John 4:1-6

Dr. Ronnie Wolfe

Jesus, while in Judea, had heard that the Pharisees rumored that Jesus was baptizing more people than John, no doubt trying to discourage John from his work of baptizing, which job was given to him by God. So Jesus then removed to Galilee, leaving John to do his work in Judea.

On his way to Galilee Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria, a city with no good relationships with the Jews. There are varying views as to why Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria, but I believe we all understand that it was so that he could "work the works" of his Father, for the day will come when he cannot work, and he fulfilled all the Father's will while he was here on earth (John 9:4; 4:34). One meaning of the Greek word translated "must needs" is "to do that which is right." If for no other reason, Jesus went through Samaria, because it was the right thing to do.

When Jesus came to the city of Sychar, he came to the place where Jacob's well was. This well becomes very important in the story of Jesus' conversation with a woman who came to this well.

But before we consider that conversation, let us think of the humanity of Jesus as we see his weariness from the journey to Samaria. He was wearied because of his flesh, having been made in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3), with all of the fleshly susceptibilities of the human body. He was not "sinful flesh," but he was made like unto sinful flesh.

As we go through this story later, we will find that Jesus was made, no only in the likeness of sinful flesh, but was "made sin" for us, who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Both human and divine, both sin and sinless. This is the great mystery of the incarnation! He must be divine to obey God's law perfectly; he must be human to be made sin for us, dying on a cursed tree that we might by grace through faith in him have eternal life.