John 4

     4:1-3.  The preaching and water baptism of John and the apostles of Jesus were not different.  John and Jesus preached the same message (Mt.3:2; 4:17), and John and Jesus’ disciples both “preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.  (Mark 1:4, and cf. Acts 2:38).  Apparently Jesus did not have anyone rebaptized into another baptism.  He and no doubt at least some of his disciples were baptized by John.  Jesus didn’t baptize his disciples again, but had them baptize new people not previously baptized by John (Acts 19:4 seems to contradict this, but see notes there).

     4:4-42.  For the background of the Samaritans, see 2 Kings 17:24-33.

     This passage continues the theme begun in 3:1-21, i.e., the living water of regeneration is not limited to the Jews.  From Judea (3), Jesus takes it to Samaria.  There, at Jacob’s well, he meets a woman of ill repute, a fitting symbol for the church of the Samaritans.  Jonathan Edwards, in a note on Gen.24:15, says this:  “Rebekah, and Rachel, and Zipporah, Moses’ wife, those types of the church, all found their husbands, who were types of Christ, when coming out to fountains to draw water; which typifies this, that Christ is found by believers in a way of the use of the means of grace.  The woman of Samaria found Christ coming to draw water.”  Indeed, this unhappy woman said truly that she had no husband (18), but here at Jacob’s well, she found her true Husband, she and the lost  Samaritan church she typifies.  The gods of the five nations listed in 2 Kings 17:24 were the five “husbands” the Samaritans had had.  The one they now had, being the Husband of Israel, was not their husband.  They are now brought into true Israel, the Bride of Christ (Ro.9:25).

     “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation”  (Is.12:3).  The wind of the Spirit blows where it wills (3:8), and salvation has come to Samaria.  In his encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus demonstrates his great humility.  He emptied himself to take on the natural weakness of humanity.  He suffered all the weariness and needs of the flesh (6-7).  In obedience to the Father, he who could command all nature to serve himself, humbled himself so that he who made water was not ashamed to ask for water from a weak, sinful, Samaritan woman, for such he came to save.  His disciples were shocked that he would even talk to her, let alone ask her for anything.

     4:13.  The waters of vanity are like the refrain of Ecc.1:14, etc.  “All is vanity and vexation of spirit”  (KJV).

     4:20.  Mt. Gerizim is meant here.  Jacob’s well was between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim.  See Josh.8:30-35 and notes there.

     4:43-54.  The Samaritans believed because of His word (41-42), but those in Galilee gave him no such honor (44).  They would not believe without signs and wonders.  This, the second sign John records, is remarkable because of the way Jesus healed, i.e., instantly, and with no contact with the ill person whatever.  He used no means except his will.  It is also remarkable for how he gets the man to act on his word without seeing any evidence.  When he did see, of course his faith was greatly strengthened (53).

     In calling this the second sign (54), John of course doesn’t mean that Jesus hadn’t done others (2:23; 3:2), but that this is the second of seven that he has reported in detail.  See 21:25.