Jesus, a Jew, violated social prohibitions by speaking to a Samaritan woman. The Jews condemned the Samaritans as "half-breeds" because they had intermarried with foreigners and had adopted their idolatrous practices. For a man, especially a rabbi, to speak to a woman on the street, especially one of ill-repute, was socially unacceptable. For a Jew to speak to a Samaritan was equally unacceptable.
Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. Instead of giving Him a drink, she responded merely by saying that He was a Jew--revealing her own prejudice. Jesus spoke to her about "living water" and a "well of water springing up into everlasting life." She perceived He was talking to her about spiritual matters and that He was claiming to be Someone greater than their ancestor Jacob.
He then talked with her about cohabiting with a man that was not her husband. She perceived that , if He knew this information, He must be a prophet . She then asked Him about spiritual matters: where God was located in so far as worshiping Him was concerned--in Samaria or in Jerusalem? She also said that she knew the Messiah was coming. Jesus revealed plainly to this woman that the Messiah of whom she spoke was none other than He Himself.
She believed Him and ran into the city to tell others that she had found the Messiah. Many believed in Jesus because of her testimony; others, who came to investigate the matter, believed in Jesus because of their personal encounter with Him.
Then Jesus began His return to Cana of Galilee, where He had performed His first miracle (turning water into wine.) A nobleman from Capernaum approached Him about healing his sick son. Jesus accused him of miracle-seeking. The nobleman pleaded with Him for the life of his son. Jesus spoke and said the boy was healed. The nobleman believed Him and then his whole household came to believe in Jesus.
He then talked with her about cohabiting with a man that was not her husband. She perceived that , if He knew this information, He must be a prophet . She then asked Him about spiritual matters: where God was located in so far as worshiping Him was concerned--in Samaria or in Jerusalem? She also said that she knew the Messiah was coming. Jesus revealed plainly to this woman that the Messiah of whom she spoke was none other than He Himself.
She believed Him and ran into the city to tell others that she had found the Messiah. Many believed in Jesus because of her testimony; others, who came to investigate the matter, believed in Jesus because of their personal encounter with Him.
Then Jesus began His return to Cana of Galilee, where He had performed His first miracle (turning water into wine.) A nobleman from Capernaum approached Him about healing his sick son. Jesus accused him of miracle-seeking. The nobleman pleaded with Him for the life of his son. Jesus spoke and said the boy was healed. The nobleman believed Him and then his whole household came to believe in Jesus.
John 4 gives accounts of the salvation experience of an immoral woman of low social standing who was not even fully Jewish and that of a nobleman. It is clear that the way to salvation is not through any man-made schemes of works, morality, or social order, but solely through belief in Jesus as the Son of God. Both these individuals had to reject their own pride and come to Him humbly admitting their need. He did not turn either away. In John 6:37 Jesus said, "...and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." What is better to have--one's pride or the Son of God?
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