John 4:1-5
Summary for John 4:1-42: 4:1-42 a At a historic well in Samaria, Jesus offered himself as living water. Jesus engaged and confronted people with the revelation of God, and they either followed or fell away.• The Samaritan woman contrasted with Nicodemus at every turn: a woman (not a man), a Samaritan (not a Jew), a sinner (not righteous), and an outcast (not one of Israel’s rabbis). While Nicodemus fell silent and never responded to Jesus’ challenges (3:1-21 b), this woman acknowledged Jesus as Lord, remained in the light, and exhibited signs of discipleship (see 1:35-51 c).
4:2 d Jesus himself didn’t baptize anyone but left water baptism to his disciples. After his glorification on the cross (7:37-39 e), Jesus baptized people in the Holy Spirit (1:33 f; Acts 2:4 g).
4:3 h After John the Baptist had been imprisoned (see Mark 6:14-29 i), Jesus left Judea (cp. Mark 1:14 j).
Summary for John 4:4-6: 4:4-6 k In going north to Galilee, Jesus took the less-preferred route through Samaria. Samaria had a long history of tension with Judea (see 2 Kgs 17:24-41 l; Ezra 4:1-5 m; Neh 4 n; 6:1-19 o). In Jesus’ day, harsh racial and cultural conflict existed between Jews and Samaritans. Jews normally avoided Samaria by first going east to Jericho, then following the Jordan Valley north.
• Sychar was probably in the region of Shechem. Jesus had come to Jacob’s well; Jacob had owned land near Shechem (Gen 33:18-19 p).
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