“Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him” (John 1:38-3938Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:38‑39)).
Looking for Refreshment
Now let’s move along in our journey to Jacob’s well. It’s noon and a weary Traveler has just arrived. Then a Samaritan woman comes. She’s there to draw water; perhaps she can satisfy the Traveler’s thirst. He asks her for a drink: Will she use her waterpot to draw water for this Man? No, she shows her national prejudice by telling Him that He must have His own bucket for this deep well.
He says to her, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water” (John 4:1010Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)). Who is it that is speaking to this woman? None other than Jesus, “the gift of God.” He reveals to her that God is the Giver, and He wants to give to this poor woman something of incomparably greater value than the water that she could have offered to Him.
But her heart’s not ready for “the gift of God [which] is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”; she must first learn that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). The mention of “God” and “living water” suggest religion to her mind, so she engages her Visitor in a discussion about the worship of the Jews in contrast to that of her Samaritan ancestors. In perfect wisdom and discernment, the Lord Jesus steers the conversation through a series of questions and answers that clearly bring the truth to light.
Life Through the Spirit
She asks, “Art Thou greater than our father Jacob?” (John 4:1212Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (John 4:12)). He answers her, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (vs. 14). “Water” is a picture of eternal life, and the “well” He refers to is the Holy Spirit. He is the same One who later says, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (ch. 11:25). “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (ch. 14:6).
Acknowledging the Truth
She says, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw” (ch. 4:15). By coming to the well at this peculiar hour, she testifies to the shame of her sinful lifestyle. “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither” (vs. 16). When she answers, “I have no husband,” He replies, “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly” (vss. 17-18). There can be no blessing until we acknowledge the truth of the sinful condition of our hearts before the holy eye of God.
Proper Worship
She then tries the subject of worship, but she still wants to argue from the viewpoint of her Samaritan heritage. The Lord Jesus reveals to her the true character of worship that God will accept. “Salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (vss. 22-24). What a wealth of truth He tells this woman in a few, short sentences: salvation (in the Person of the One who is speaking to her), God known as Father, and His seeking worshippers according to His own revealed character.
Possessing the Blessings Now
She has one final comment. “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things” (vs. 25). She suggests that these things are too difficult to understand but that sometime in the future the Messiah will come to explain it all to them. He says, as it were, “No, I don’t want you to have to wait till then. I want you to possess and enjoy all these blessings right now.” “Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He” (vs. 26).
Getting the Refreshment He Desired
What about Jesus: Is He still thirsty? Isn’t this the “drink” that He desired to receive from this poor sinner? Debtors to mercy, sinners saved by matchless grace, captives in the chains of love—these are the ones who give refreshment to His heart.
The woman can’t help but open her mouth in testimony of this blessed Man to others. She goes back to the city and says to the men, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (vs. 29).
Her former life might well have caused bitterness and alienation between her and some of the men of the city, but this witness to the power of grace abounding over all her sin is irresistible. “They went out of the city, and came unto Him” (vs. 30). And what is the result? “Many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him” (vs. 39).
The Whole Day of Grace
They are not satisfied with a hasty visit. “They besought Him that He would tarry [or, abide] with them: and He abode there two days” (vs. 40). Isn’t this a picture of this present day of grace? “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:88But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)). The testimony to the saving power of God’s grace through the finished work of the cross has been proclaimed for approximately two thousand years. As we make known this good news to a thirsty world, we do so in fellowship with Him who “is long-suffering . . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)).
And we can count on Him for results that give glory and honor to His Person and His work. “Many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:41-4241And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:41‑42)).
D. R. Macy