JOHN 4

In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-23 The Samaritan woman at the well. Verses 24-42 God is a Spirit. Verses 43-54 Jesus heals a nobleman’s son. John 4 and verse 1 reads.

John 4:1] When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

We continue here from John 3:26 where the Pharisees tried to drive a wedge between John the Baptist and Jesus. It did not work, instead John the Baptist showed them how Jesus was the Christ and not himself. But here we learn why it was that Jesus left, and that it wasn’t Jesus that baptized.

John 4:2] (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
[3] He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

Because of the talk of the Pharisees, Jesus left. Outsmart the serpent, let this be a lesson for us today.

John 4:4] And he must needs go through Samaria.

Let’s do some history here. The ten tribes of Israel went into captivity to Assyria about 600 years before. It is said that the king of Assyria took the house of Israel out of the land and installed his people into the land. But that’s not true, what he did was he took the wealthy and the prominent, leaving the poor and the farmers. And yes, he did install some of the people of Assyria to rule over them. This is easily proven by what happens next in this lesson. And we continue with verse 5 and it reads.

John 4:5] 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.

First this city Sychar is Greek for Shechem which is of Hebrew origin. Sychar means; drunken. We’ll see why in a minute. Let’s go to Genesis 33 and verse 17 reads.

Gen.33:17] And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

Succoth H5523 means; booth. 1. the site where Jacob put up booths for his cattle and built a house for himself; apparently east of the Jordan near the ford of the torrent Jabbok and later allotted to the tribe of Gad. I went there because of the information given for the ford in the river Jordan that Jesus was, and John the Baptist was still baptizing at.

Gen.33:18] And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
[19] And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.
[20] And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

Israel, or Jacob, gave this land to Joseph in Genesis 48 and verse 21 reads.

Gen.48:21] And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
[22] Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

Back to John 4 and verse 6 reads.

John 4:6] Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

It was about 12 noon. Jacob was the father of all twelve tribes of Israel, God changing his name to Israel in Genesis 32 and verse 28 reads.

Gen.32:27] And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
[28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Israel H3478 Yisrâʼêl pronounced yis-raw-ale’ and means; God prevails. We need this history lesson because many preachers teach falsely that Jacob prevailed against God, this is a lie and should be taught so. It means with God Israel will prevail. Going back to the Strongs’ it says; 2. the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob. a. the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split. b. the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah. Why is this so important? Because we will see in a minute this woman at the well is not a gentile, but a child of Jacob. Back to John 4 and verse 7 reads.

John 4:7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
[8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
[9] 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.

Make a side study in 1Kings 12. This is after king Soloman has died and his son king Rehoboam tells Jeroboam that he will be harsher than his father on the ten tribes. And there was war and the nation of Israel splits here. Becoming the House of Israel and the House of Judah. This woman at the well knew this.

John 4:10] 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.
[11] The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Jacob’s well was nine feet across and seventy-five feet deep. Jesus is not speaking of drinking water but of the Living Water, Salvation.

John 4:12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Notice she called Jacob her father.

John 4:13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
[14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Jesus is the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Living Word. Let’s go to Amos 8 and verse 11 reads.

Amos 8:11] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

This famine is on in this world today. But for this woman, Jesus is standing before her and will use her to convert a whole town. Back to John 4 and verse 15 reads.

John 4:15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

She still doesn’t quite get it.

John 4:16] Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
[17] The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
[18] For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
[19] The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

How could this man know her life, she must have been wondering. We know that only God can read and know the hearts of his children. This woman gets it now.

John 4:20] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

This proves she is of the house of Israel, for she worshipped God. And she was of the house of Israel because they worshipped on that mountain that king Jeroboam set up one of the two golden calves, the other was in Dan. Please find time to read 1Kings chapter 12.

John 4:21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Jesus acknowledges the split between the two houses here. Let this word Hour perk your ears up, ears to hear. Remember we have two advents. Let’s go to Revelation 3 and verse 6 reads.

Rev.3:6] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
[7] And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

This Key of David is very important for God’s Elect in these end times. He says only he can open or shut the eyes or ears of his children. The Key of David is this; to know the difference between God’s children and the Serpent’s Seed. Between Jesus’s genealogy and the Kenites.

