John Chapter 4 - Commentary

1-26 The Samaritan Woman

[10] Living water is the Holy Spirit

[14] No appetite in this life will ever be satisfied.

Comparison between the meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well and Nicodemus:

Nicodemus	Samaritan Woman
Man of prestige and learning	Woman of poor reputation and unlearned
Came to Jesus	Jesus came to her
Came in darkness	Came at noon
A leader of the Jews	An outcast of a despised class of people
Prejudiced and proud	Unprejudiced and humble
Looking to justify himself	Admitted her sin and shortcomings
Jesus was blunt	Jesus was tactful
Nicodemus was silenced	The woman confessed to her neighbors
Water of baptism	Water of Life
Chastised for not understanding	Tried to understand, if imperfectly
Was not convinced Jesus was Messiah – needed more information	Sir, give me this water – asked without waiting to understand all the details
No record of bearing fruit	Bore fruit in her village

Similarities:

Jesus used metaphors they would both understand if their heart were open.

Water and Spirit, worship is not a physical process but spiritual

Christ testifies to His position as the Messiah

Both acknowledged Jesus was a great teacher or prophet

Christ will have audience to all people, famous or not, rich or poor, esteemed or outcast.

3 “musts” – Be born again, the Son must be lifted up, God must be worshipped in spirit.

27- 42 The Harvest is Near

[36] Testifying for Christ will be rewarded, and is to be honored. Missionaries especially.

43- 54 Jesus in Galilee

[54] This is the second sign in Galilee, as if John has a point for us to note.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.