JOHN

Chapter 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21

John Chapter 4

• John 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 
• 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 

If I could put a title on this chapter, I would title it, "Jesus includes women." I don't want to add or take away from God's word so I will leave it as it is but this chapter does show us that the salvation of women was important enough that Jesus went out of His way to save just one. Later we find out children also are included in the gospel of the Kingdom.

I can only venture to guess as to why Jesus Himself did not baptize with water but those that baptized in His name was the same as Jesus doing the baptism. If He would have done the actual baptism, some of us may think only those baptized by Jesus personally had any salvation. Then again some might have assumed that those baptized by Jesus was somewhat higher in status than those that were baptized by the disciples. However, we know Jesus did baptize all who came to Him. He baptizes with the Holy Spirit. That type of baptism, only Jesus can do.

Water baptism as I've discussed in previous articles is a sign of the outward confession of sins and receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a very important act of obedience showing that we have received Christ similar to partaking of the Lord's supper in remembering His death until He returns.

The baptismal water itself has no saving power. Only the living water and the washing of the water of the word has saving power not actual physical H2O. So in a sense Jesus is the only one who can bring about our salvation since we have to be born of water and of the spirit to be saved. He gives us that living water which is the Holy Spirit. 

• John 4:3 He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. 
• 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 

Jesus went out of His way to save one woman. I was thanking the Lord the other day that He didn't leave women out of the plan of salvation. No matter who tries to deceive women on this score, they can be saved by believing on the name of Jesus just as well as men. If in doubt read this chapter of John again. A woman never has to depend upon a husband or some man for salvation. She can be saved by her own personal faith in Jesus Christ. 

• 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. 
• 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. 

This shows our savior was flesh and suffered hunger, thirst and pain just as we do. 

• 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. 

She was surprised that a Jew would even speak to her. Apparently some of the Jewish elites must have had a "holier than thou" attitude that was the problem that caused some of them to later reject Jesus as Lord and savior. They wanted a savior to save them from the Romans, not from sin. They thought the Samaritans were the scum of the earth and not to be associated with. However, we know that Jesus came to save the lowest, foulest sinner. 

• 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. 

This living water is the river of living water which is the Holy Spirit that flows within us when we repent of sin and come to Jesus for salvation. We actually are born again by the spirit of God. 

• John 4:11 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? 
• 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 
• 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. 

Wow, what a promise. We still have natural thirst for natural water but if we drink of the living water that is freely given to us when we believe in Jesus Christ, we will have eternal life and have the living water within us continually. That living water is the indwelling Holy Spirit that will abide with us forever. We don't have to ever thirst for the living water, it is freely available. Naturally we can stop abiding in Christ and stop seeking His fellowship which may cause that thirst to appear but we don't have to ever be thirsty for the things of God again. It is readily available to all who will believe. 

• John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 
• 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 

This is the part of the gospel that is being greatly neglected today. Before Jesus could give the woman any living water, the sin in her life had to be dealt with. Jesus came not just to forgive our sins but to wash them away with the blood He shed on the cross. We are to be cleansed from sin as well as be forgiven of sin. She had to acknowledge that she had sinned and turn from that sin to be saved. 

• John 4:17 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. 

She may have been trying to change the subject or else she was so surprised that He knew all about her than she recognized Him as a prophet. 

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

The Jews claimed that Jerusalem was the proper place of worship even though the Samaritans worshipped in their place. Jesus came to change everything about worship. Now we don't have to travel to Jerusalem or some holy place. 

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

Before this time in history salvation was only given to the Jews. Except for those that accepted by faith the God of Israel like Rahab that was recued from the city of Jericho just before it's destruction.

• John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 

God our heavenly Father seeks our worship. Is this worship great music services led by a trained professional? No. This worship is worship in spirit and in truth. Not that having great music is wrong but true worship comes from within us. However singing and the use of instruments when the heart is in the mind to worship is a plus and never to be spoken evil against. We can worship in spirit and in truth with or without music.

• John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

To worship in spirit and in truth is worship from the inner man that soars to God. It may be loud praise, or silent weeping. It may be singing or quietly humming but it comes from our spirit reaching out to Him. It doesn't depend on a worship leader. No one has to prompt us to chant a chorus over and over to get us to worship. True worship begins within us. 

How do we worship Him in truth? First of all it has to be real and not pretense. Second; truth is the word of God. Worship void of the word of God is greatly lacking. 

The word still is in effect and is still powerful and will cause the hearing to begin to worship in spirit and in truth. Without any truth given to him or her, how can it be true worship? Without hearing the gospel, how can one know who he is singing to?

• John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 

Even the Samaritans knew the prophecy of the coming Messiah. That is why the Jews should have known who Jesus was. Even greater now should they know. Isaiah 53 doesn't fit any other person in history other than Jesus Christ. 

