Juan 4

Jesús y la samaritana

1 Jesús^[a] se enteró de que los fariseos sabían que él estaba haciendo y bautizando más discípulos que Juan

2 (aunque en realidad no era Jesús quien bautizaba sino sus discípulos).

3 Por eso se fue de Judea y volvió otra vez a Galilea.

4 Como tenía que pasar por Samaria,

5 llegó a un pueblo samaritano llamado Sicar, cerca del terreno que Jacob le había dado a su hijo José.

6 Allí estaba el pozo de Jacob. Jesús, fatigado del camino, se sentó junto al pozo. Era cerca del mediodía.^[b]

7 Sus discípulos habían ido al pueblo a comprar comida.En eso llegó a sacar agua una mujer de Samaria, y Jesús le dijo:—Dame un poco de agua.

9 Pero como los judíos no usan nada en común^[c] con los samaritanos, la mujer le respondió:—¿Cómo se te ocurre pedirme agua, si tú eres judío y yo soy samaritana?

10 —Si supieras lo que Dios puede dar, y conocieras al que te está pidiendo agua —contestó Jesús—, tú le habrías pedido a él, y él te habría dado agua que da vida.

11 —Señor, ni siquiera tienes con qué sacar agua, y el pozo es muy hondo; ¿de dónde, pues, vas a sacar esa agua que da vida?

12 ¿Acaso eres tú superior a nuestro padre Jacob, que nos dejó este pozo, del cual bebieron él, sus hijos y su ganado?

13 —Todo el que beba de esta agua volverá a tener sed —respondió Jesús—,

14 pero el que beba del agua que yo le daré, no volverá a tener sed jamás, sino que dentro de él esa agua se convertirá en un manantial del que brotará vida eterna.

15 —Señor, dame de esa agua para que no vuelva a tener sed ni siga viniendo aquí a sacarla.

16 —Ve a llamar a tu esposo, y vuelve acá —le dijo Jesús.

17 —No tengo esposo —respondió la mujer.—Bien has dicho que no tienes esposo.

18 Es cierto que has tenido cinco, y el que ahora tienes no es tu esposo. En esto has dicho la verdad.

19 —Señor, me doy cuenta de que tú eres profeta.

20 Nuestros antepasados adoraron en este monte, pero ustedes los judíos dicen que el lugar donde debemos adorar está en Jerusalén.

21 —Créeme, mujer, que se acerca la hora en que ni en este monte ni en Jerusalén adorarán ustedes al Padre.

22 Ahora ustedes adoran lo que no conocen; nosotros adoramos lo que conocemos, porque la salvación proviene de los judíos.

23 Pero se acerca la hora, y ha llegado ya, en que los verdaderos adoradores rendirán culto al Padre en espíritu y en verdad,^[d] porque así quiere el Padre que sean los que le adoren.

24 Dios es espíritu, y quienes lo adoran deben hacerlo en espíritu y en verdad.

25 —Sé que viene el Mesías, al que llaman el Cristo —respondió la mujer—. Cuando él venga nos explicará todas las cosas.

26 —Ese soy yo, el que habla contigo —le dijo Jesús.

Los discípulos vuelven a reunirse con Jesús

27 En esto llegaron sus discípulos y se sorprendieron de verlo hablando con una mujer, aunque ninguno le preguntó: «¿Qué pretendes?» o «¿De qué hablas con ella?»

28 La mujer dejó su cántaro, volvió al pueblo y le decía a la gente:

29 —Vengan a ver a un hombre que me ha dicho todo lo que he hecho. ¿No será este el Cristo?

30 Salieron del pueblo y fueron a ver a Jesús.

31 Mientras tanto, sus discípulos le insistían:—Rabí, come algo.

32 —Yo tengo un alimento que ustedes no conocen —replicó él.

33 «¿Le habrán traído algo de comer?», comentaban entre sí los discípulos.

34 —Mi alimento es hacer la voluntad del que me envió y terminar su obra —les dijo Jesús—.

35 ¿No dicen ustedes: “Todavía faltan cuatro meses para la cosecha”? Yo les digo: ¡Abran los ojos y miren los campos sembrados! Ya la cosecha está madura;

36 ya el segador recibe su salario y recoge el fruto para vida eterna. Ahora tanto el sembrador como el segador se alegran juntos.

37 Porque como dice el refrán: “Uno es el que siembra y otro el que cosecha”.

38 Yo los he enviado a ustedes a cosechar lo que no les costó ningún trabajo. Otros se han fatigado trabajando, y ustedes han cosechado el fruto de ese trabajo.

Muchos samaritanos creen en Jesús

39 Muchos de los samaritanos que vivían en aquel pueblo creyeron en él por el testimonio que daba la mujer: «Me dijo todo lo que he hecho».

40 Así que cuando los samaritanos fueron a su encuentro le insistieron en que se quedara con ellos. Jesús permaneció allí dos días,

41 y muchos más llegaron a creer por lo que él mismo decía.

42 —Ya no creemos solo por lo que tú dijiste —le decían a la mujer—; ahora lo hemos oído nosotros mismos, y sabemos que verdaderamente este es el Salvador del mundo.

