Judea to Galilee, Section 26 Subdivison B

Section 26
 JESUS SETS OUT FROM JUDEA FOR GALILEE
 Subdivision B
AT JACOB'S WELL, AND AT SYCHAR
 JOHN 4: 5-42

Jesus is passing through Samaria--on his way from Judea where he was stirring up interest from the Pharisees, to Galilee.

The name Sychar means drunken-town or lying-town. -VWS

One commentary pointed out that his trip through Samaria was not a type of mission to the Samartians--it was functionally necessary in the sense that it was quicker.  Jesus came first to the Jews.

"Jacob's Well," Nablaus, c. 1900-1920 -- Library of Congress collection

Jacob's well is currently in a contested area in the West Bank.  Its is inside the grounds of a Greek-Orthodox monastery, Saint Photini.

Fourfold Gospel:
"It is one of the few Biblical sites about which there is no dispute, and probably the only place on earth where one can draw a circle of a few feet, and say confidently that the feet of Christ have stood within the circumference."

As VWS points out, Jesus tends to answer "something latent in the question" of the Samaritan woman instead of the literal question, just as he did with Nicodemus.

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God,

δωρεὰν
"The word carries the sense of a bountiful, free, honorable gift." -VWS

 Living water would mean literally "running" or "spring water," as contrasted with still or cistern water

On the difference between spirit and soul:

Spirit (πνεῦμα) is the highest, deepest, noblest part of our humanity, the point of contact between God and man (Rom_1:9); while soul (ψυχή) is the principle of individuality, the seat of personal impressions, having a side in contact with the material element of humanity as well as with the spiritual element, and being thus the mediating element between the spirit and the body. -VWS

"and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
That is, men must offer a worship corresponding with the nature and attributes of God. -Fourfold Gospel

"This woman's idea of the Messiah was probably also very crude, but it was in part an improvement on the general Jewish conception, for it regarded him as a teacher rather than a world-conquering, earthly prince." -Fourfold Gospel

"Jesus saith unto her, I that speak to thee am he."

This is the first recorded declaration of his Messiahship made by Jesus. He was not confessed to be Messiah by Simon Peter (Matt. 16:16) till the last year of his ministry. Jesus spoke more freely as to his office in Samaria than in Judea or Galilee; for, 1, the Samaritans would make no effort to take him by force and make him a king (John 6:15) -FG

Observe the woman's change of mind concerning Jesus. She first called him "Jew" (verse 9), then "Sir" (verse 11), then "prophet" (verse 19), and now she invites her city to come forth and see "the Christ. -FG

 In this present the 53 humble teacher sows and the evangelist, or more gifted brother, reaps; but in that glad hour it shall matter little whether we have been a sower or a reaper, for we shall all rejoice together. Sower and reaper alike shall receive wages, a part of which shall be the "fruit" gathered--the souls saved.-FG

In earlier days many prophets and holy men had labored to prepare the people of Palestine, that they might be gathered of Christ as disciples. Later John the Baptist had wrought a mighty work toward this same end. Into a field thus sown and cultivated Jesus was now leading his apostles, that they might reap for him the ripened harvest. He bids them observe the speedy and easy reaping on this occasion as an encouraging example to them, that they may go forth with strong assurance and confidence. Even the minds of the Samaritans were prepared to receive him, and a quick harvest could be gathered among them.-FG

The incident comprised in this section presents the expansiveness of Christianity in a threefold aspect; viz.: 1, we see it [153] breaking down the walls of racial prejudice; 2, we observe it elevating woman, and certifying her fitness to receive the very highest spiritual instruction; 3, we behold it lifting up the degraded and sinful, and supplying them from the fountains of grace. Such is real Christianity--the Christianity of Christ.-FG