John 4:7-14

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink.

8 (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water?

12 Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman was alone, and at noon instead of in the evening, the normal time for getting water. She may have been an outcast because of her character (verse 18).

disciples … buy meat (v.8) — Jesus lived as a man. He could have provided food miraculously. He made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7).

Thou, being a Jew (v.9) — She could tell by His clothing. Normally, a Jew wouldn’t use the same utensils as a Samaritan.

gift of God (v.10) — Jesus Christ Himself, and God’s grace in sending Him

living water (v.10) — the Holy Spirit in particular, but as a representation of salvation and all it brings. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:38-39). For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Are you greater than Jacob? (v.12) — A challenge. The woman was a descendent of Jacob, but it did her no spiritual good. Earthly things bring, at best, temporary satisfaction. Spiritual things are eternal.

Jesus offered not just a drink, but an indwelling fountain (v.14). A fountain gushes forth as opposed to a well which has to be dug and drawn from.

Salvation — His light shows us what we are, then He reveals Himself and offers a gift.

Morally and socially, there was a vast difference between Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, and the woman, a Samaritan adulteress, but as to standing before God, there was none. They were both spiritually dead.