John the Baptist’s disciples were concerned that their popularity was decreasing while Jesus was attracting much greater crowds. So John had to explain again what he had already said: that he was not the Christ, but had been sent to announce Him to the world. That was the task he had received from God and he knew it would be wrong to go beyond his commission. To do so would be to give out what he had not received: that ministry would be hollow and empty.

God the Son, known to us as Jesus Christ, has always existed. He has been with God for ever, and He is God (John 1:1-2). Therefore, when He speaks, He speaks God’s thoughts. Every word or sentence He uttered was straight from the heart of God. Many prophets had been given God’s commission to speak and were inspired by the Holy Spirit for every episode of ministry. But the Holy Spirit’s activity with Jesus was continuous and limitless.

Jesus did not want to start a religious movement. He had no interest in the Jewish agenda of overthrowing the Roman occupation, nor competing with John the Baptist (or any other group such as the Pharisees) by having more disciples. Jesus’ agenda had already been agreed in heaven with the Father and the Spirit. He was to demonstrate the character of God in a human lifestyle, train a small group of Apostles before dying on the cross, rising again and returning to heaven.

Jesus planned to be unaccompanied for this personal encounter. He had sent His disciples into the town to buy food while He sat down waiting for His appointment with the Samaritan woman: although she did not know that God had organised the meeting. At mid-day, when it was very hot, the well was normally deserted. Farmhands and animals were resting in the shade. But a woman from the town came to draw water from this very deep well. Jesus started the conversation by asking her for a drink. His dress and behaviour told the woman that He was a devout Jew.