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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus by the well; and it was about the sixth hour." He sat "thus." What meaneth "thus"? Not upon a throne, not upon a cushion, but simply, and as He was, upon the ground.
Cyril of Alexandria
He shows that opportunely did Jesus rest upon the well. For the sun pouring down its strongest rays from the mid-vault on those upon the earth, and consuming bodies with its unmitigated strokes, it would not have been without hurt to have gone further, but was more convenient to rest a little, especially when He would easily have thrust away the charge of luxuriousness, if the fitness of the season had agreed thereto. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Evangelist, by saying that the Lord grew weary from the journey, shows us His humility and moderation, for He did not use beasts of burden for traveling, but went on foot, teaching us also not to require much. He also shows that He made the journey with effort, and not carelessly; from which we too learn to carry out the work of God with effort and diligence. The word "sat" means that He sat down simply and, as it happened, not on a throne, but quite simply, resting His body on the pavement and refreshing it at the well. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
"And He must needs pass through Samaria. He cometh then to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's fountain was there." It was a well; but every well is a fountain, yet not every fountain a well. …
Ambrose of Milan
Many things we read and believe, in the light of the sacrament of the incarnation. Even in the very affections of our human nature we behold the divine majesty. Jesus is wearied with his journey, that he may refresh the weary. He desires to drink when about to give spiritual drink to the thirsty; he was hungry, when about to supply the food of salvation to the hungry.
Hilary of Poitiers
It may perhaps be said, "We find Him giving way to weeping, to hunger and thirst: must we not suppose Him liable to all the other affections of human nature?" But if we do not understand the mystery of His tears, hunger, and thirst, let us remember that He Who wept also raised the dead to life: that He did not weep for the death of Lazarus, but rejoiced; that He Who thirsted, gave from Himself rivers of living water. He could not be parched with thirst, if He was able to give the thirsty drink. …
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