John 4:5 — Community Reflections

JOHN 4:5 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.”

So he came to a town called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph — Sychar is likely identified with modern Askar, near Jacob's Well. The reference to Jacob and Joseph establishes the patriarchal history of the land and previews the Gospel's replacement theology: just as Jacob's well once satisfied thirst, Jesus will offer living water. The well connects to Genesis 29 and the covenant history of Israel.

Church Fathers on John 4:5

The Evangelist, after relating how John checked the envy of his disciples, on the success of Christ’s teaching, comes next to the envy of the Pharisees, and Christ’s retreat front the them. When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard, &c.
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation

Truly had the Pharisees’ knowledge that our Lord was making more disciples, and baptizing more than John, been such as to lead them heartily to follow Him, He would not have left Judea, but would have remained for their sake: but seeing, as He did, that this knowledge of Him was coupled with envy, and made them not followers, but persecutors, He departed thence. He could too, had He pleased, have stayed amongst them, and escaped their hands; but He wished to show His own…
Augustine · 4th century

He did it too to pacify the envy of men, and perhaps to avoid bringing the dispensation of the incarnation into suspicion. For had he been taken and escaped, the reality of His flesh would have been doubted.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 21 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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