In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 4:1-6[HCSB])

1 When Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),

3 He left Judea and went again to Galilee. 4 He had to travel through Samaria, 5 so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph.

6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening.

Jesus steps out of the way

Preface: This lesson is being used as both a bridge forward to address the “woman at the well,” and a reference to the previous lesson #7 to support the understanding that real baptism transforms in the spiritual, and not in the physical. This, as you may remember, was the subject of Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus under the cover of darkness.

Jesus intentionally avoided competition with John the Baptist and did not feed into the interests of the Pharisees and their agenda-laden discourse.

A key point in support of this is that Jesus’ disciples (John the Baptist being one of them, by definition) were indeed baptizing; but not Jesus. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus ever baptized with water. This helps us more clearly appreciate what was at the center of the nocturnal teaching between Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus does not discount the usefulness of water baptism, but makes transparent the doctrine of true baptism being a change in the condition of one’s spirit, not simply washing off the exterior of the body. He makes this abundantly stark in Luke 11:39 putting the Pharisees on notice that He knows their hearts … that they were very adept at ceremonially washing the outside, but neglected the inside where the real darkness resides.

At this time John reflects on Jesus setting out with His Disciples to Galilee, leaving John the Baptist to his work, and makes His way through Samaria to a place where there was greater need. The greater need in this case was the spiritual condition of a lowly Samaritan woman. There would be other more appropriate times for doing theological battle with the Pharisees and the scribes.

We should go where we are called, and where there is a simple need, as opposed to engaging in intellectual jousting in an effort to knock someone off their high horse.

Jesus is quite capable of defending Himself.