• John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 
• 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 

Even the disciples were caught up in prejudice. They were surprised to see a holy man such as Jesus talking with a lowly Samaritan. 

• 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 was the first lady witness to the Messiah. It is okay for a woman to communicate the gospel of Jesus. Notice she was not usurping any authority over them but only telling them of the man who could be the Christ. 

• 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. 

Jesus was a good example of someone who was steadfast in what He was called to do and did not allow hunger and physical discomfort to stop Him from His mission. That may be why fasting and prayer is a way to overcome the power of our flesh to rule over us and prevent us from complete obedience to the Holy Spirit. 

• John 4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat? 
• 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

The dear disciples feared that Jesus may be hungry after being alone so long when they went to seek food. That was their main thought pattern here. Jesus reminded them that He was here to do the will of God and finish the work God sent Him to do and that was to bring the way of salvation to mankind by making a perfect sinless offering for the sins of all.

• 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. 

If the world was ready for harvest then, how much more is it ready today? The gospel needs to go out over the entire world. The church has messed this up so many times and now we are messing it up again by substituting a different gospel. The gospel has not changed yet men are preaching prosperity and riches instead of preaching repentance from sin. Praise and worship is great but warning, preaching, exhorting and repentance still is necessary for salvation. 

• 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. 

When we see people repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ being born again by the spirit, that is what causes rejoicing and praise. When we see one pass from eternal death into eternal life, that should make us praise the Lord.

• 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 labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors. 

The prophets including John the Baptist and our savior Jesus, labored before us. Even now we can see the founding church fathers in our own churches as well as the early church who labored to bring us the gospel. I marvel at how the bible was preserved for us and translated into a language that we could understand. Faithful martyrs were often burned at the stake for providing the word of God for us. The apostles and those after them were to reap the harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God. Those that went before them planted the seed and made the way with their faithful labors. 

• 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. 
• 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 

Once the gospel is preached with the drawing of the Holy Spirit present to convict and teach, it can stand on its own even if the person who originally delivered the gospel moves on. 

• John 4:42 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 Savior of the world. 

Faith can only stand if we find Christ for ourselves and are not dependent upon someone else to have faith. Some have to attend church often to be able to stand because they do not seek God between services. Although we should never abandon the assembling ourselves together, we should never be totally dependent upon our fellowship for our spiritual strength. We can read the bible and pray everyday. We don't have to wait until Sunday. 

I was taught this from my childhood. I was taught by those that taught Sunday School and preached from the pulpit to "watch and pray" to "study the word."  Laboring in prayer was a practice that was as natural to us as eating our meals. We would feel lacking if we missed one day.  Even Jesus went alone to pray sometimes tarrying there all night. If He needed to pray, how much more do we? 

• John 4:43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. 
• 44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. 

When people know your relatives, your childhood home, your occupation, education etc. they know that you are just an ordinary person like them. It's hard for people to believe an ordinary person can be a prophet. We think prophets have to be from far away places in the mountains somewhere and can't be our next door neighbor. 

• John 4:45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. 
• 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. 
• 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea 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. 

Signs and wonders are great to see but they do not always last. We go through many periods when we don't see anything visible happening. This is when our faith must stand in God alone and the written word that has been faithfully provided to us from God.

This does not mean that the gifts of the spirit were only for the apostles but it does mean that we need more than signs and wonders. We need faith when things do not go the way we want them. We need faith when the healings do not come. Faith is trusting in God no matter what. Yet the bible says that signs follow them that believe so we should expect them and not be surprised when they happen giving all glory to God.

Jesus warns us though that in latter days there will be signs and wonders happening to deceive people also. It is happening even as I write this. We hear of statues of Mary crying. This is a sign that we need to beware of. Mary would not want us to worship her and use her as an intercessor no matter what sign we see in the world.

Jesus is the only mediator between God and man and Mary, the mother of Jesus would not want us to pray to her. We are not supposed to pray before images anyway. We need to be careful. That is why the scriptures were given to us to study and pray for understanding.

• 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.

Jesus had mercy on the pleas of the man and healed the son. It is good that some believed in Him when He heals but it is even greater when we hear the word and believe just because of who He is and what He stands for. 

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

This is recorded as the second miracle Jesus did. This means that the father of that son somehow knew Jesus was more than just a man. Indeed He is more than just a man yet He became a human being in order to bring us the way of salvation and fulfill the will of God. God (the Son) actually came in the human flesh. He became one of us to fulfill the law of God and make a sacrifice for sin. This makes me spontaneously praise the Lord.  

No one has to beg and plead with me to talk me into praising the Lord. We hear of sacrifices of praise but we need to hear more of the word so that our praise comes naturally from our inner being and is not a sacrifice but a willing offering. DC