Structural Outlines of John 4

Structural Outlines of the Fourth Gospel
by Rev. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Jesus Speaks with a Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well (4:1-42)
[full NAB text] [see related art] [color PDF] A) 1-4: Transition: Jesus departs from Judea and heads toward Galilee, passing through Samaria B) 5-6: Introduction: Jesus arrives about noon at Jacob's well, near the Samaritan town of Sychar C) 7-15: Jesus and a Samaritan Woman dialogue about "living" Water and Thirst D) 16-19: Jesus talks about the Woman's husbands; she concludes Jesus is a Prophet E) 20-26: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman dialogue about "true" Worship & the Messiah/Christ
A') 27: Transition: The disciples of Jesus return and wonder why he is speaking with a Woman B') 28-30: The Woman goes back to her town and tells the people about Jesus, wondering if he is the Messiah C') 31-38: Jesus and his disciples dialogue about his Food and his/their Work D') 39: Many Samaritan villagers come to believe in Jesus, based on the Woman's testimony E') 40-42: More Samaritans hear Jesus and come to believe that he is the Savior of the World

Jesus Heals a Royal Official's Son (4:43-54)
[full NAB text] [see related art] [see Johannine Signs]

4:43-45 - Transition: Jesus departs for Galilee, and the Galileans welcome him

4:46-54 - The Second Sign in Cana: Jesus heals the son of a royal official who had come from Capernaum:

A) 46a: Jesus arrives in Cana of Galilee; narrator reminds us how Jesus changed water into wine (his first sign).

B) 46b-47: Introduction of the royal official from Capernaum whose son was ill; first request to heal his dying son.

C) 48:

D) 49: The official repeats his request: "Sir come down, before me little boy dies" (showing that he believes).

E) 50: Jesus replies: "Go; your son will live"; The official believes Jesus and departs.

D') 51: On his way home, the official's servants meet him and tell him that his son had recovered and was alive.

C') 52:

B') 53: The father remembers the words of Jesus, "Your son will live"; so he and his whole household come to believe.

A') 54: The narrator tells us that this was the "second sign" Jesus did in Galilee.

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