. and introduced foreign people, who brought their foreign deities into the land. The Jewish people who remained there in that region intermarried. They were also given to idolatry as they began to worship these foreign deities that were now in their midsts. Over time the Samaritans regained their monotheistic devotion to YHWH, but differences remained. The tension between the groups never went away.

The Jews considered the Samaritans half-breeds. Their reputation as an idolatrous and disloyal people persisted. The Samaritans also maintained unique beliefs which served to widen the chasm between them and their Jewish brethren. For example, they did not accept all of the Old Testament as inspired scripture – they only accepted the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible; the books of Moses) as inspired. Also, and this is probably more significant to this story, they believed that the proper place for the worship YHWH was on Mt. Gerizim, and so they constructed a temple there in 400 B.C.

The point is that the divide between the Jews and the Samaritans was significant in Jesus’ day. Prejudice and racism was prevalent, and it cut both ways – The Jews despised the Samaritans, and the  Samaritans the Jews.

Jesus Engages the Samaritan Woman

But what did Jesus do as he lived within that cultural setting? He walked directly into the region of the Samaritans. This is very significant. Not only did he walk into that region, but once there he decided to converse with a Samaritan woman.

This story does not naturally shock us today given that we are 2,000 years removed and live in a very different culture, but it would have been shocking to the original reader for three reasons. 1) This woman was a Samaritan. 2) She was a woman – devout Jews in that day would not openly converse with women in this way. 3) As we will see, she was an immoral woman. She had had five husbands, and the man she was currently living with was not her husband. From the perspective of the Jews in this day, this woman had there strikes against her – she was altogether unworthy.

Never-the-less, Jesus engaged her. He was clearly concerned for her soul. He found a way to bring the truth of the gospel to her that she might respond in faith.

The point being made here is profound. Jesus was and is the savior of the world. He came for all peoples – Jew, gentile, and Samaritans alike. This truth has already been claimed – here it is displayed.

Compare Nicodemus with The Women at the Well

Notice, by the way, how this story compliments the story of Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus in John 3. Nicodemus was a Jew. In fact, he was a teacher of Israel – a Pharisee. If anyone would respond appropriately to the light of the world one would assume that it would be him, or those like him. But he, and most of his pharisaical comrades, remained in unbelief as they encountered Jesus the Messiah. But the women at the well – the immoral Samaritan women, believed in the Christ.

Many From Her Town Believe Too

As the story develops we come to see that, not only does Jesus converse with this Samaritan woman, but with a great multitude from her home town. In fact they come to Jesus after she tells them of him, and they compel him to stay with them for a time. He remains with them for two days, and at the end of that time the people of the city say to the woman who spoke with Jesus at the well (verse 42) “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

It has been said again and again in John that Christ came to take away the sin’s of the world. But here it is demonstrated through Jesus’ interaction with the world. Christ goes to the Samaritans. He preaches the gospel to them – not only to the righteous and devout amongst them, but to the immoral. And they, unlike the Pharisees in general, and Nicodemus in particular, believe.

Application

You see, this passage is here in John, in part, to drive out any form of racism or prejudice that might exist within the Church.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all the people of the earth. It is for those who look like us, talk like us, dress like us, and think like us – and for those who do not.

Also, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for sinners. We might be inclined to preach the gospel only to the Nicodemus’ of the world – only to those who seem to be upright and religious, holy and pure. But our Lord preached the gospel to the world. 

The church is to mimic the example of her Savior and preach the gospel to such as these.

II. Jesus Offers Living Water

The second theme picked up here in this story is the theme of water. The imagery of water runs throughout John, as you know. John the Baptist baptized with water – Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit; John’s baptism symbolized purification – Jesus would actually bring purification. Jesus turned water to wine in six pots used for the Jewish rights of purification. The water of these pots only symbolized purification – Jesus would actually provide purification through his broken body and spilt blood.

Water and purification have been central themes in John. Here, Jesus himself uses the imagery of water to communicate spiritual truths with the sinful Samaritan woman at the well. He offers her living water. He claims to have the ability to give living water.

The Exchange Between the Woman at the Well and Jesus

Jesus asked the woman for a drink. He was thirsty and did not have the proper tools to draw water out of the deep well.

The woman responded to his request in a rather cynical way, saying, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9, ESV)

But Jesus, like a skilled evangelist, found a way to turn the conversation from earthly things to heavenly things, saying , “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10, ESV) 

The woman, like many, missed the fact that Jesus was not speaking of literal water. And so she responded, saying, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water [the phrase living water could be used to refer to water that was running, as in a river or underground spring]? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” (John 4:11–12, ESV) 

The woman was initially resistant. But Jesus did not give up on her. He pressed further saying, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13–14, ESV)

You and I understand what Jesus meant. He was offering purification of sin to this woman. He was offering satisfaction within the depths of her soul. He was claiming to be the one through whom eternal life was attained. He offered to give her “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” – this is obviously a reference to the fact that Christ would  give the Holy Spirit, water and the Spirit being closely associated in John’s gospel. You and I understand what Jesus was saying, and we think to ourselves, how could you possible reject this offer? How could you possibly pass up the offer of purification and the satisfaction made available in Christ Jesus?

