Verse by Verse

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.

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.

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.

33 He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34 For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

He that cometh from above (v.31) — Jesus. He is deity, therefore His words are true. He knows heavenly things.

He that is of the earth (v.31) — John the Baptist. His words are imperfect, as are all things on earth.

what He has seen and heard (v.32) — of and from the Father

No man receiveth (v.32)  — anticipates the rejection of Christ (Romans 3) — the natural man unaided by grace

Anyone who believes declares that he believes that God is true. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son (1 John 5:10).

set his seal (v.33) — identified with it. It belongs to me. I accept God’s truth and have made it mine.

To refuse Christ’s testimony is to treat it as a lie.

Spirit by measure — In Him (Christ) the fullness of the Godhead dwells (Colossians 2:9). John was the greatest prophet, but Christ has the fullness of the Spirit. He wasn’t anointed for a time as the Old Testament prophets were.

all things in His hands (v.35) — the Divine plan. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do (John 17:1-4). Therefore … whoever believes has eternal life.

hath everlasting life (v.36) — present tense

Faith is believing that God means what He says.

believeth (verse 36, 2nd usage) = obey

wrath of God abideth on him (v.36) — eternal suffering

Every person is born under God’s wrath. Whoever does not believe remains there.

Christ was different from all other messengers from God. In all things, He had pre-eminence.

22 After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Judea (v.22) — the area around Jerusalem

baptize (v.22)  = dip, immerse

Aenon (v.23) = place of springs — in the Jordan valley about 20 miles north of where Jesus was

Salim (v.23)  = peace

much water (v.23) — perhaps indicating that John’s baptism was by immersion?

The disciples baptized, but Jesus did not. (John 4:2 — Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples.) The disciples baptized under His authority. This was the same as John’s baptism — unto repentance.

question (verse 4) — No details are given. Perhaps this was a dispute about which baptism, John’s or the disciples’, was more purifying. Purification, for Jews, was through sacrifices and washings, not baptism. Perhaps they questioned if baptism could purify at all. Perhaps John’s disciples were jealous that people were going to Jesus?

Jews (v.25)  — Jewish leaders. These were the same men as in John 1:19, because John says Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said …

John answered in  humility (vs. 27-29). He was filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:15).

can receive nothing except … (v.27) — John’s ministry was from heaven

bridegroom (v.29) — Christ

bridegroom’s friend (v.29) — John the Baptist

Jesus was the bridegroom over Israel. … As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee (Isaiah 62:5). And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days (Mark 2:19-20).

Jesus Christ is also the bridegroom to the church (2 Corinthians 11:2), but in this passage, the word is used just to show John’s relationship to Christ.

The bride here is not the church. It hadn’t yet been revealed. It was those Israelites who had believed — more will, but that company has been set aside for a time until after the church age.

standeth and heareth (v.29) — perfect tense, indicating continuous action

my joy is fulfilled (v.29) — by listening to Jesus’ voice

must (verse 30) = it is necessary

17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

condemn = judge — And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47). He’ll come as a judge at His second coming.

Verse 17 enlarges the purpose of God’s love

might (v.17)  = expresses design. — “should be saved”

Christ didn’t come to judge, but the world is already condemned because of unbelief.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God (Romans 3:19).

There are two (and only two) kinds of people (verse 18).

not condemned (v.18)  — (see my post on Romans 8:1)

light shows the heart of man (see my post on John 1:6-8)

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light (Ephesians 5:13-14).

When people refuse Christ, their deeds will always prove evil — evil motives (v.20)

People do not come to Christ by choice.

Verse 19 — “This is how the judgment works.” The sentence is pronounced because of this.

Verse 19 gives the cause of humanity’s unbelief — People are in the dark and they love it. They prefer ignorance because they are evil.

hateth the light (v.20) — People don’t want to be known for what they really are. Nor do they want to part from the evil they love.

lest his deeds (v.20) — People refuse to read the Bible because they know it would condemn them.

cometh (verse 21) = “comes again and again”

doeth truth (v.21) — come to Christ, the light

When people trust Christ, their deeds are the fruit of the Spirit.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9).

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

ascended — as opposed to Enoch (translated — Hebrews 11:5), to Elijah (went up — 2 Kings 2:11), raptured saints (caught up — 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

up to heaven — the third heaven, when God dwells

who is in heaven — His omnipresence. While on earth as a man, He was also in heaven as God. This is tied to verse 12. Jesus could speak with authority about heavenly things because He was from heaven.

serpent — sin. A reminder of the curse. Christ was cursed for us. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Galatians 3:13). The serpent was made of brass (see Numbers 21:4-9 at the end of this post), signifying Divine judgment (Deuteronomy 28:23, Revelation 1:15).

lifted up — Jesus was informing Nicodemus that before He comes in glory as king, He must suffer. He is referring to the crucifixion. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die (John 12:32-33).

must be lifted up —  The righteousness of God demands it.

