John 4:27

‘And upon this came his disciples and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman, yet no man said, ‘What are you looking for?' or ‘Why are you speaking with her?'

At this crucial point the disciples returned with food. ‘They marvelled that he was talking with a woman'. It was not usual for women who were alone to chat with unknown men, unless they were of unsavoury reputation, and for the same reason men of reputation were wise to avoid it. And this was especially true of Rabbis, some of whom would not deign even to speak with a woman.

‘But none said, ‘what do you want?' or ‘why are you talking to her?' They dared not challenge the Master. This suggests that the writer is looking back and remembering the incident. He could still remember the questions that sprang into their minds but which they dared not ask. What did the woman want? Why was Jesus risking His reputation in speaking to a lone woman? You can almost see the disciples discussing the matter quietly among themselves. This was the memory of an eyewitness. There would be no real purpose in anyone inventing this, and it is very unlikely that a later Christian who admired the Apostles would do so. Once again we have evidence that the source of this narrative was there. John 4:28 ‘So the woman left her water pot and went away into the city, and says to the men, “Come and see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” '

The woman solved their dilemma by leaving, as indeed she would feel she had to. But the writer remembered that ‘she left her water pot'. This act in itself was an indication that she intended to return, and was clearly noted and probably commented on among the disciples. It was certainly unusual. She had come with the purpose of drawing water. But now that had been forgotten in her excitement. Perhaps there is also an indication in it that she considered that her water jar no longer mattered. Her thirst had been satisfied by better water and she wanted to take that with her.

John may have seen a deeper significance in it. The waterpot that contained within it the gift of Jacob was no longer needed because she had now received the gift of God. The old was replaced by the new.

When she met the men she would have said in Aramaic, ‘Come and see a man who has told me my whole life story. Is not this the Taheb?' The writer, translates it into Greek as Messiah. It is quite clear that it was Jesus' knowledge of her inner thoughts that had impressed her most, and it is repeated again in John 4:39 for emphasis. Thus John wants to bring home to his readers the prophetic omniscience of Jesus.