John 4:1-2 (WEL) Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples did.)
Chapter summary:
Joseph Benson: Here,
(1) Christ, going from Judea to Galilee, meets with a woman of Samaria, and enters into a conference with her, in which he discovers himself to her as the Messiah, John 4:1-27.
(2) The woman recommends him to her neighbors, John 4:28-30.
(3) He converses with his disciples concerning his delight to serve his Father, and the ripeness of the people for the gospel dispensation, John 4:31-38.
(4) He is believed on, and confessed to be the Messiah, by the Samaritans, John 4:39-42.
(5) Returning to, and residing in Galilee, he cures a nobleman’s son, who was dangerously ill, John 4:43-54.
V1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
This is a continuation of chapter 3:22. Jesus is getting ready to leave for Samaria.
Vincent makes this interesting observation: “John never alludes to the Sadducees by name. The Pharisees represented the opposition to Jesus, the most powerful and dangerous of the Jewish sects.”
Day by Day commentary notes: “Our Lord had no wish to precipitate the conflict with the Pharisee party, until He had finished His ministry to the people. He was the last and greatest of the prophets, as well as the world’s Redeemer. He therefore withdrew from the metropolis.”
Principle: Leaving one area to serve in another area is not cowardly but wise. Jesus did so to avoid trouble.
V2 (Although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples did.)
Jesus was the teacher but delegated baptizing to His disciples.
Principle: Leadership is best when the leader is a delegator.
Joseph Benson comments:
“Perhaps because it was not proper to baptize in his own name, and because it was of more importance to preach than to baptize, 1Co 1:17. Besides, it might have given those who were baptized by him occasion to value themselves above others, as happened in the church of Corinth, where the brethren valued themselves upon the character of the persons who had baptized them. Indeed the baptism properly Christ’s was that of the Holy Ghost, with which Spirit John had foretold he should baptize his followers.”
We learn:
- Why Jesus left this area to serve in another.
- That delegation is the best style of leadership.
Questions:
- What is your style of leadership?
- What is the best pastoral style of leadership?