The brazen serpent lifted up on a pole is the type of Christ in His sacrificial work on the cross. That serpent was the very image of what was destroying the Israelites, but the brazen serpent had no poisonous fangs; there was no poison in it. Though it bore the likeness of the serpent, the emblem of sin, it was harmless. Thus the Son of God appeared in the form of a man, in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), but He was without sin; He knew no sin. And when He was lifted up on the cross, on that cross He who knew no sin was made sin for us, and by the offering of Himself for sin, He put away sin. Hanging on that cross He bore the curse, being made a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). Looking up to the brazen serpent, the Israelites saw the very thing which had put death and ruin upon them, triumphed over, completely conquered. And so as we look to Christ crucified, made a curse, bearing sin, we see sin judged, condemned, triumphed over, robbed of its power and stripped of its strength. — Gaebelein, page 69.

world/whosoever — everyone, not just the elect

Verse 15 — believe in the Son of man. Verse 16 — believe in the Son of God. To be saved, we must believe in His two-fold nature.

only begotten — eternal Sonship

so loved — magnitude

gave — giving love, unselfish

God’s love resulted in Christ’s sacrifice, not the other way around. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:9-10).

Man became a lost sinner by a look, for the first thing recorded of Eve in connection with the fall of our first parents is that “The woman saw that the tree was good for food” (Genesis 3:6). In like manner, the lost sinner is saved by a look. The Christian life begins by looking: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). The Christian life continues by looking: “let us run with patience the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). And at the end of the Christian life we are still to be looking for Christ: “For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). From first to last, the one thing required is looking at God’s Son. — Pink, page 134-135.

Numbers 21:4-9 — And they [Israelites] journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Nicodemus should have had a basic understanding of the Kingdom from his study of Scripture. (see below)

we (verse 11) — Jesus and John the Baptist and the Old Testament prophets, all of whom had spoken to Israel about the future.

earthly things — coming physical kingdom on earth

heavenly things — Israel’s ultimate destiny in eternity

that which we know/that which we have seen — The witness of Jesus and the prophets was based on fact — they’d seen evidence of God’s truth.

received not — In verse 9, Nicodemus revealed his ignorance. Here we have the reason for it (v.11) — he didn’t “receive” it.

It is exceedingly striking to observe that in the brief record of this interview we find the Lord employing seven times the very expression used by Nicodemus himself. We tabulate them thus:

Old Testament passages referring to the (still future) Kingdom promised to Israel:

Ezekiel 20:38 — And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Zechariah 13:8-9 — And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Jeremiah 31:33 — But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Ezekiel 36:23-34 — And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

4 Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Even if a person was born from a mother’s womb a second time, it would still be a birth in sinful flesh, with a fallen nature. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one (Job 14:4). This is why Jesus Christ was conceived by the Spirit of God.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8).

The new nature is born of the Spirit and is spiritual.

water — the Word of God (NOT baptism — baptism symbolized death, not life). That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26).

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:23).

You must be born again = “you all” must … All Israel — Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them (Ezekiel 36:25-27). A prophecy of the Kingdom.

When the Word is believed, the Holy Spirit accomplishes the new birth and we have a new nature and new life.

You cannot see the Spirit, but you can recognize His power in your life. Verse 8 refers to the believer’s life, not the Spirit Himself.

To sum up the teaching in this verse: “The wind bloweth” — there is the fact. “And thou hearest the sound thereof” — there is evidence of the fact. “But knowest now whence” — there is the mystery behind the fact. The one born again knows that he has a new life, and enjoys the evidences of it, but how the Holy Spirit operates upon the soul, subdues the will, creates the new life within us, belongs to the deep things of God. — Pink, page 119.

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

These verses are connected to John 2:23-25. Nicodemus was one who saw Jesus’ miracles. It seems he sought more truth, but he was afraid for his reputation. He sneaked in after dark. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue (John 12:42).

Ruler of the Jews — probably a member of the Sanhedrin

Rabbi = master, teacher

Nicodemus probably suspected that Jesus was the Messiah, which led him to wonder about the Kingdom. Jesus anticipated this and answered the question before it was asked.

Kingdom — not salvation, as often assumed, but the literal Kingdom which the prophets predicted, promised to Israel and yet to come at Christ’s second coming (Ezekiel 36:4-28). But it is also true of us by application — Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13).

Night could also symbolize Nicodemus’ spiritual ignorance. The Jews, like Nicodemus, were in the dark without spiritual discernment and were dead in sin.

Nicodemus was as “good” as a man could be, but the Lord emphasized his need for a new birth.

Men are dead in sin. Birth is the gateway to life.

Born again = born from above

Evidently, Nicodemus believed. Here he is timid, approaching by night. In John 7:50-51, he boldly reprimands the Sanhedrin, and in John 19:39, he boldly helped Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus when the apostles fled.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.

24 But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man.

Jesus’ miracles showed His power and glory. They were His credentials as King and Messiah and were the signs of the Kingdom.

Many of those who saw the miracles believed that He was who He said He was, but their hearts were not touched. They assented to outward evidence. Jesus knew their hearts.

In the Greek, it reads, “Many believed (trusted) in His name … But Jesus did not believe (trust) in them.” He knew men’s motives.