John 4:1 – When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. Jesus’ success in winning disciples had created jealousy among John’s followers and provoked questions among the Pharisees. Already opposition was rising against Jesus, especially from the Pharisees.

They resented Jesus’ popularity as well as His message, which challenged much of their teaching Since Jesus did not want to be drawn into a controversy over baptism at this stage of His ministry, He left Judea for Galilee. The Pharisees were like many of today’s Christians, they want to serve God, but they don’t want to come subject to His instructions. The  Pharisees wanted to live by the law, and religious people want to live according to their desires and not the Bible.

John 4:2 – (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples). John’s disciples were provoked to jealousy because of those that were baptized although it wasn’t Jesus Himself baptizing, His disciples. They forgot they were working for the kingdom of God; it shouldn’t have mattered who was baptizing as long as people were coming to the kingdom of God. Sometimes in the church, a member become jealous of another member whose being used by God, but they never think of what the person had to go through to receive the anointing that is upon their life. God has given each believers gifts to be used for the kingdom of God; it’s the responsibility of the believer to seek God to empower them to use the gift they have. As Christians, we should be encouraging those that bring souls to the kingdom of God.

John 4:3 – He left Judea, and departed again to Galilee. Jesus left Judea to go Galilee. Galilee was the northernmost region of ancient Israel. The name means “district” and is short for “district” of the nations. In the division of the land after the conquest, this area was originally the territory of Naphtali, Zebulun, and Issachar. After the captivity, the name Galilee referred to all of Canan north of Samaria and west of the Jordan river.

John 4:4 – And he must need go through Samaria. Jesus had been to Galilee before. He had left Capernaum to go to Jerusalem for the Passover. The shortest route from Judea in the south to Galilee in the north went through Samaria. The journey took three days. Jesus needed to go through Samaria if He wanted to travel the direct route. Jews often avoided Samaria by going around it along the Jordan River. The hatred between the Jews and Samaritans went back to the days of the Exile.

John 4:5 – Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob had purchased a parcel of ground ( And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money – Genesis 33:19). Before Jacob’s death, he informed Joseph about the land he had given him (Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow – Genesis 48:22). Jesus needed to go,  to Samaria, it was an appointed time for a woman of Samaria to meet the God of Jacob’s Son, the Christ of God.

John 4:6 – Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. Jesus was tired from His journey, although He was God, He was also a man, and his physical body as a man was tired and needed rest. Jesus was our example for our physical being and an example of our spiritual being. Our physical bodies need rest, and we should take time and give it the proper rest it needs for it to function properly.

John 4:7 – There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. While resting a woman of Samaria came to draw water from the well. The Samaritan woman was going to receive a life changing experience the day she met the Lord. This would be the day that the Lord not only gave her new life but broke down the barriers of how women were treated as well talking with the Samaritan.

John 4:8 – For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat (food). Only Jesus and the woman was at the well.

John 4:9 – Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealing with the Samaritans. The Samaritan woman was surprised when Jesus asked for a drink of water. First of all, she was a woman; then she was a Samaritan. This was the day that Jesus was abolishing the stigma for women as well the hatred Jews had for the Samaritan. Jesus came to save the lost and thank God it wasn’t marginalized by nationality, financial status or educational status.

John 4:10 – Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. “Living water” springs from an unfailing source and is ever-flowing. This water He was speaking of was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit continue to flow, no matter what issues or circumstances we’re in, the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen us, giving us joy that problem can’t subdue. Jesus was also speaking about eternal life (For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:23). No other way can we receive salvation other than coming to Jesus, accepting the salvation He offers and giving us the power to sustain us through the Holy Spirit, sealing us to the day of redemption.