SAMARITAN WOMAN MEETS HER MESSIAH - HER LORD John 4

The Pharisees had heard that the Lord made and baptized more disciples than John. When the Lord heard this, He left Judea, departing again to Galilee. Were the Pharisees fuming at this news, which forced our Lord to quickly slip out of the hostile ferment.

God’s Son was bound to travel via Samaria, the breeding ground of idol worship and Baal His holy purpose was to reach needy lives, despite an adverse religious background. John chapter 4 reveals much of our dear Lord’s compassion, in seeking the neediest. We must seek to understand the godless pressure facing many - and listen for their distressed cries.

Our Lord knew precisely whom He would face in Samaria.

Jacob’s well was there. (v6) Jacob had given to plot of ground to his son, Joseph.’ Our Lord was exhausted with the journey, even in His perfect humanity, so gladly rested by the well. The sun was at its peak , being 12 o’clock ( the sixth hour ), when no normal person would draw water,: choosing usually early morning or twilight as ideal for such very tiring work, and the long journey home. However, an odd visitor appeared, as ‘A woman of Samaria came to draw water.’

The Lord broke the embarrassed silence as ‘He said to her, ‘Give ME to drink.’ Understandably thirsty, He longed for refreshing cool, well water. Scripture shows how His disciples had gone away into the city to buy bread.’ Common hunger drove them to seek nourishment. She showed her impetuous nature, challenging the visitor. ‘How is it that you a Jew, ask drink of me, a Samaritan woman? ‘She explained that, traditionally, ‘The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.‘ (v9) Centuries of ancient hostility separated them. Was this ‘a pass’, an immoral occasion for a wayward woman?

Our Lord knew how desperate she was; and how deep her longing for holiness.’ He answered her, ‘ If you knew the gift of God and WHO it is who says to you, ‘give ME a drink, you would have asked of Him and HE would have given you living water. ‘ ( water springing up like a perennial well ) . She did not know that Christ was God’s gift to the world; nor that HE would shower her with blessing to meet her deepest soul needs.

She challenged the Lord again, ’ Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep,’ and cheekily, where then did You get that living water?’ She dared to confront men. She quickly moved into theological discussion, ‘Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock.’ (v10), not dreaming that the ONE speaking to her was her Messiah. Nor that HE was infinitely superior to any mortal, including her ancestor Jacob.

Tenderly, the Lord replied, ‘Whosoever drinks of this water will thirst again.’ reminding her that all natural desires cannot be fulfilled, unless the Lord is central in that life. Her chaotic, emotional life; her secret, corrupt, immoral living, she had not yet revealed to the ONE Who knew all things, so our Lord continued, ‘Whoso drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. ‘Then, amazingly, that ‘The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water, springing up into everlasting life.’ (v14 ) Only the eternal God could offer the sparkling flow of everlasting life to a disadvantaged woman. She showed her deep longing of be fulfilled, saying,

’SIR, Give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come hither to draw.’(v15)

Then the omniscient ( all-knowing ) Son of God used the Surgeon’s scalpel (God’s Word is sharper ) to reveal her hidden torment,’ Go. Call your husband and come here.’ (v16) Her heart leapt. Did HE know her unsavoury life? Her elusive yearnings after purity? Yes, HE did.. He longed to restore her the years that the locusts (evil desires, burning lusts, infidelity ) had eaten. Had satan whispered that it was too late; that she had sunk too low; she was already hopeless. Only yesterday, in my hydrotherapy, Reg had told me ’It’s too late for me’; prompting me to remind him that the dying thief was in the nick of time, when our crucified Saviour cried, ’This day you shall be with me in paradise.’

Thoughtfully, she responded, ’ I have no husband.’ The Lord commended, not criticised her,’ ‘You have well said, ‘You have no husband, for you have had five husbands , and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.’ Her world must have collapsed about her. How could this gracious MAN know the depths of evil in which she had lived. He saw the true woman: fallen, enslaved, lost. In eternity, He had planned this counselling session- that duty-bound Him to pass through Samaria. Let’s recall the Holy Spirit’s leading to seek those gone astray; a lost art for many believers.

‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. ’ she continued, ’Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’ (v20) Her insight deepened when she called HIM a prophet. She was partly right : for as her Messiah, He was Prophet, Priest and King. The Lord responded to her, ’Woman,

( notice how He respected this needy person ), Believe ME , the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father.’ The angels in glory worship the Lord, adoring Him as their greatest joy. We will join that great chorus. .

Did our Lord refer to the days when the mountains of this world will have been dissolved; and heaven will be the scene of universal worship of the Lamb who was slain?

He continued His address, ‘ You worship what you know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.’ a colossal truth. The salvation of God’s grace will come through the promised Saviour, as hidden in the Hebrew Scriptures, and from the Jewish line. The Lord gently led her to the liberating truth of His great salvation.

‘The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. He continued, ‘GOD is a Spirit , and those who worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father sought this Samaritan woman’s devotion, while only His Son‘s sacrifice could open the door for her salvation. And yours and mine!

‘I know that Messiah ( called the Christ ) is coming. When He is come He will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, ‘ I who speak to you and HE,’ the ultimate revelation .as the Lord showed eternity to this immoral woman. Do you know HIM? HE is your Messiah.