John 4:1-6

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

2 (Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)

3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

4 And He must needs go through Samaria.

5 Then cometh He to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

The Pharisees were plotting trouble.

John the Baptist’s ministry (heralding the Kingdom) was over.

Jesus never baptized with water, only with the Spirit.

must needs go through Samaria (v.4) — Jesus wasn’t in a hurry, and He knew of His ministry to the Samaritans. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd (John 10:16).

The strictest Jews routed around Samaria — The Samaritans were a mixed race with a religion that was part Jewish and part heathen. They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel (2 Kings 17:33-34).

Sychar (v.5)  = purchased — It was the same as, or very near, Shechem. Jacob lived there (Genesis 33:18). It was a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7-8). Joseph was buried there (Joshua 24:32).

well (v.6) — a man-made well build over a natural spring. Jesus uses the well/fountain as an illustration in verse 14.

Jesus … wearied (v.6) — evidence of His humanity

sixth hour = noon

[In] John 3 and 4, we discover a series of striking contrasts … First, in John 3 we have “a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus:” in John 4 it is an unnamed woman that is before us. Second, the former was a man of rank, a “Master of Israel:” the latter was a woman of the lower ranks, for she came “to draw water.” Third, the one was a favored Jew: the other was a despised Samaritan. Fourth, Nicodemus was a man of high reputation, a member of the Sanhedrin: the one with whom Christ dealt in John 4 was a woman of dissolute habits. Fifth, Nicodemus sought out Christ: here Christ seeks out the woman. Sixth, Nicodemus came to Christ “by night:” Christ speaks to the woman at mid-day. Seventh, to the self-righteous Pharisee Christ said, “Ye must be born again:” to this sinner of the Gentiles He tells of “the gift of God.” — Pink, page 156.