The lectionary stipulates this week's Gospel text begin with verse 5. Yet by omitting verse 4 we miss a very important, typically Johannine clue to the entire episode that follows. When Jesus leaves Judaea on his way back to Galilee, John records that he "had to go through Samaria." There is no geographical reason for this directive. There was no one road that necessitated a path through Samaria. The imperative here is not geographic, it is theological. John prefaces Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman and her village by revealing that this was part of God's plan - God's mission in the world sent Jesus on this path.

Verses 5-6 set this stage even more clearly. Evidently John knew well the lay of this land. He correctly cites the region, the city and their proximity to the important l…