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Jesús y la samaritana

Jesús se enteró de que los fariseos sabían que él hacía y bautizaba más discípulos que Juan. Aunque en realidad los que bautizaban eran los discípulos de Jesús y no él mismo. Cuando Jesús se enteró, salió de Judea y regresó a Galilea.

En el viaje tenía que pasar por Samaria y llegó a un pueblo samaritano llamado Sicar. Este se encontraba cerca del terreno que Jacob le había dado a su hijo José. Allí estaba el pozo de Jacob. Jesús, cansado del viaje, se sentó junto al pozo. Era cerca del mediodía.

7-8 Sus discípulos habían ido al pueblo a comprar comida. En eso, llegó una mujer de Samaria a sacar agua. Jesús le dijo:

―Dame un poco de agua.

Pero como los judíos no se llevaban bien con los samaritanos, la mujer le respondió:

―¿Cómo se te ocurre pedirme agua, si tú eres judío y yo soy samaritana?

10 Jesús le contestó:

―Si supieras lo que Dios puede darte y quién es el que te está pidiendo agua, serías tú la que le pediría agua a él y él te daría agua que da vida.

11 La mujer le dijo:

―Señor, ni siquiera tienes con qué sacar el agua y el pozo es muy hondo. ¿Cómo me vas a dar agua que da vida? 12 Nuestro antepasado Jacob nos dejó este pozo y de aquí bebía agua él, sus hijos y su ganado. ¿Acaso eres tú superior a Jacob?

13 Jesús respondió:

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

15 La mujer le dijo:

―Señor, dame de esa agua para que no vuelva a tener sed ni tenga que venir aquí a sacarla.

16 Jesús le dijo:

―Ve a llamar a tu esposo y regresa acá.

17 La mujer respondió:

―No tengo esposo.

Jesús le dijo:

―Has dicho la verdad en cuanto a que no tienes esposo, 18 porque has tenido cinco y el que ahora tienes no es tu esposo.

19 La mujer le dijo:

―Señor, me parece que eres profeta. 20 Nuestros antepasados adoraron en este monte, pero ustedes los judíos dicen que el lugar donde debemos adorar está en Jerusalén.

21 Jesús le respondió:

―Créeme, mujer, que ya está cerca la hora en que ustedes no adorarán al Padre ni en este monte ni en Jerusalén. 22 Ustedes adoran lo que no conocen, pero nosotros adoramos lo que conocemos, pues la salvación viene de los judíos. 23 Pero la hora se acerca, y ya está aquí, cuando los que verdaderamente adoran al Padre lo harán guiados por el Espíritu y en forma verdadera, porque el Padre así quiere que sean los que lo adoren. 24 Dios es espíritu, y los que lo adoran deben hacerlo guiados por el Espíritu y en forma verdadera.

25 La mujer respondió:

―Yo sé que viene el Mesías, al que llaman el Cristo. Cuando él venga nos explicará todas las cosas.

26 Jesús le dijo:

―Ese soy yo, el que está hablando contigo.

Los discípulos vuelven a reunirse con Jesús

27 En eso llegaron sus discípulos. Aunque se sorprendieron de verlo hablando con una mujer, no se atrevieron a preguntarle por qué lo hacía ni de qué estaba hablando con ella.

28 La mujer dejó su cántaro, corrió 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 Entonces salieron del pueblo y fueron a ver a Jesús.

31 Mientras tanto, sus discípulos le suplicaban:

―Maestro, come algo.

32 Él les dijo:

―Yo tengo una comida que ustedes no conocen.

33 Los discípulos se preguntaban: ¿Le habrán traído algo de comer?

34 Jesús les explicó:

―Mi comida es hacer la voluntad del que me envió y terminar el trabajo que me dio. 35 Ustedes dicen: “Todavía faltan cuatro meses para la cosecha”, pero yo les digo: ¡Fíjense bien en los campos sembrados! La cosecha ya está madura.

36 »El que trabaja recogiendo la cosecha ya recibe su salario y recoge la cosecha para vida eterna. Tanto el que siembra como el que cosecha se alegran juntos. 37 Porque es cierto lo que 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 fueron los que se fatigaron trabajando, y ustedes han cosechado el fruto del trabajo de ellos».

Muchos samaritanos creen en Jesús

39 Muchos de los samaritanos que vivían en ese pueblo creyeron en Jesús por las palabras que les dijo la mujer: «Me ha dicho todo lo que he hecho». 40 Cuando los samaritanos llegaron a donde él estaba, le suplicaron que se quedara con ellos. Jesús se quedó allí dos días, 41 y muchos más creyeron después de oírlo hablar.