Rev.3:8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
[9] Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

At your feet because you are in front of them when all knees shall bow at the seventh trump.

Rev.3:10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

The two advents, the first was Jesus standing at the well talking with this daughter of Jacob, for Salvation. The second is at the seventh trump and that will be for vengeance. Back to John 4 and verse 22 reads.

John 4:22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Salvation was prophesied throughout the Old Testament, through the loins of Jesse, through king David.

John 4:23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Very important for all to understand God is Spirit, Jesus being God incarnate. The reason given here when Jesus would rent the vail in twain as he gave up the Spirit on the cross. Allowing us to come to the Father without anyone, especially a priest, between us and the Father. Now, this woman proves she knows scripture thus not a gentile, but rather an Israelite.

John 4:25] The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
[26] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Jesus came for the children of Israel and not for the gentiles. Here we have one of the few places where Jesus says boldly, I Am he, to one who is not of the twelve.

John 4:27] And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

It was against the custom of the time to talk with a woman, let alone a woman of the Samaritans. But Jesus is God with us, Emmanuel. Who could say anything to God speaking to one of his children.

John 4:28] The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
[29] Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

She asked the people of her city is this the Christ, they too must have been Israelites.

John 4:30] Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
[31] In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
[32] But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
[33] Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

They couldn’t see that Jesus wasn’t talking about food.

John 4:34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

The last words of Jesus on the cross was; It is finished. Let’s go to John 19 and verse 30 reads.

John 19:30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus is about to teach about the harvest, not only for those twelve, but for us in these end times. Back to John 4 and verse 35 reads.

John 4:35] Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Feed my sheep, feed my lambs. Notice we have here four months. Jesus shortened the time of the tribulation in Mark 13:20 for the Elects sake. We find in Revelation 9:5,10 he shortened it to five months. Reading verse 35 we can see how we are to keep quiet the last month. We will let the Holy Spirit speak through us when we are delivered up to Satan.

John 4:36] And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Let’s go to 1Thessalonians 2 and verse 19 reads.

1Thes.2:19] For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Meaning for the first advent as well as for the second advent. Those who die before his coming will come with him, those who are alive in the flesh at his coming will also be glad of his coming. Back to John 4 and verse 37 reads.

John 4:37] And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
[38] I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

This is very important for the stewards of God to understand. Paul taught this very well in 1Corinthians 3 and verse 4 reads.

1Cor.3:4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
[5] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
[6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
[7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
[8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Never be mad if someone you plant a seed with doesn’t seem to come to the LORD. Be patient and walk away because only God can make it grow, and we never know when that will be. Back to John 4 and verse 39 reads.

John 4:39] And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
[40] So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

This also proves the city was of the house of Israel, because Jesus was only sent to the house of Israel and he abode with them two days.

John 4:41] And many more believed because of his own word;
[42] And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

They believed not because of miracles, but because of the Word of God. Jesus is the Living Word.

John 4:43] Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
[44] For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
[45] Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

In his own city they needed to see miracles. Notice they did not hear the Word but only saw the miracles.

John 4:46] So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

Back to Cana where he had his first miracle. This certain nobleman was either subject to a king, or he was a landowner.

John 4:47] When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
[48] Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

Jesus seems perturbed that they only believe because they see miracles. This is why in verse 44 he said there is no honor for a prophet in his hometown.

John 4:49] The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
[50] Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

This nobleman believed the Word, he had faith.

John 4:51] And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Let’s go to Psalms 111 and verse 5 reads.

Psa.111:5] He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
[6] He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
[7] The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
[8] They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

And in Ezekiel 12 and verse 25 reads.

Eze.12:25] For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.

Back to John 4 and verse 52 reads.

John 4:52] Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

Let’s go to 1Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.

1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Going back to John 4:52 we have the seventh hour, this is the dispensation of the millennium or the seventh trump, Christ’s second advent. Let’s go to Joshua 6 and verse 15 reads.

Josh.6:15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
[16] And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

There were four thousand years before Christ and two thousand years since Christ. Watchmen watch. A thousand years with the LORD is but one day. We are in the morning of the seventh day and already five trumpets have sounded. Back to John 4 and verse 53 reads.

John 4:53] So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
[54] This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

His whole house believed on Jesus because of what the father had said to them. Fathers remember to be bishops of your own house. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible