What does John 4:43 mean?

Jesus' initial reason for travelling away from Judea was to avoid premature conflict with the Pharisees (John 4:1–3). He planned to return to Galilee (John 4:43), but coming through Samaria to do so was an unusual choice. Jews, for the most part, hated Samaritans and refused to have any unnecessary contact with them (John 4:9). And yet, the Bible says that Jesus "had to" pass this way (John 4:4). The events which occurred in this chapter explain why: it was the will of God for Jesus to meet these people.

Jesus disregarded social conventions in passing through the region. He took an unusual path in speaking to the Samaritan woman (John 4:27). And He probably shocked the disciples by agreeing to stay so long to speak with the people (John 4:40). All of this, of course, was explained by the reaction of the Samaritan people: Jesus is "the Savior of the world." His work, the action that gave Him spiritual strength, was to do the will of God (John 4:34), even if that wasn't something others understood.