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John 4

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1Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples), 3he left Judea, and departed into Galilee. 4He needed to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?” 13Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I don’t get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw.” 16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’ 18for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.” 19The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. 22You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.” 26Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.” 27At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why do you speak with her?” 28So the woman left her water pot, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 29“Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?” 30They went out of the city, and were coming to him. 31In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33The disciples therefore said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already. 36He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ 38I sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I did.” 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days. 41Many more believed because of his word. 42They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” 43After the two days he went out from there and went into Galilee. 44For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast. 46Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.” 49The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!” 52So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house. 54This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.

World English Bible (public domain)

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

John 4:23

Summary

In John chapter 4, Jesus engages in a profound conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well, breaking social and cultural barriers. He offers her 'living water,' symbolizing the eternal life and salvation he provides. The woman, initially confused by his request and statements, gradually comes to recognize Jesus as a prophet and eventually as the Messiah. This encounter highlights the universality of Jesus' message, as he reveals God's intention for salvation to all people, not just the Jews. The chapter proceeds to depict the woman's transformation as she leaves her water jar to tell her town about Jesus, leading many to believe in him. This illustrates the theme of evangelism and emphasizes how personal encounters with Christ can lead to broader community impact. Furthermore, Jesus speaks about the nature of true worship, stating that God seeks worshippers who worship in spirit and truth, highlighting the shift from ritualistic practices to authentic, heartfelt devotion. The chapter culminates with Jesus’ disciples returning and discussing the spiritual harvest. Jesus emphasizes the importance of mission, encouraging his followers to recognize and participate in the work of sharing the Gospel. This chapter powerfully illustrates the inclusivity of Jesus' ministry, the importance of genuine worship, and the urgency of the Great Commission.

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Chapter outline

How John 4 unfolds

  1. John 4:1–6 Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

    Jesus learns that he is attracting more followers than John the Baptist and leaves Judea for Galilee, intentionally passing through Samaria. He arrives at Jacob's well and encounters a Samaritan woman as he rests.

  2. John 4:7–15 The Offer of Living Water

    Jesus asks the woman for a drink, initiating a conversation that reveals her astonishment at a Jew speaking with her. He offers her ‘living water,’ which symbolizes eternal life, prompting her curiosity and desire for this gift.

  3. John 4:16–26 Jesus Reveals Truth

    Jesus asks the woman to fetch her husband, revealing his knowledge of her marital history. This prompts her to recognize him as a prophet, leading to a discussion about the coming Messiah, which Jesus affirms by identifying himself.

  4. John 4:27–42 The Woman’s Testimony and Response

    The disciples return and are surprised to find Jesus speaking with a woman. The woman shares her encounter with Jesus in her city, leading many Samaritans to believe in him based on her testimony and his words.

  5. John 4:43–54 Signs and Faith in Galilee

    After staying with the Samaritans for two days, Jesus goes to Galilee, where he is received warmly. He performs a miracle that reinforces faith in him, illustrating the response to signs and the deepening belief in his identity.

Key verses

  • John 4:23The key verse emphasizes the shift from traditional worship to a genuine relationship with God, reflecting the chapter's overarching themes of inclusivity and transformation.

Main themes in John 4

Evangelism

The theme of evangelism surfaces in the woman’s transformative encounter with Jesus, especially in verses 28-30. After speaking with Jesus, she leaves her water jar and runs to tell the townspeople about him, encouraging them to come and see for themselves. This illustrates how an individual's personal experience with Christ can inspire a broader communal engagement with faith, leading to a collective response to the gospel.

Worship

Worship is a central theme in verses 21-24, where Jesus redefines what it means to worship God. He teaches that true worship is not confined to specific places but must be done in spirit and truth, emphasizing an authentic connection with God. This represents a significant departure from traditional rituals and points to a deeper, more personal relationship with the divine.

Inclusivity of the Gospel

The inclusivity of the Gospel is illustrated in Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman in verses 9 and 26. He breaks cultural norms by offering her living water and revealing his identity as the Messiah, demonstrating that his message transcends ethnic and social barriers. This theme emphasizes that Christ's mission is universal, extending grace and salvation to all, regardless of background.

Transformation through Encounter

Transformation through encounter is vividly depicted in the woman’s change from a social outcast to an evangelist in verses 28-29. Her conversation with Jesus leads her to recognize him as the Messiah, which profoundly alters her understanding of herself and her purpose. This transformation underscores the significant impact that personal encounters with Christ can have, inspiring others to seek him.

Cross-references

Passages that echo John 4

Study questions

Questions for studying John 4

  1. What cultural barriers does Jesus break by talking to the Samaritan woman?
  2. How does the offer of living water change the woman's perspective?
  3. What does Jesus mean by true worship in verses 23 and 24?
  4. In what ways does the woman's testimony impact her community?
  5. How does the nobleman's faith differ from that of the Samaritans?
  6. What significance does the well of Jacob hold in this passage?

John 4: frequently asked questions

What is John 4 about?+
In John chapter 4, Jesus engages in a profound conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well, breaking social and cultural barriers. He offers her 'living water,' symbolizing the eternal life and salvation he provides. The woman, initially confused by his request and statements, gradually comes to recognize Jesus as a prophet and eventually as the Messiah. This encounter highlights the universality of Jesus' message, as he reveals God's intention for salvation to all people, not just the Jews. The chapter proceeds to depict the woman's transformation as she leaves her water jar to tell her town about Jesus, leading many to believe in him. This illustrates the theme of evangelism and emphasizes how personal encounters with Christ can lead to broader community impact. Furthermore, Jesus speaks about the nature of true worship, stating that God seeks worshippers who worship in spirit and truth, highlighting the shift from ritualistic practices to authentic, heartfelt devotion. The chapter culminates with Jesus’ disciples returning and discussing the spiritual harvest. Jesus emphasizes the importance of mission, encouraging his followers to recognize and participate in the work of sharing the Gospel. This chapter powerfully illustrates the inclusivity of Jesus' ministry, the importance of genuine worship, and the urgency of the Great Commission.
What is the key verse in John 4?+
John 4:23: "But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers."
What are the main themes of John 4?+
The main themes of John 4 are Evangelism, Worship, Inclusivity of the Gospel, Transformation through Encounter.

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