John 4:1-6

WITHDRAWL FROM JUDEAARRIVAL IN SAMARIA

Text 4:1-6

1

When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

2

(although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples),

3

he left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

4

And he must needs pass through Samaria.

5

So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;

6

and Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Queries

a.

Why would the situation in John 4:1-3 cause Jesus to leave Judea?

b.

Where is Sychar?

c.

What significance is there in Jesus being wearied?

Paraphrase

So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and immersing more disciples than John the Baptist (although Jesus Himself was not immersing but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. It was necessary for him to pass through Samaria. He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground which Jacob gave to Joseph, his son, and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, having become tired from His journey, was sitting wearily by the well. It was about six p.m.

Summary

To avoid a premature crisis with the Pharisees, Jesus departs Judea for Galilee, stopping to rest during the journey at Jacob's well near Sychar, a city of Samaria.

Comment

The gospel writer now resumes the chronology of the story where he left it in John 3:22-23. He has paused in telling the movements of Jesus to tell of the testimony of John the Baptist, but now he takes up the story of Jesus-' travels again.

Beginning with His cleansing of the temple of Jerusalem (John 2:13-22), including a considerable public ministry in the environs of Jerusalem and ending with the Lord's departure into Galilee, a period of approximately eight or nine months have transpired. Jesus arrived in Jerusalem at Passover-time (John 2:13also harvest-time). The next notice of time is yet four months, and then cometh the harvest (John 4:35which would be four months away from the next Passover-time). Thus we conclude that Jesus spent approximately eight months in Judeafrom one Passover-time until about four months before the next Passover-time.

Just prior to the Lord's departure into Galilee, John the Baptist is imprisoned (cf. Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19-20), The Baptist's arrest probably also influenced Jesus-' decision, as recorded here (John 4:1-3), to go into Galilee. There are two probable reasons for His change of location: (a) He may have feared a premature death at the hands of the authorities. This would not allow Him to fulfill the earthly ministry which the Father had sent Him to accomplish; (b) or, possibly, He feared a reaction from the multitudes much like that which was to happen later in Galilee (John 6:15). He must yet teach the multitudes of the spiritual nature of His kingdom. Political revolution and bloodshed must be restrained. In His Divine mission a definite time had been appointed for the supreme crisis He must avoid a premature crisis. So Jesus withdrew from His work of baptizing in the Jordan (somewhere near Jericho) and traveled toward Galilee.

The parenthetical statement of John 4:2 is to explain that Jesus did not personally baptize, but is said to have baptized through His agents the disciples. Compare our comments on John 3:22.

Why does John say Jesus must needs pass through Samaria? A brief geographical survey might offer one possible answer. There were three geographical divisions of the land of Palestine in Jesus-' day: Galilee in the north, Judea in the south, and Samaria in between (see maps in the back of any Bible).
At first, it would appear to be the natural route of travel to Galilee. If Jesus was in Judea and wanted to reach Galilee, naturally He would have to go through Samaria. But due to an age-old hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans, the usual route of travel between Judea and Galilee was not so. The Jew going north usually crossed to the eastern side of the Jordan river (probably at the Jericho ford) and went up the Jordan Valley to avoid Samaria, and re-crossed the river into Galilee (probably at Bethabara).
There are two possibilities as to why Jesus must go through Samaria: (a) it was the shortest route to Galilee, and He was not restricted by the prejudices of the Jews, or (b) He purposely passed through there to break down barriers and plant the seed of the gospel that Philip might later reap (Acts 8:1-40).

Traveling the Roman road that leads through Samaria, Jesus would come to a fork in the road. At this fork in the road there is a well called Jacob's Well. About one-half mile northwest is the village of Sychar. About the same distance to the west are Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, a short distance north of Gerizim, with a natural amphitheatre in between where Joshua stood and shouted the blessings and curses of the Law to the nation assembled on the slopes of these two mountains (cf. Deuteronomy 27:12-13; Joshua 8:33-35). Also in the immediate vicinity is a burial plot, purchased by Jacob but given to his son Joseph, and Joseph subsequently had his bones buried there (cf. Genesis 33:18-19; Genesis 48:22; Joshua 24:32).

This location is of great significance in Jewish history. Nearly all archaeologists and scholars of the geography of Palestine agree that Jacob's Well is one place to which we may point with certainty and say, Jesus sat on these stones. Grooves are worn deep into the stones around the opening of the well where ropes have, for centuries, been let down and pulled up drawing water for thirsty Palestinians.

In John 4:6 we meet again the problem of John's method of counting time. This problem was discussed briefly in our comments on John 1:39. There can be little doubt that John counts time by the Roman method (modern method), i.e., from twelve-midnight to twelve-midnight. Some commentators have a problem with the account of the crucifixion. Jesus was crucified at 9 a.m. and died at 3 p.m. John 19:14 describes the trial in progress at the sixth hour (6 a.m.). Such an hour (6 a.m.) is not too early for sentence to be pronounced and it does not leave too long a lapse between sentence and crucifixion as some think. Do not forget the many events that took place between the sentence and crucifixion. Jesus struggled under the burden of the heavy cross probably a mile or more; large crowds pressed on every side slowing progress; He stopped to allow Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross part of the way; He held at least one conversation with some women. Do not forget also that the gospel accounts are fragmentary. After Pilate had pronounced sentence at six a.m., considerably more conversation and discussion may have transpired between Jesus and Pilate, or Jesus and the Sanhedrin.

We are to conclude, until better information comes forth, that John followed the Roman method of counting time. Thus, when Jesus sat by the well about the sixth hour, it was either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. The later hour fits the circumstances better.

The significant phrase of John 4:6, however, is Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. The Gospel of John is the Gospel of Deity, that is, its primary purpose seems to be to prove the deity of Jesus. But the Fourth Gospel also shows very clearly the humanity of Jesus. He knew exhaustion, thirst, sorrow, joy, temptation; He Who left an example that we should follow his steps knew suffering, poverty and opposition, and yet he was without sin. He took the form of a servant and the vessel of human flesh for a number of reasons: (a) that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17); (b) that He might be able to succor them that are tempted (Hebrews 2:18); (c) that He might be touched with our infirmities and give us help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16); (d) that He might deliver us from the bondage of the fear of death; (Hebrews 2:15); (e) and especially that He might condemn sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3).

Incidentally, this passage shows the writer to have been an eyewitness to what he wrote. The mention of the Lord's posture, and even the hour of day shows the deep impression the events in Samaria must have made on John. Peter and John later enjoyed quite an extensive preaching tour in the land of Samaria (Acts 8:14-25).

Quiz

1.

How long was Jesus-' first Judean ministry? How do we know?

2.

What two possible reasons may be given for His decision to leave Judea and go into Galilee?

3.

What are two possible explanations for He must needs go through Samaria?

4.

Locate Jacob's Well.

5.

What time of the day did Jesus stop at the well?

6.

Give three reasons for Christ's taking the human form.