John 4:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

NIV: Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—

NASB: So then, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John

CSB: When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John

NLT: Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John

KJV: When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

NKJV: Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John

A recurring theme of the gospel of John is God's timetable. Jesus is always aware of God's intended schedule. This influences how public He is with His miracles (John 2:9), how he wants others to speak of Him (Matthew 17:9), and even where He spends His time.

If John the Baptist's results were enough to attract investigation from the Pharisees (John 1:19), Jesus' ministry was sure to do the same. In this case, attention from the Pharisees could have led to a confrontation. The time is not right, at least not at that moment. Jesus chooses to move along back to Galilee.

This is an especially interesting choice, since John indicates that Jesus "had to" pass through Samaria (John 4:4). In terms of geography, there are routes to Galilee from Jerusalem which do not pass through Samaria. The more common choice for Jewish people would have been to take a slightly longer route, avoiding the hated Samaritans. The fact that Jesus "had to" take this route is another sign of His commitment to His mission and to the will of God. He was physically able to take a different path, but obedience required Him to take this one.

John 4:1–4 explains Jesus' decision to travel away from Jerusalem, heading back towards Galilee. The primary reason is to avoid conflict with the Pharisees, for now. The shortest path is through Samaria. Yet most Jews would have chosen to detour east, avoiding the hated Samaritans entirely. However, Jesus is not only committed to the Father's timeline, but He is also submissive to the Father's will. Christ ''had to'' take this route to cooperate with that mission. His discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well implies a divine purpose for His visit.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. He confronts her about sin, yet He also comforts her with the truth of the gospel. Even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, are reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man (John 3:1–2) to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point: the gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.