THE GOSPELS: LESSON 16:

JESUS AND THE WOMAN AT THE WELL, PART 2

TEXT: JOHN 4: 27 - 42

          Jesus met a Samaritan woman while he rested at Jacob’s Well, outside the city of Shechem, which was surnamed Sychar. After the initial difficulties arising because of their respective nationalities, Jesus was able to reach the woman, and told her plainly that she had indeed met the Messiah.

VERSE 27: THE DISCIPLES MENTALLY QUESTION JESUS’ ACTIONS.

          The disciples had been in Shechem buying food. When they came back they marveled that Jesus deigned to speak to a Samaritan woman. They did not seem to know or care of her sinfulness. The aversion of Jews to fraternizing with Samaritans was their main concern. After all, this was their master, their Rabbi, their Lord. He did not seem to be setting a good example for them. However, since they were still neophytes, they did not voice their concerns, they kept them to themselves.

VERSES 28 - 30: THE WOMAN ROUSES THE SAMARITANS

Verse 28: In her haste to spread the joyful news that she had found a mighty prophet, the woman left her pitcher for drawing the water and ran back to town – to Shechem. What was her purpose in running back? To tell anyone and everyone that she had found a prophet who seemed to be the Messiah. I love what Jamison and Faucett’s commentary says: “. . . this one artless touch – that she "left her water-pot" – speaks volumes. The living water was already beginning to spring up within her; she found that man doth not live by bread nor by water only, and that there was a water of wondrous virtue that raised people above meat and drink, and the vessels that held them, and all human things. In short, she was transported, forgot everything but One, and her heart running over with the tale she had to tell, she hastens home and pours it out.”

Verse 29: "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" Obviously, she still, like the disciples, harbored some latent doubts about this “prophet.” She had heard Jesus’ words – I who speak to you am he – but the truth seemed too incredible. They had waited for this promised Messiah (in practical terms) ever since the time of Isaiah, almost 800 years! His coming had been clearly foretold since the time of Abraham, about 2500 BC!

Verses 30: Even though this woman was clearly a very sinful woman, her fellow Samaritans were eager to hear what the prophet had to say. Were they going to see a fortune-teller or a man of God? Either way, the story was just too wonderful to ignore. Notice how differently – how unlike the Jews – the Samaritans react to the Gospel Message.

VERSES 31 - 38: "I HAVE FOOD TO EAT OF WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW."

Verse 31: Jesus is excited – too excited to eat. He is on the verge of one of his greatest triumphs. But, his disciples could not know that, and so they urged him to eat. Jesus was no ghost, no spiritual manifestation, as some claim. He was a real flesh and blood man who hungered, thirsted, grew tired, felt joy and pain. See I John 4: 2, 3 and I Tim. 3: 16.

Verse 32: "I have food to eat of which you do not know." Just a side note: there have been claims by PETA and others that Jesus was a vegetarian. It is clear that Jesus took part in the Passover (here is returning to Galilee following the Passover in Jerusalem). Part of the Passover was the eating of the Passover Lamb – meat. No Jew could be a vegetarian and be a true observer of the Passover. The word in the Greek for “meat” or “food” is phago, which simply means “something eaten.” But, the religious and social context is clear – Jesus was a meat eater.

Verse 33: Again, as so many other times, Jesus is presenting the disciples with a “living parable” – using a physical idea or incident to teach a spiritual concept. The disciples are still trapped in the physical world . They are thinking of “vittles” and Jesus is thinking of something deeper and richer – the satisfaction that comes from doing and completing the will of God.

Verse 34: What fills Jesus? He was telling the Samaritan woman of “living water.” Now he must explain to his followers about “living food.”

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.” Satisfaction comes not just from doing God’s will, but in completing it. He had started something with the Samaritan woman. Now they must all stay in Samaria until he finishes what he had started.

Verse 35: “The fields are white unto harvest . . .” I can see Jesus lifting his eyes and seeing the eager Samaritans running to meet him. What is this harvest that Jesus refers to? The Salvation of men: “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19: 10.

Verses 36 - 38: There are some in the church (especially in cultic groups) who stress the harvest of souls above all else, even implying that unless you personally bring souls to Christ you will not be saved. But here, clearly, Jesus says that not all harvest, some just plant and never see the fruits of their labors. Remember Noah? He preached for 100 years and made no converts. But God saved him! In Christianity, some will sow and then others will reap. Whether you are the one who teaches, or the one who baptizes them into God’s kingdom, BOTH should rejoice. See I Cor. 3: 6 - 10.

VERSES 39 - 42: THE SAMARITANS BELIEVE.

Verse 39: Many Samaritans believed on Jesus, because of the woman’s testimony. We must realize that some people will never learn of Christ except through us – few have the will to seek him on their own.

Verse 40: They “besought” Jesus to “tarry” with them, and he consented to stay with them for two more days. I am reminded of the beautiful old song,

“Tarry with me, oh my Savior,

For the day is passing by,

See, the shades of evening gather,

And the night is drawing nigh.

Tarry with me, blessed Savior,

Leave me not ‘til morning light.

For I’m lonely here without thee:

Tarry with me through the night.”

          Literally, they requested his presence. They did not beg and plead. They simply asked and he granted their request. “Ask and it shall be given.” The monks of the middle ages believed that God would not hear their prayers unless they abased themselves. They underwent torture and pain just to get God’s attention, or so they thought. We don’t have to wear sackcloth and ashes and undergo hideous privations before God will hear us. We just have to bury our pride long enough to humbly ask, that’s all.

Verse 41: And many more believed because of what He taught them. Not everyone is led to Jesus by the same methods. Some come because of the fear of Hell. Some come because their sins are just too great to bear any longer. Some come because they love the truth and recognize it when they hear it. Etc., etc., etc. We must remember this when we go out to preach the Gospel. Not everyone responds to the same things.

Verse 42: This outcome of Jesus’ visit was incredible – “. . . we have heard him ourselves, and KNOW that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Some translations leave out Christ (Messiah), but BOTH words are there.

          The Samaritans were convinced of two things:

1. this Jesus, is indeed the Messiah.

2. He has come to save the world – not just the Jews! The Greek word used here for world is kosmos, which includes all the world. Other times when the word “world” appears in the text it is from the Greek oikoumenay, which means “land” (which sometimes refers only to the land of Judea, or even the soil itself); or the Greek word aeon, which means “age.” (As in “this present age.”)

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