David W. Jones

Woman at the Well – John 4:1-45

Read the Passage: John 4:1-45

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: John 4:1-45

Revelation (4:1–26)

At John 3:22 it was noted that Jesus’ disciples were baptizing people in Judea. John 4:1–4 records that when the Pharisees learned about the scope of this ministry, Jesus left Judea and headed toward Galilee, which would have entailed traveling through Samaria. On this journey Jesus met a Samarian woman at Jacob’s well (cf. Gen. 33:19; 48:22), near the town of Sychar. Since He was weary from traveling, Christ asked the woman to give Him a drink of water. This request surprised the woman, for Jews didn’t usually speak with Samaritans, nor men with women, nor rabbis with laity. As He conversed with this foreign woman, Jesus identified Himself as a source of “living water” (John 4:10) that springs “up into eternal life” (John 4:14). Perhaps on account of being focused on her task of drawing water from the well, the woman misunderstood Christ’s teaching, believing that He was referring to actual water.

In John 4:16–18 Jesus confronted the woman in regard to an area of sin in her life—that is, a historical pattern of marriage and divorce, as well as her present cohabitation. While this revelation showed that Jesus was no ordinary man—the woman identified Him as a prophet—in an attempt to draw attention away from her own sin, the woman tried to pull Christ into a theological debate about the right location of worship. In His response, Jesus taught that true worship is not about external location, but about internal transformation. Christ instructed, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and [in] truth” (John 4:24). In other words, Jesus taught that believers must worship God being led by the Holy Spirit, and in accord with the Word of God, which is divine truth (cf. John 17:17). Next, at John 4:26 Christ revealed to this unnamed woman that He is the Messiah.

Explanation (4:27–38)

Earlier, John 4:8 reported that Jesus’ disciples had gone away to buy food, thus Christ was alone when he spoke with the Samaritan woman. Apparently, just at point in Jesus’ conversation with the woman when He revealed that He was the Messiah, the disciples returned from their trip. John records that the disciples were amazed that Christ was speaking with a woman, although they did express their thoughts. It is interesting that John chose to report the disciples’ confusion upon seeing Jesus, rather than to give details about the woman’s immediate response to Christ’s teaching. However, in John 4:28–30 we learn that the unnamed woman did accept Christ’s claim to be the Messiah, for she left her waterpot and immediately went into the city and invited the townspeople to come meet Jesus. In light of her low social standing, and her bold witness within the city, we can conclude that this woman became a follower of Christ.

Just as the unnamed woman misunderstood Jesus’ reference to water (cf. John 4:15), so the disciples misunderstood Christ’s reference to food (cf. John 4:33). By way of explanation, in John 4:34–38 Jesus referenced Deut. 8:3 as He taught, “My food is to do the will of Him who send Me” (John 4:34). Here Christ was not minimizing the need for sustenance; rather, He was teaching that that which will nourish a Christian is to do the will of God. Of course, this entails avoiding sin, embracing holiness, and utilizing one’s spiritual gifts. Such obedience and sanctification will bring flourishing and joy (cf. John 4:36). In this passage, since they were likely standing near newly planted fields outside of Sychar, Jesus appealed to the example of sowing and reaping to illustrate God’s Kingdom work. Indeed, both those who sow and those who reap are engaging in a shared endeavor.

Conversion (4:39–45)

After speaking with the unnamed woman at the well, and then teaching His disciples, at John 4:39–45 Jesus was able to share with the Samaritan citizens of Sychar. John reports that “many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified” (John 4:39). This is the first recorded instance of cross-cultural evangelism in John’s Gospel, and it illustrates both the effectiveness of the gospel and the scope of God’s Kingdom, for Jesus is not just the Jewish Messiah, but “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42). John records that Christ then spent two days ministering in Sychar. Following this, the Samaritans’ testified that they believed in Jesus not just because of the witness of the woman, but because of the words of Jesus. After ministering in the city for several days, Christ continued with His journey and arrived in His home region of Galilee (cf. John 4:43–45).

Application Questions:

  1. If Jesus was the sent to Israel, why did He intentionally engage in conversation with a Samaritan woman?
  2. Do you think the woman misunderstood Jesus’ teaching, or did she understand it and then reject it?
  3. Why do many Christians focus on external aspects of worship (i.e., music styles, etc.) rather than on internal realities?
  4. Is it significant that in her testimony before the townspeople, the woman revealed that Jesus knew her own history?
  5. Given his favorable reception in Samaria, why did Jesus not spend more time ministering there?