The evangelist calls Jesus ‘Lord’, He who reigns as King eternal over history. He punishes and shows grace. He guides them and judges. He saw his glory and honors him with this majesty title.
Pharisees had begun to mobilize, ready for battle. Christ’s preaching in Judea was a shining success. He called men to repent, confessing their sins, like the Baptist. It was as if he had taken over from the Baptist (though he did not himself baptize, but left this to his disciples, since they had come from John’s circle). Jesus taught that water baptism was nothing but a symbol for Spirit-baptism. Yet his hour had not come, and he did not himself baptize.
When the Pharisaic opposition increased, Jesus departed north. He was living according to his Father’s plan. The time for open conflict with these legalists had not come. Jesus preferred to travel by way of the mountain country and enter Samaria, taking the short cut to Galilee.
These Samaritans were not a recognized group in the Old Testament, since they were a mixed multitude with some Israelite blood. When the Assyrians invaded Samaria in 722 BC, and exiled most of Abraham’s seed to Mesopotamia, they settled other groups in Samaria. Thus the mingling occurred, which also led to a fusing of beliefs.
Jesus came to Sychar near Shechem, the center for the original Patriarchs. It was also the venue for Joshua’s covenant with the people and God (Genesis 12:6 and Joshua 8:30–35). There was an ancient well nearly, assumed to be Jacob’s (Genesis 33:19). Joseph’s bones were buried somewhere near Nablus (Joshua 24:32). This area became a historical focus in the Old Testament.
Jesus sat beside the well, tired out by the long trek and the heat of the noonday. He was a real man, weary and thirsty, not a phantom or a theophany – a human with all the features of human frailty.