John 4:1-16 – Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John.” Why did Jesus leave when he found out that the attention of the Pharisees was switching from John to Him? Although there are other reasons supposed it is a fair to day that He left to avoid confrontation with the Pharisees. Jesus was aware of the timing of “His Time” and kept guard to not disrupt God’s timing. John 2:4 “And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” John 7:30 “So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”
“Although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.” Jesus did baptize His Apostles but His Apostles were doing the baptizing of others.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) This was an incredible moment. The Jews ostracized the Samaritans and considered that they were so detestable that touching or communing with them would cause a person to need to go through purification rites. Also, Rabbis did not publically speak with women. In fact, this rule was so strongly adhered to that Rabbis were commonly known to not even speak to their wives in public. So Jesus speaking to a Samaritan woman was quite taboo for at least two reasons. Jesus was not bound by the traditions of men. He was guided by the Spirit and doing the will of His Father and His will was to minister to this woman for her benefit, and the benefit of her town.
It is said “Rabbis have a saying: ‘Coincidence is not a Kosher Word.” It is an incredible saying. It speaks of the sovereignty of God. He who knows all and is everywhere cannot be surprised. Since God is omniscient and He does not change, then He has always been omniscient. (Isaiah 46:10) Since He has always been omniscient and since He does not change (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). He has always known everything since eternity past. God knew the Pharisee’s would realize that Jesus was rising up as the ministry of John the Baptist had already begun to diminish. Remembering John 3:16 we know that Jesus had come to earth as Savior to all the world. While the Jews had judged the Samaritans as contemptible, God found them no more contemptible than the Jews. It is true that the Samaritans were further from the truth of God (more prone toward idols, only honored the Pentateuch and so ignoring the prophets, and even changing some of the scripture) but they were never far from the heart of God. (1 Peter 3:9)
Yes, Jesus came to Sychar on a mission. He came to seek and save the lost. There are none whom God did not die for. None. He came to seek and save all who had lived and all who were living. He also came to save all who would ever live. Today there are none that God wants to perish. The work of Jesus was perfect for the salvation of all and its work has not waned in its efficacy. God does not want any man to perish. Jesus gave up His life for all and He hurts for those who will not repent and come to Him.
Whatever the circumstances of our lives, when things seem hopeless and when it seems we have been left behind, know that God sees us and loves us and has left anyone behind. His eyes were on Samaria and you can be sure His eyes are on you. Praise God who loves us so greatly and whose eyes are always upon us. (Psalm 34:15) Take hope, God is near. Always He is near. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.