These regions are (morally) very diverse. Samaria was the defiled, Galilee the rational, Judea the religious. Conscience was stirred in Samaria, and no miracle was required. The mind was exercised in Galilee, and miracles were the ground of faith. Self-importance, because of their religion, in Judea, prevailed to blind the people to the doings of the Son of God.
Samaria was the defiled, the outcast, the place “without the camp,” as we may say. It was a type of the world of sinners. But then, it was such a place, a world of sinners, which the Son from the bosom came to visit. It had no character to lose. It lay as in its blood under the eye of the Son of God. It was therefore the very scene for a Saviour to find His proper occupation in, and the answer to His mission from heaven. And according to this, the Lord sits at the well of Sychar without reserve. He had no weight upon His spirit there. He was in His place, in a defiled place, the place which gave Him opportunity to act as from Himself, and to let it be learned what He was, and for what He had come into this world from God.
In Galilee it was otherwise with Him. He looked out towards that region with a weight upon His heart. (4:44.) He testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. Galilee was the proud, the rational, the worldly. It was not such a world the Son came to visit and to relieve. It was not intellectual man He came to flatter and to educate, it was sinners, needy and defiled ones of Samaria, He came to save. Galilee was not that natural scene for the Divine Stranger to sojourn and serve in, that Samaria was. And therefore, while we see Him taking His place at the well of Sychar without reserve, and then dwelling for two days in the village of Sychar as at home, here in Galilee there is not this ease and quietness of spirit at all. He has a weight on His heart, as He first looks out towards it, directing His steps thitherward, and while in it He may minister grace and power, but it is with no sensible refreshment to His soul.
Then in Judea He must stand, and even answer for Himself as a man arraigned at the bar of judges and accusers. (John 5) Judea was the religious, if Galilee were the rational or the intellectual. Judea was the religious world, and the Son from the bosom had not come here to vindicate and adopt religious man, as He had not come here to educate and advance intellectual man. His business was with defiled man, ruined man, man as a sinner. In religious Judea He is challenged and arraigned, as in rational Galilee He was received upon competent testimony.
“A great multitude” was hanging over the pool of Bethesda. He who carried living water in Himself, and had healing for all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people, is neglected, not one of this great multitude seeking Him. He has to propose Himself to their notice, and even then He is not understood; and after He has done His work of grace and power, and done it to perfection, the impotent man, even taking up that on which he once lay, and carrying it, instead of its carrying him, He is left for the temple first, and then (ignorantly or religiously at least) committed into the hands of His enemies.
What a picture of the religious world! The place where ordinances, the Pool, the Sabbath, and the Temple, were waited on by thousands, while there was not one to seek Jesus; and when they were found by Him in healing power they did not understand Him! But defiled Samaria makes room for Him—for a blotted conscience and a troubled heart are materials for the hand of the Saviour of the world!
There is comfort in all this. How differently the Lord is affected in the three places. In Samaria He sat on the well, and dwelt there two whole days. He was at once at home, at His ease—for He was entertained there by sinners, conscience being stirred. In Galilee He was reserved, and found no fellowship, though He exercised power. The mind was exercised, but conscience was not stirred.