But notice that the woman persisted in her literalistic understanding and her hard hearted disposition toward the Christ. When I read verse 15 I imagine a sarcastic tone:  “The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:15, ESV) In other words, sure buddy, I bet you have water that will satisfy forever. Give it to me, then. I’d love to do something other than drawing water out of this well day after day. 

The woman, at this point, failed to understand Jesus. She was thinking in an earthly way. She could not grasp the heavenly and spiritual truths that Jesus was communicating, and so she remained in unbelief.

And isn’t it often times this way when people hear the gospel? The gospel sounds strange to them. Their minds are set in a particular way. They think in worldly ways. The gospel of Jesus Christ sounds like foolishness to them, and so they remain in their unbelief.

III. Jesus Shines Light in the Darkness

But notice what Jesus does with this hard hearted pessimistic, and rather sassy woman. He shines light into the darkness of her soul.

And that is the third theme picked up here in this story and illustrated so beautifully.

According to John, Christ is the light of the world. I suppose we can visualize that truth in two ways: we can visualize Christ shining as a light on a global or even cosmic scale – the Lord Jesus standing before his creation shining as light in the darkness for the whole world to see. But here we see Jesus shining as a light into one particular person – into one human soul.

She does not understand him. She remains in unbelief. But thankfully, Christ, who is the light of the world, is able to work more deeply; he is able to bring illumination and transformation to the heart and mind.

He says in verse 16, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” (John 4:16, ESV) This is a strange thing for him to say. It is an out of the blue sort of statement. It must have startled her a bit; I think that was the intent.

She responded saying, “I have no husband.” All of a sudden this woman is running short on words!

Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” (John 4:17–18, ESV)

Jesus had presented the gospel to this woman. He had declared that eternal life was available through him. She scoffed at that. But here he brings conviction of sin; here he works most deeply upon her heart and address the issues residing deep within her soul.

Jesus has been described by John again and again as the light of the world; here we see him bring light to the darkness of the human soul in a most direct, precise, and personal way.

It is true that Jesus shines as the light of the world for all to see – there is no other light except that which comes from him. But what is the result of that, according to John? John 1:9–11: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” The result is that men and women reject him because their works are evil (3:19-20).

Thankfully Christ is able to break through our hardness of mind and heart and enlighten our sin sick souls. Is that not precisely what Jesus did with this Samaritan woman?  There she stood, responding with hostility to Jesus, the light of the world – that is until Christ touched upon the deepest issues of her heart.

Her tone immediately changed: “The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.’” (John 4:19, ESV)

Application 

Jesus works in the same way today. He shines light into the darkness of the human heart. The Spirit does this now. The gospel is preached and the Spirit draws those who belong to Christ.

But notice how Christ draws those who are his. He draws them by addressing their sin and calling them to repentance.

It is true, Christ came as the savior of the world – he calls sinful people to himself. But he calls people to repent of their sins!

Some might read this story and says, how cruel of Jesus to hone in upon that sensitive subject from that woman’s past. No, Christ loved this woman. He loved her so much that he would address the sin in her life and call her to repentance.

The same is true of you. What is it that Christ is calling you to repent of?

You come here and you hear the gospel preached. You hear about Christ, how he died for sin and how the forgiveness of sin is found in him. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is moving upon your heart, saying turn from your sin and come to Christ. Believe in him and have life eternal. Drink of him and never thirst again. Will you respond? Will you turn from your sin and cling to Christ?

Conclusion 

This story is beautiful because, as I said, it gathers the major themes already introduced in John’s gospel into one place and shows how these things were actually true of Jesus in his life.

But it is also beautiful in that it illustrates the work that Christ is doing even still.

Christ is still engaging the world – people from every tongue tribe and nation – sinful people.

He, through the proclamation of his gospel, still offers living water – he alone is able to purify the soul – he alone is able to refresh the human heart to all eternity. The church is to preach that message t all who will hear till the Lord returns.

And he, even still, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is able to break through our hard and unrepentant hearts to bring us to faith. It is the Spirit who convicts the world of sin and brings us to salvation in Christ our Lord.

This was true of you and I if we are in Christ Jesus. And we, the church, should not forget this as we seek to make disciples in this place. Christ is able to bring transformation to the human heart even today.