Gospel of St. John
Sychar’s Well – 04:1-6
Like the first three chapters of John, this one furnishes another aspect of the deplorable spiritual state that Israel was in at the time of Jesus’ ministry. Up to this point, we have seen a blinded priesthood (1:19,26): a joyless Nation (2:3), a desecrated Temple (2:14); a spiritually dead Sanhedrin (3:7); and Jesus despised and rejected (3:32). Now we will look at Israel’s relationship with those around them.
“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.” The Pharisees noted that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. Jesus actually did not baptize anyone. His disciples performed the baptisms. These baptisms were baptism unto repentance, not regeneration. Baptism unto regeneration was not possible until after Christ’s redemption of all mankind. Jesus left because the Pharisees were attempting to create a rivalry between John the Baptist and Christ. We should note that jealousy is a great way to drive Jesus out of our lives.
“And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there.” Galilee was north of Judea and Samaria was between them. The most direct route was through Samaria, but that was not the reason Jesus “must needs” go through Samaria. The Jews so hated the Samaritans that they typically crossed the Jordan into Perea and took a circuitous route to avoid all contact with the Samaritans. Samaria was a province allotted to Ephraim in the days of Joshua. It ceased to worship at the Temple after Jeroboam introduced many Gentile practices including idolatry. They retained the Pentateuch but actual practice became a strange combination of heathen beliefs. Samaria offered an alliance with the Jews after the Babylonian captivity but became bitter enemies after being rejected. They had the Pentateuch but denied the authenticity of the books written by their worst enemies.
Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring.” (John 10:16). Because this sinner was chosen, Jesus “must needs” go through Samaria. Sychar means “purchased”. The land was purchased by Jacob and given to Joseph. This story is in accordance with the story in Genesis. It is significant that this land and these people were part of the Jewish history and yet bitter relations kept them totally separated.
“Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” Jesus was wearied with the journey. We don’t often think about Jesus being tired or worried. We think his divine side keeps his human side from being bothered with those things that bother us. Granted, he was not subject to death because he would defeat death. However, he was fully human. He could be tired, hungry, and simply worn out. He was not exempt from burn-out. He was just as really and truly Man as he was God. He ate and drank, labored and slept, prayed and wept. When we are completely worn out, we can rest assured, Jesus knows what we feel.
Jesus was about to give the water of life to the Samaritan adulteress. How appropriate to do so sitting on a well. Hagar found a well in the wilderness. Abraham’s servant found Isaac’s wife at a well. Moses fled Pharaoh’s wrath to a well in Midian, Jonathan and Ahimaaz hid in a well while escaping from Absalom’s men. This land containing the well was a special portion given Joseph as a result of Reuben’s defiling his father’s bed by sleeping with one of his wives. The sixth hour is also significant. It is the sixth hour after sunrise expected to be around 6:00 am. It was noon and the hottest, most unforgiving part of the day. No one came to draw water at this time of day except those desiring to avoid contact with everyone else.
Sychar’s Well – 04:7-10
“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (for his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)” As we mentioned earlier, the sixth hour is at noon. It was no accident that she chose this hour. She expected the well would be deserted. She came simply to draw water and to remain unnoticed. She was shunned by other women because of her character and she avoided contact where possible. She found Jesus sitting on the well, waiting for her. In that manner he could overcome her prejudices about how he would receive her.
Jesus spoke first. He was fatigued in body and perhaps sick at heart that he was not received by the Pharisees. But he was not too fatigued to minister to this sin-sick soul. Nicodemus came by night to protect his own reputation. Jesus sit in the full light of day without regard for his reputation. All he asked for was a drink of cold water – often considered one of the cheapest gifts available. He asked this drink of one of the worst characters in this city of Samaritans. What Jesus really desired was the refreshment of being able to minister to poor needy sinners.
How could the woman give anything to Jesus? Spiritually she was bankrupt. She first had to face the fact that she was helpless. Then she could seek the grace and strength she needed to do that which is pleasing in God’s sight. It is significant that his disciples were in the city to buy meat. In a crowd, she would never have overcome her prejudice. She would have shown no curiosity or interest. This is a significant indication that only God and the sinner are necessary. Priests and intermediaries may be edifying in some circumstances, but they are human inventions. The word of God makes no such requirements. Another point to observe is that the disciples were buying meat, not begging.
“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” The woman of Samaria was accustomed to being rejected. She was rejected by the other Samaritan women, who were, in turn, rejected by the Jews. Every time God’s truth is placed before us; we meet it with a “how”! It is human nature to reason instead of believing the truth, and receiving the grace of God. The will is always active and even if the conscience is ill at ease, the unbeliever asks “how”. She had no idea who he really was. To her, He simply a Jew and she was a woman of Samaria. Jesus did not argue about the prejudices of the Samaritans nor the Jew’s heartless treatment of them. He did not reproach her for her ignorance and stupidity. He was seeking her salvation and did so with patience.
“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Man neither knows his need, nor the One who can minister to it. This woman was ignorant of “the gift of God”. She thought she must do the giving. Our Lord did not deal with this woman as he did with Nicodemus. He deals with each of us uniquely according to our need and understanding. She did not need to be “born again”. She was already without moral character and religious standing. There is little above a “Master of Israel” and even less below a Samaritan adulteress. But they stood before God on a common platform.
Some have said that “living water” was in reference to the Holy Spirit. It is an acceptable approach, but there are indications Jesus meant much more. “Living water” has been used as a figure of the salvation Christ gives. Several thoughts give credence to the fuller intention. Water is a gift from God. Water is indispensable to man. Water meets a universal need. Water descends from the heavens. Water is a blessed boon of which we never tire. Water is strangely and unevenly distributed by God. It is ironic that we found idolatry in Jerusalem and before we finish the chapter, we will find true worship in Samaria. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways, your ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8)