John 4:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

NIV: So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

NASB: He left Judea and went away again to Galilee.

CSB: he left Judea and went again to Galilee.

NLT: So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

KJV: He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

NKJV: He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

Jesus is leaving Judea in order to avoid a confrontation with the Pharisees. Local religious leaders had felt the need to investigate John the Baptist (John 1:19), which eventually caused an argument (John 3:25). Now, Jesus' ministry is even more popular than John's (John 4:1). However, this is not the right time for a conflict with these men (John 2:4), so Jesus travels back to Galilee.

Samaritans were a half-Jew, half-Gentile tribe, both ethnically and religiously. As a result, they were despised by most Israelites (John 4:9). The shortest route from Jerusalem to Galilee is straight through Samaria. However, the more typical choice for Jewish travelers was to travel north only after passing east over the Jordan river, avoiding the Samaritans entirely. Just as Jesus is submissive to the Father's timing, He is also submissive to His plans. Therefore, verse 4 will indicate that Jesus "had to pass through Samaria." While this is not true in a literal geographical sense, what happens next proves that it was certainly necessary in the context of His mission.

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

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. Jesus both confronts her about her sin, and comforts her with the truth of the gospel. In particular, He explains that 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, have to be 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 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 gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 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”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/4/2024 12:24:40 AM