Return to Series

Sermon Introduction

The Pharisees learned that Jesus was baptizing and creating more disciples than John the Baptist. However, the writer clarified that Jesus' disciples baptized others and not Him. They appeared to be interested in this information and may have been worried about the public's increasing interest in Jesus and his teachings. It's also possible that they were concerned about Jesus because they saw him as a potential danger to their religious authority. Jesus chose to leave Judea and go to Galilee to avoid potential conflict with the Pharisees. This choice was made out of prudence and wisdom. Jesus was aware that his mission was far from complete and that it was still premature for him to openly confront the Pharisees.

Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

John 4:1-10

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.). 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water”.

Notes

The Pharisees learned that Jesus was baptizing and creating more disciples than John the Baptist. However, the writer clarified that Jesus' disciples baptized others and not Him. They appeared to be interested in this information and may have been worried about the public's increasing interest in Jesus and his teachings. It's also possible that they were concerned about Jesus because they saw him as a potential danger to their religious authority. Jesus chose to leave Judea and go to Galilee to avoid potential conflict with the Pharisees. This choice was made out of prudence and wisdom. Jesus was aware that his mission was far from complete and that it was still premature for him to openly confront the Pharisees.

1. Jacob’s well

   The Lord passed through Samaria, which was hostile to the Jews. He rested by Jacob’s well; He felt tired from the long journey, which probably took several days on foot, some 55 kilometers. Moreover, the scorching sun was at its peak.

   
   4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour (John 4:4-6).
   
   
   
   

2. Woman from Samaria

   When the woman from Samaria went to the well, the Lord asked for a drink. The request caught her by surprise. She asked why a Jew would ask a woman from Samaria, given the history of tension between Jews and Samaritans.
   
   7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (John 4:7-9).
   
   
   
   
   

3. Gift of God

   The Lord Jesus spoke of the gift of God and who He was, the One who gives living water. And if the woman knew, she would have asked for the living water. Those who drink this living water will quench man’s eternal thirst.

   
   10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Application

1. Enter new territory

   By His grace, let us find ways to spread the gospel, especially in new territories. New territories might be new locations or new circles of influence. We tend to focus on our group, but we must go beyond.

   
   
   
   

2. Break barriers

   Due to the animosity, Jews and Samaritans did not speak to each other. But the Lord Jesus broke the barrier by asking for water when he was thirsty. Therefore, we must speak with others even if we find socialization complicated.
   
   
   

3. Speak of the Living Water

   Let us share with the world who Christ is. In the text we studied, He is the Living Water. Therefore, let us tell people about the living water, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Word of God, and the One who came from above.
   
   
   
   

Reflection & Discussion

1. What is the ‘gift of God’ that the Lord referred to?

2. Why was the Samarian surprised when Jesus asked for water?

3. What did the writer (John) reveal about Christ in the text?