No one would have ever connected a trip to a water well and a grasp of acceptable worship. Yet, that's another of the great themes of John 4.
Jesus, the Son of God, is resting by the side of a well known as "Jacob's well". A Samaritan woman, who remains without name in the Scriptural record, comes to get her water supply.
Jesus enters into dialogue (conversation) with her. From questions of acting out of the cultural norm (a Jewish man asking drink of a Samaritan woman, see vv. 7-9), the exchange advances to speaking about "living" water (see vv. 10-15). At this point, the woman's marital status is brought to the forefront (vv. 16-18). Convinced now, that Jesus is a prophet, the woman introduces a religious dilemma that has apparently been on her mind (see v. 20).
"Our Fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship" (John 4:20).
This woman recognized a division existed in the religious practice of these two cultures (Jews and Samaritans). Although other factors no doubt existed, the issue at hand was the place of acceptable worship. Was it Jerusalem (thus proving the Jew right and the Samaritan wrong), or was it Mount Gerizim, at whose base Jacob's well was located (thus proving the Samaritan right and the Jew wrong)?
In any dilemma like that, there are several possible solutions.
Jesus did not suggest that either situation would be all right. To the contrary, He pointed out that the real issue was not the physical location of worship (whether in this mountain or in the city of Jerusalem) but the actual worship itself.
Jesus declared, "You worship what you do not know.." (John 4:22). We may be surprised by his directness, but let's further consider the statement. It has been suggested that the Samaritans held to the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament). This would give them a very limited view of God. Tradition evidently played a part in their religious practice. You may remember that this woman had earlier stated, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain." (v. 20). Since the fathers had worshipped there, it seemed reasonable for their descendants to also worship there. What the Samaritan needed was an increased measure of truth. This would better equip them to serve and worship God.
Jesus declared concerning Jews, "we know what we worship" (v. 22). The Jewish people had the full revelation of God (the Law or Pentateuch, the Prophets and the Psalms). Their understanding of God's nature and dealings should have been much more complete than that of the Samaritans. Sometimes when someone has access to truth, they can reach the place where they simply go through the motions. On another occasion, Jesus said of the Jews, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips, But their heart is far from me". (Matthew 15:8). Their heart was not in their worship. They may have had more truth than the Samaritan, but they lacked spirit (or heart) in their worship.
Continuing on, Jesus states: "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." (John 4:23).
Here, Jesus has spoken of a new people, He refers to them as true worshipers. These "true worshipers" will worship the Father in spirit and truth. At verse 24, Jesus clearly states: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Notice the term "must". That makes worship in spirit and truth essential. Those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth. Is your worship in spirit and truth?