John 4 - King James Version Bible Commentary

Jn 4:1-3. The popularity of Christ was increasing to the extent that the Pharisees became alarmed. To avoid a confrontation, Jesus traveled north returning to Galilee.

Jn 4:4-5. He must needs go through Samaria. Christ had a compelling compassion that drove Him to a woman in need. This was also the most direct route to Galilee. His journey took Him to Sychar, a city a few miles southeast of Samaria and near Mount Gerizim. According to Genesis 33:19, Jacob bought this parcel of ground and later gave it to his son Joseph (Gen 48:22).

Jn 4:6. Jacob’s well was there. This was a well about one hundred feet deep. The writer now emphasizes the humanity of Christ in that He was travel-weary with his journey and consequently rested on (lit., upon) the well. The time of this incident was probably six o’clock in the evening.

Jn 4:7. A woman of Samaria. Note the contrast between chapter Jn 3 and chapter Jn 4. In the former, Christ deals with a man; in the latter, He deals with a woman. In the former, He deals with a Jew; in the latter, a Samaritan. In the former, he deals with a moral person; in the latter, an immoral person. Yet, He saves both. Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. In receiving this woman, Christ transcends the barriers of race (He was a Jew and she was a Samaritan), religion, and rank (He was a teacher and she was a prostitute). Soulwinning crosses any barriers.

Jn 4:8-9. The request for water was a logical one since the disciples had gone into the city to buy meat. However, the woman is amazed at this request because of the natural animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans. This hatred was caused when, after the fall of Israel, the Jews who remained in Palestine intermarried with the heathen and were called Samaritans. They were not full-blooded Jews.

Jn 4:10-12. Christ answers the woman’s hesitancy with a spiritual riddle. The gift of God refers to the living water. The emphasis now is taken off Christ’s need for physical water and placed on the woman’s need for spiritual water (Jn 7:37-39). The woman understands Christ to speak of the living water as that which is at the deepest part of the well. Art thou greater? The woman realizes that if Christ can do this, He is a greater person than Jacob.

Jn 4:13-15. Christ continues by stating that if one drinks of Jacob’s well, he will need to drink again, but if one drinks of Christ’s well, he shall never thirst. This water produces a well that keeps on bubbling into everlasting life. With this statement, Christ appeals to the woman’s craving for satisfaction. The woman is still thinking on the physical level. She wanted this living water so that she would not have to come all the way out to Jacob’s well every day.

Jn 4:16. Christ commands her to call her husband. It would seem the Lord changed the subject. That is not true. In order for the woman to understand the living water (Jn 4:10) concept, she must be aware of her need for that living water. Christ now begins to arouse her conscience and sense of guilt. Before anyone can be saved, he must see his need of salvation and be convicted of his sin.

Jn 4:17-20. Christ reveals her sinful condition. She was morally bankrupt. She acknowledges Christ as a prophet, and in so doing admits her personal sin which Christ revealed. The woman now desires to be taught by the prophet. Should she worship in Mount Gerizim or in Jerusalem?

Jn 4:21-23. The hour cometh. Christ reveals to the woman that where a person worships is unimportant. It is not limited to Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem. The Samaritans worshiped what they did not know; they had created their own religion. The Jews had divine guidelines for worship. Nevertheless, the hour cometh, and now is when God is to be worshiped in spirit and in truth. Two separate concepts are implied. The worship of the Father is not confined to a place but is rather an action of the heart. Second, all worship must be in keeping with the truth of God’s revealed Word.

Jn 4:24. God is a Spirit. Spirit, the predicate, is mentioned first to emphasize the spiritual character of God. Notice the emphasis on the “must” of that type of worship.

Jn 4:25. The knowledge of Christ causes the woman to talk about the Messiah (Deut 18:15-16). She is still confused and resolves this confusion by admitting that the Messiah will tell us all things.

Jn 4:26. I that speak unto thee am he. The woman claimed that the only person who could answer her questions and doubt was the Messiah. What a surprise! This type of messianic revelation would have been dangerous in Jerusalem, but in this setting at the well, He deemed it safe. The Samaritan woman first saw a Jew, then a prophet, and finally the Messiah.

Jn 4:27-30. At that decisive moment, the disciples returned and were amazed that their Master broke tradition in speaking with the woman. The woman left her waterpot, showing her intention to return, and went to the men proclaiming the news about a man, which told me all things that ever I did. The question was not assertive but rather she herself wanted an answer. Is not this the Christ? The men went out to see.

Jn 4:31-34. The disciples want their Master to eat. Christ replies that His meat, that which gives Him spiritual nourishment and satisfaction, was to do the will of the Father and finish (or bring to completion) his work.

Jn 4:35. He impresses the urgency of God’s work on the disciples. Do not wait four months to harvest, Lift up your eyes, … they are white already to harvest. Christ was referring to the crowd of Samaritans now approaching them. The soul-harvest is a matter of immediate urgency.

Jn 4:36-38. In the spiritual harvest of souls, one soweth and one reapeth, but both are able to rejoice in the harvest. Christ had sowed the seed, and now the disciples were ready to reap. Other people have laboured, that is, planted seeds, and soul-winners reap the benefits of their labors.

Jn 4:39-42. The fruit was harvested and many believed. The response caused the Samaritans to invite Christ to stay and He remained two days. Afterwards, many more believed. It was concluded that Christ was the Savior of the world—that is, for Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles.

Jn 4:43-45. Christ returned to Galilee where He was not honored and respected like He was in Judaea. Those who had seen all the things in Jerusalem received (welcomed) Him.

Jn 4:46. While in Cana, a nobleman (Gr basilikos, royal officer) whose son was sick visited Him with a problem. It was a serious sickness at the point of death (Jn 4:47).

Jn 4:47-48. The royal officer was under two false impressions about the power of Christ. He thought Christ would have to travel to Capernaum to heal, and that Christ did not have power over death (ere my child die). Christ was concerned that the man’s faith was based only on signs and wonders.

Jn 4:49-50. The nobleman compelled Christ to act, and Christ simply spoke the word. The man responded with a faith in the word of Christ and not the miracles of Christ. And he went his way. Faith is leaving our problem with Christ, accepting His Word, and going on our way.

Jn 4:51-53. The man returned and was met by his servants who brought news of the child’s recovery. He recovered the same hour in which Christ spoke the word. The result was that the entire house believed or placed their trust and confidence in Christ.

Jn 4:54. This was the second miracle in Cana. The first miracle of turning the water into wine showed His power over the physical universe and His disciples believed. The second miracle proved that Christ’s power was not limited by a distance of sixteen miles, and the entire house of the nobleman believed. Both miracles produced belief and life (Jn 20:30-31).

E. Christ as the Son of God.John 5:1-47

In this chapter Christ performs a miracle of healing on the Sabbath. He is questioned by the Pharisees and answers their criticism in a lengthy discussion proving Himself to be the Son of God.