John 4:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: After the two days he departed for Galilee.

NIV: After the two days he left for Galilee.

NASB: And after the two days, He departed from there for Galilee.

CSB: After two days he left there for Galilee.

NLT: At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee.

KJV: Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

NKJV: Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.

Jesus' initial reason for travelling through Samaria was to avoid premature conflict with the Pharisees (John 4:1–3). He had left Judea in order to return to Galilee (John 4:43). Coming through Samaria was an unusual choice. Jews, for the most part, hated Samaritans and refused to have any unnecessary contact with them (John 4:9). And yet, the Bible says that Jesus "had to" pass this way. The events which occurred in this chapter explain why: it was the will of God for Jesus to meet these people.

Jesus bucked social conventions in passing through the region. He took an unusual path in speaking to the Samaritan woman (John 4:27). And He probably shocked the disciples by agreeing to stay so long in order to speak with the people (John 4:40). All of this, of course, was explained by the reaction of the Samaritan people: Jesus is "the Savior of the world." His work, the action that gave Him spiritual strength, was to do the will of God (John 4:34), even if that wasn't something others understood.

John 4:27–45 is an object lesson for the disciples. Jesus has just finished a conversation with a Samaritan woman, while the disciples were in town buying food. As it turns out, this supposedly unclean woman will soon bring back many people to meet Christ, while the disciples have brought no one. Jesus explains that some work to plant spiritual seeds, while others might be the ones collecting the harvest. Both are valuable and we should be ready for opportunities in either case.

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 4/28/2024 4:08:50 PM