42 Le dijeron a la mujer:

―Ahora creemos porque nosotros mismos lo hemos oído, y sabemos en verdad que él es el Salvador del mundo.

Jesús sana al hijo de un funcionario

43 Después de pasar allí esos dos días, se fue a Galilea, 44 pues Jesús mismo había dicho que ningún profeta recibe honra en su propia tierra. 45 Cuando llegó a Galilea, los galileos lo recibieron muy bien, ya que ellos mismos habían visto todo lo que él había hecho en Jerusalén durante la Pascua, porque habían estado también allí.

46 Depués volvió Jesús a Caná de Galilea, donde había convertido el agua en vino. Había allí un importante funcionario real que tenía a su hijo enfermo en Capernaúm. 47 Cuando el funcionario se enteró de que Jesús había viajado de Judea a Galilea, fue a verlo y le suplicó que lo acompañara y sanara a su hijo, pues estaba a punto de morir.

48 Jesús le dijo:

―Ustedes sólo van a creer si ven señales y milagros.

49 El funcionario le rogó:

―Señor, ven antes que se muera mi hijo.

50 Jesús le dijo:

―Regresa a casa, que tu hijo vive.

El hombre creyó lo que Jesús le dijo, y se fue. 51 Cuando iba de regreso a su casa, sus criados salieron a su encuentro con la noticia de que su hijo estaba vivo. 52 Él les preguntó a qué hora había comenzado su hijo a sentirse mejor, y le contestaron:

―Ayer a la una de la tarde se le quitó la fiebre.

53 El padre se dio cuenta de que a esa misma hora Jesús le había dicho: «Tu hijo vive». Así que él y toda su familia creyeron.

54 Esta fue la segunda señal que hizo Jesús en Galilea, después de volver de Judea.

The picture was becoming clear to the Pharisees that Jesus had gained a following much larger than that of John the Baptist, the wandering prophet. Now He could see that the Pharisees were beginning to plot against Him. This was because His disciples were busy ritually cleansing many new disciples through baptism,[a] He chose to leave Judea where most Pharisees lived and return to a safer location in Galilee. This was a trip that would take them through Samaria.

For Jews in Israel, Samaria is a place to be avoided. Before Solomon’s death 1,000 years earlier, the regions of Samaria and Judea were part of a united Israel. After the rebellion that divided the kingdom, Samaria became a hotbed of idol worship. The northern kings made alliances that corrupted the people by introducing foreign customs and strange gods. They even had the nerve to build a temple to the True God on Mt. Gerizim to rival the one in Jerusalem. By the time the twelve are traveling with Jesus, it has long been evident that the Samaritans have lost their way. By marrying outsiders, they have polluted the land. Israel’s Jews consider them to be half-breeds—mongrels—and the Jews know to watch out for them or else be bitten by temptation.

5-8 In a small Samaritan town known as Sychar, Jesus and His entourage stopped to rest at the historic well that Jacob gave his son Joseph. It was about noon when Jesus found a spot to sit close to the well while the disciples ventured off to find provisions. From His vantage, He watched as a Samaritan woman approached to draw some water. Unexpectedly He spoke to her.

Jesus: Would you draw water, and give Me a drink?

Woman: I cannot believe that You, a Jew, would associate with me, a Samaritan woman; much less ask me to give You a drink.

Jews, you see, have no dealings with Samaritans.

Also, a man never approaches a woman like this in public. Jesus is breaking accepted social barriers with this confrontation.

Jesus: 10 You don’t know the gift of God or who is asking you for a drink of this water from Jacob’s well. Because if you did, you would have asked Him for something greater; and He would have given you the living water.

Woman: 11 Sir, You sit by this deep well a thirsty man without a bucket in sight. Where does this living water come from? 12 Are You claiming superiority to our father Jacob who labored long and hard to dig and maintain this well so that he could share clean water with his sons, grandchildren, and cattle?

Jesus: 13 Drink this water, and your thirst is quenched only for a moment. You must return to this well again and again. 14 I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be thirsty again.

Woman: 15 Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I’ll never be thirsty and never again have to make the trip to this well.

Jesus: 16 Then bring your husband to Me.

Woman: 17-18 I do not have a husband.

Jesus: Technically you are telling the truth. But you have had five husbands and are currently living with a man you are not married to.

Woman: 19 Sir, it is obvious to me that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped here on this mountain, but Your people say that Jerusalem is the only place for all to worship. Which is it?

