John 4 — Overview

Travelling through Samaria, Jesus stops at Jacob's well and speaks with a Samaritan woman who comes alone at midday. He offers her 'living water', reveals He knows her whole life, and declares Himself the Messiah. She runs to tell her whole town; many believe. Jesus stays two days. Then He heals a royal official's dying son from a distance — the man believes and his whole household with him.

Jesus offers living water — His love and life that satisfies like nothing else can. And He knows us completely and loves us anyway.

The Samaritan woman is one of the most powerful encounters in the Gospels — a person marked by social rejection, ethnic prejudice, and personal shame, to whom Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah. Key themes: Jesus crosses barriers; He knows us completely yet loves us fully; true worship is 'in spirit and in truth' (v23-24); one person's testimony brought a whole community to faith. The healing of the official's son shows that Jesus' word alone is enough — no touch, no travel needed.

We can always talk to Jesus — no matter who we are or what we've done. He knows everything about us and still wants to be our friend.

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John 4 — OverviewJohn 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIt was, more than any thing else, the glory of the land of Israel, that it was Emmanuel's land (Isa. viii. 8), not only the place of his birth, but the scene of his preaching and miracles. This land in our…John 4 — OverviewJohn 4 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJohn 4:1, Christ talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals himself unto her; John 4:27, His disciples marvel; John 4:31, He declares to them his zeal for God’s glory; John 4:39, Many Samaritans believe on him; John…John 4:1-3John 4:1-3 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe read of Christ's coming into Judea (ch. iii. 22), after he had kept the feast at Jerusalem; and now he left Judea four months before harvest, as is said here (v. 35); so that it is computed that he staid in…John 4:1John 4:1 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgethe Lord: Luke 1:76, Luke 2:11, Luke 19:31, Luke 19:34; Acts 10:36; 1 Corinthians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 15:47; 2 Corinthians 4:5; James 2:1; Revelation 19:16 that Jesus: John 3:22, John 3:26 John 4:1John 4:1 · Little Bible — for children and parentsJesus' growing influence was attracting notice from the Pharisees. This would eventually lead to conflict. Jesus, knowing this, chose to move. Memory phrase: Jesus knew what the leaders were thinking. Talk about it:…John 4:1John 4:1 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhen therefore our Lord knew,.... Or Jesus, as some copies, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read; who is Lord of all, Lord of lords, the one and only Lord of saints: and who knew all things as…

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