Jesús sana al hijo de un funcionario

43 Después de esos dos días Jesús salió de allí rumbo a Galilea

44 (pues, como él mismo había dicho, a ningún profeta se le honra en su propia tierra).

45 Cuando llegó a Galilea, fue bien recibido por los galileos, pues estos habían visto personalmente todo lo que había hecho en Jerusalén durante la fiesta de la Pascua, ya que ellos habían estado también allí.

46 Y volvió otra vez Jesús a Caná de Galilea, donde había convertido el agua en vino. Había allí un funcionario real, cuyo hijo estaba enfermo en Capernaúm.

47 Cuando este hombre se enteró de que Jesús había llegado de Judea a Galilea, fue a su encuentro y le suplicó que bajara a sanar a su hijo, pues estaba a punto de morir.

48 —Ustedes nunca van a creer si no ven señales y prodigios —le dijo Jesús.

49 —Señor —rogó el funcionario—, baja antes de que se muera mi hijo.

50 —Vuelve a casa, que tu hijo vive —le dijo Jesús—.El hombre creyó lo que Jesús le dijo, y se fue.

51 Cuando se dirigía a su casa, sus siervos salieron a su encuentro y le dieron la noticia de que su hijo estaba vivo.

52 Cuando les preguntó a qué hora había comenzado su hijo a sentirse mejor, le contestaron:—Ayer a la una de la tarde^[e] se le quitó la fiebre.

53 Entonces el padre se dio cuenta de que precisamente a esa hora Jesús le había dicho: «Tu hijo vive». Así que creyó él con toda su familia.

54 Esta fue la segunda señal que hizo Jesús después de que volvió de Judea a Galilea.

Juan 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Christ's departure into Galilee. (1-3) His discourse with the Samaritan woman. (4-26) The effects of Christ's conversation with the woman of Samaria. (27-42) Christ heals the nobleman's son. (43-54)

Verses 1-3 Jesus applied himself more to preaching, which was the more ( 1 Corinthians. 1:17 ) his disciples, by employing them to baptize. He teaches us that the benefit of sacraments depends not on the hand that administers them.

Verses 4-26 There was great hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews. Christ's road from Judea to Galilee lay through Samaria. We should not go into places of temptation but when we needs must; and then must not dwell in them, but hasten through them. We have here our Lord Jesus under the common fatigue of travellers. Thus we see that he was truly a man. Toil came in with sin; therefore Christ, having made himself a curse for us, submitted to it. Also, he was a poor man, and went all his journeys on foot. Being wearied, he sat thus on the well; he had no couch to rest upon. He sat thus, as people wearied with travelling sit. Surely, we ought readily to submit to be like the Son of God in such things as these. Christ asked a woman for water. She was surprised because he did not show the anger of his own nation against the Samaritans. Moderate men of all sides are men wondered at. Christ took the occasion to teach her Divine things: he converted this woman, by showing her ignorance and sinfulness, and her need of a Saviour. By this living water is meant the Spirit. Under this comparison the blessing of the Messiah had been promised in the Old Testament. The graces of the Spirit, and his comforts, satisfy the thirsting soul, that knows its own nature and necessity. What Jesus spake figuratively, she took literally. Christ shows that the water of Jacob's well yielded a very short satisfaction. Of whatever waters of comfort we drink, we shall thirst again. But whoever partakes of the Spirit of grace, and the comforts of the gospel, shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his soul. Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends. Give it me, saith she, not that I may have everlasting life, which Christ proposed, but that I come not hither to draw. The carnal mind is very ingenious in shifting off convictions, and keeping them from fastening. But how closely our Lord Jesus brings home the conviction to her conscience! He severely reproved her present state of life. The woman acknowledged Christ to be a prophet. The power of his word in searching the heart, and convincing the conscience of secret things, is a proof of Divine authority. It should cool our contests, to think that the things we are striving about are passing away. The object of worship will continue still the same, God, as a Father; but an end shall be put to all differences about the place of worship. Reason teaches us to consult decency and convenience in the places of our worship; but religion gives no preference to one place above another, in respect of holiness and approval with God. The Jews were certainly in the right. Those who by the Scriptures have obtained some knowledge of God, know whom they worship. The word of salvation was of the Jews. It came to other nations through them. Christ justly preferred the Jewish worship before the Samaritan, yet here he speaks of the former as soon to be done away. God was about to be revealed as the Father of all believers in every nation. The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have communion with him. Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified. The woman was disposed to leave the matter undecided, till the coming of the Messiah. But Christ told her, I that speak to thee, am He. She was an alien and a hostile Samaritan, merely speaking to her was thought to disgrace our Lord Jesus. Yet to this woman did our Lord reveal himself more fully than as yet he had done to any of his disciples. No past sins can bar our acceptance with him, if we humble ourselves before him, believing in him as the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Verses 27-42 The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a Samaritan. Yet they knew it was for some good reason, and for some good end. Thus when particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God, it is good to satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things affected the woman. The extent of his knowledge. Christ knows all the thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men. And the power of his word. He told her secret sins with power. She fastened upon that part of Christ's discourse, many would think she would have been most shy of repeating; but the knowledge of Christ, into which we are led by conviction of sin, is most likely to be sound and saving. They came to him: those who would know Christ, must meet him where he records his name. Our Master has left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as he did; with diligence, as those that make a business of it; with delight and pleasure in it. Christ compares his work to harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and looked for before it comes; so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work must be done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospel is a season, which if once past, cannot be recalled. God sometimes uses very weak and unlikely instruments for beginning and carrying on a good work. Our Saviour, by teaching one poor woman, spread knowledge to a whole town. Blessed are those who are not offended at Christ. Those taught of God, are truly desirous to learn more. It adds much to the praise of our love to Christ and his word, if it conquers prejudices. Their faith grew. In the matter of it: they believed him to be the Saviour, not only of the Jews but of the world. In the certainty of it: we know that this is indeed the Christ. And in the ground of it, for we have heard him ourselves.