Jesus: 21-24 Woman, I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.

Woman: 25 These mysteries will be made clear by He who is promised, the Anointed One.

Jesus: 26 The Anointed is speaking to you. I am the One you have been looking for.

27 The disciples returned to Him and gathered around Him in amazement that He would openly break their customs by speaking to this woman, but none of them would ask Him what He was looking for or why He was speaking with her. 28 The woman went back to the town, leaving her water pot behind. She stopped men and women on the streets and told them about what had happened.

Woman: 29 I met a stranger who knew everything about me. Come and see for yourselves; can He be the Anointed One?

30 A crowd came out of the city and approached Jesus. 31 During all of this, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat the food they gathered.

Jesus: 32 I have food to eat that you know nothing about.

Disciples (to one another): 33 Is it possible someone else has brought Him food while we were away?

Jesus: 34 I receive My nourishment by serving the will of the Father who sent Me and completing His work. 35 You have heard others say, “Be patient; we have four more months to wait until the crops are ready for the harvest.” I say, take a closer look and you will see that the fields are ripe and ready for the harvest. 36 The harvester is collecting his pay, harvesting fruit ripe for eternal life. So even now, he and the sower are celebrating their fortune. 37 The saying may be old, but it is true: “One person sows, and another reaps.” 38 I sent you to harvest where you have not labored; someone else took the time to plant and cultivate, and you feast on the fruit of their labor.

39 Meanwhile, because one woman shared with her neighbors how Jesus exposed her past and present, the village of Sychar was transformed—many Samaritans heard and believed. 40 The Samaritans approached Jesus and repeatedly invited Him to stay with them, so He lingered there for two days on their account. 41 With the words that came from His mouth, there were many more believing Samaritans. 42 They began their faith journey because of the testimony of the woman beside the well; but when they heard for themselves, they were convinced the One they were hearing was and is God’s Anointed, the Liberating King, sent to rescue the entire world.

43-45 After two days of teaching and conversation, Jesus proceeded to Galilee where His countrymen received Him with familiar smiles. After all, they witnessed His miracle at the feast in Jerusalem; but Jesus understood and often quoted the maxim: “No one honors a hometown prophet.”

These old friends should be the first to believe, but it takes outsiders like the Samaritans to recognize Him.

46-47 As Jesus traveled to Cana (the village in Galilee where He transformed the water into fine wine), He was met by a government official. This man had heard a rumor that Jesus had left Judea and was heading to Galilee, and he came in desperation begging for Jesus’ help because his young son was near death. He was fearful that unless Jesus would go with him to Capernaum, his son would have no hope.

Jesus (to the official): 48 My word is not enough; you only believe when you see miraculous signs.

Official: 49 Sir, this is my son; please come with me before he dies.

Jesus (interrupting him): 50 Go home. Your son will live.

When he heard the voice of Jesus, faith took hold of him and he turned to go home. 51 Before he reached his village, his servants met him on the road celebrating his son’s miraculous recovery.

Official: 52 What time did this happen?

Servants: Yesterday about one o’clock in the afternoon.

53 At that moment, it dawned on the father the exact time that Jesus spoke the words, “He will live.” After that, he believed; and when he told his family about his amazing encounter with this Jesus, they believed too. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed when He came back to Galilee from Judea.

Footnotes

  1. 4:2 Literally, immersing, to show repentance

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John(A) although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea(B) and went back once more to Galilee.

Now he had to go through Samaria.(C) So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.(D) Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”(E) (His disciples had gone into the town(F) to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan(G) woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”(H)

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well(I) and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.(J) Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water(K) welling up to eternal life.”(L)

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty(M) and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.(N) 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain,(O) but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”(P)

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming(Q) when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.(R) 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know;(S) we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.(T) 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come(U) when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit(V) and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit,(W) and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ)(X) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”(Y)

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

27 Just then his disciples returned(Z) and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.(AA) Could this be the Messiah?”(AB) 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi,(AC) eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat(AD) that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will(AE) of him who sent me and to finish his work.(AF) 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.(AG) 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests(AH) a crop for eternal life,(AI) so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’(AJ) is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town(AK) believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”(AL) 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”(AM)

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

43 After the two days(AN) he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)(AO) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(AP) for they also had been there.

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.(AQ) And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,(AR) he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,”(AS) Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household(AT) believed.

54 This was the second sign(AU) Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Footnotes

  1. John 4:9 Or do not use dishes Samaritans have used