Chapter 4
Jesus talks to a woman from Samaria
v1 The *Pharisees heard the news that many people were joining Jesus’ group of *disciples. They heard that Jesus was *baptising more *disciples than John. v2 (But really Jesus himself did not *baptise anyone. It was only Jesus’ *disciples who *baptised people.) v3 So, when the *Lord knew about this, he left Judea. He returned to Galilee. v4 On his way, Jesus had to go through Samaria.
v5 He came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. It was near to the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son, Joseph, many years earlier. v6-8 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired after his journey. He sat down by the well. It was about 6 in the evening. His *disciples had gone to buy food in the town. A woman from Samaria came to the well because she wanted to get some water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give a drink to me.’ v9 The woman from Samaria said to him, ‘You are a *Jew and I am a woman from Samaria. Why do you ask me for a drink?’ (The *Jews will not usually even talk to people who belong to Samaria.)
Verses 4-9 Samaria was the part of Israel between Judah (in the south) and Galilee (in the north). The people in Samaria did *worship the *Lord God of Israel. But they *worshipped him in a different way from how Israel’s people *worshipped him. They believed only some of the *Old Testament and they refused to *worship at Jerusalem. As a result of these differences, Israel’s people were not friendly to the people from Samaria.
‘It was about 6 in the evening.’ John wrote that it was the 6th hour. Many Bible teachers think that John means midday. But other Bible teachers think that John means 6 in the evening (*Roman time) here. (See note about John 1:39.)
v10 Jesus answered the woman, ‘You do not know what God can give. I asked you to give a drink to me. But you do not know who I am. If you did know, you would have asked me to give a drink to you. Then I would have given water to you that would cause you to live.’ v11 The woman said, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where can you get this water that would cause me to live? v12 Jacob, our *ancestor, gave this well to us. He, his sons, and his sheep and goats and cows all drank its water. Are you saying that you are greater than Jacob?’ v13 Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks from this well will get *thirsty again. v14 But I can give a different kind of water. Whoever drinks that kind of water will never get *thirsty again. The water that I will give to him will become a well inside him. That well will continue to give fresh water that will cause him to live always.’ v15 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give this water to me. Then I will never get *thirsty again. And I will not have to continue to come here so that I can get water.’
v16 Jesus said to her, ‘Go, fetch your husband. Then return here.’ v17 The woman replied, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say, “I have no husband.” v18 The fact is that you have had 5 husbands. And now you live with a man who is not your husband. What you have said is quite true.’ v19 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I can see that you are a *prophet. v20 Our *ancestors *worshipped on this mountain. But you *Jews say that Jerusalem is the right place to *worship God.’
v21 Jesus spoke to her with authority, ‘Believe me, woman. Soon you will not *worship the Father either on this mountain or at Jerusalem. v22 You people from Samaria do not really know what you *worship. But we *Jews do know what we *worship. The way that God has made to save people comes from the *Jews. v23 But soon, people will really *worship the Father. Really, it is that time already. Those people who really want to *worship the Father will *worship him from their *spirits. The Father looks for people who will *worship him like that. v24 God is *spirit. Those people who *worship him must *worship from their *spirits. They must really want to *worship God.’ v25 The woman said to Jesus, ‘I know that the *Messiah will come. He is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ v26 Then Jesus replied, ‘I, who am speaking to you, am he.’
Verses 20-21 ‘This mountain’ means a mountain in Samaria called Gerizim. That was where the people from Samaria *worshipped God.
Curs Practic 