Verses 43-54 The father was a nobleman, yet the son was sick. Honours and titles are no security from sickness and death. The greatest men must go themselves to God, must become beggars. The nobleman did not stop from his request till he prevailed. But at first he discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ. It is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place, are no hinderance to the knowledge, mercy, and power of our Lord Jesus. Christ gave an answer of peace. Christ's saying that the soul lives, makes it alive. The father went his way, which showed the sincerity of his faith. Being satisfied, he did not hurry home that night, but returned as one easy in his own mind. His servants met him with the news of the child's recovery. Good news will meet those that hope in God's word. Diligent comparing the works of Jesus with his word, will confirm our faith. And the bringing the cure to the family brought salvation to it. Thus an experience of the power of one word of Christ, may settle the authority of Christ in the soul. The whole family believed likewise. The miracle made Jesus dear to them. The knowledge of Christ still spreads through families, and men find health and salvation to their souls.

Footnotes

• [a] "Jesús" . Var. "El Señor" .
• [b] "del mediodía" . Lit. "de la hora sexta" ; véase nota en 1:39.
• [c] "no usan nada en común" . Alt. "no se llevan bien" .
• [d] "en espíritu y en verdad" . Alt. "por el Espíritu y la verdad" ; también en v. 24.
• [e] "la una de la tarde" . Lit. "la hora séptima" ; véase nota en 1:39.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 4

In this chapter the apostle cautions against seducing spirits; advises to try them, and gives rules by which they may be known, and by which they are distinguished from others; and then returns to his favourite subject, brotherly love. He exhorts the saints not to believe every man that came with a doctrine to them, but to try them, since there were many false teachers in the world; and gives a rule by which they may be tried and judged, as that whatever teacher owns Christ to be come in the flesh is of God, but he that does not is not of God, but is the spirit of antichrist that should come, and was in the world, 1Jo 4:1,2, but, for the comfort of those to whom he writes, he observes, that they were of God, and had overcome these false teachers, through the mighty power of the divine Spirit in them, who is greater than Satan, and all his emissaries, 1Jo 4:4. He distinguishes between seducing spirits, and faithful ministers of the word; the former are of the world, speak of worldly things, and worldly men hear them; but the latter are of God, and they that have any spiritual knowledge of God hear them; but such as are not of God do not heal them, by which may he known the spirit of truth from the spirit of error, 1Jo 4:5,6. And then the apostle returns to his former exhortation to brotherly love, which he enforces by the following reasons, because it is of God, a fruit of his Spirit and grace, and because it is an evidence of being born of God, and of having a true knowledge of him; whereas he that is destitute of it does not know him, seeing God is love, 1Jo 4:7,8, and having affirmed that God is love, he proves it, by the mission of his Son, to be a propitiation for the sins of such that did not love him, and that they might live through him; wherefore he argues, that if God had such a love to men, so undeserving of it, then the saints ought to love one another, 1Jo 4:9-11. Other arguments follow, engaging to it, as that God is invisible; and if he is to be loved, then certainly his people, who are visible; and that such who love one another, God dwells in them, and his love is perfected in them; and that he dwells in them is known by the gift of his Spirit to them, 1Jo 4:12,13, and that God the Father so loved the world, as to send his Son to be the Saviour of it, before asserted, is confirmed by the apostles, who were eyewitnesses of it; who also declare, that whoever confesses the sonship of Christ, God dwells in him, and he in God; and who had an assurance of the love of God to them, who is love itself; so that he that dwells in God, and God in him, dwells in love, 1Jo 4:14-16. And great are the advantages arising from hence, for hereby the saints' love to God is made perfect; they have boldness in the day of judgment, since as he is, so are they in this world, and fear is cast out by it, 1Jo 4:17,18, but lest too much should be thought to be ascribed to love, that is said to be owing to the love of God to them, which is prior to theirs to him, and the reason of it, 1Jo 4:19. And the chapter is closed with observing the contradiction there is between a profession of love to God, and hatred of the brethren, seeing God, who is invisible, cannot be loved, if brethren that are seen are hated; and also the commandment, that he that loves God should love his brother also, 1Jo 4:20,21.