“Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.” (John 4:1–6, ESV)
When John the Baptist came on the scene, it marked the end of four hundred years of silence. There had been no prophet and no word from God. John created quite a disturbance when he began to call people to repent and be baptized. People thought that their salvation came through their cultural practices and good deeds. Religious leaders sought John to find out if he was the promised one. Many came to hear John and those who listened to his message were surprised at the way he spoke to the religious leaders of the day. John was an interesting fellow, to say the least. People must have been somewhat surprised to find this man in the wilderness adorned with camel hair clothes, a leather belt, with locust and honey stuck in his beard. John prepared the way for Jesus and when Jesus came on the scene John had to explain to his worried disciples that Jesus' growing fame was not a threat to them. John was happy to decrease while Jesus increased. However, Jesus came to serve and not to seek the spotlight so when the Pharisees heard that more and more people were flocking to see and hear Jesus they wanted to investigate. Instead of staying Jesus left and went to Samaria.
At this point in our passage, we see Jesus' humanity. Jesus stopped at Sychar which was filled with historical significance. Jacob, who would later be called Israel, had given his son Joseph a field there and one of his wells was also in close proximity. Jesus was God but he was also fully man and this occasion provides us with the reminder that Jesus understands what it is like to be tired and thirsty. Our King understands our weakness and he endured all these things in order to finish his mission. Our savior was weary and needed to sit down. Let that sink in a bit. The creator became like his creation and willingly submitted to the difficulties that we face including our physical challenges and limitations. Today, when you find yourself hot, tired, or thirsty, thank your Lord for humbling himself and becoming a servant.