Joh 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Joh 4:6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
Joh 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
Joh 4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
Joh 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Joh 4:10 Jesus 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.
Joh 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14 But 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.
Joh 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Joh 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
Joh 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
Joh 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
Joh 4:6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
Joh 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
Joh 4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
Joh 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Joh 4:10 Jesus 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.
Joh 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14 But 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.
Joh 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Joh 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
Joh 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
Joh 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
The Revolution Christ Effected in the Treatment of Women
If proof were needed of a strange abnormal disturbance in the history of the human race, it would be found in the treatment woman has received at the hands of society. Throughout the animal world the female sex is treated with consideration. Among birds and beasts the female is never systematically maltreated. This occurs only among men.
The Saviour, however, in the unsullied purity of His manhood, brushed aside as cobwebs all social regulations which tended to degrade or oppress women. But He could not do it without exciting the wonderment even of those who knew Him best. Notwithstanding her life of illicit indulgence, the Saviour enters into earnest holy conversation with her, telling her to go and get her husband.
Joh 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
These words were an honest and truthful confession, so far as they went. The way in which our Lord received her declaration makes it probable that she did not profess to be a widow, and very likely her dress showed that she was not. In this point of view the honesty of her confession is noteworthy. There is always more hope of one who honestly and bluntly confesses sin, than of a smooth-tongued hypocrite.
Our Lord’s commendation of the woman’s honest confession deserves notice. It teaches us that we should make the best of an ignorant sinner’s words. An unskilful physician of souls would probably have rebuked the woman sharply for her wickedness, if her words led him to suspect it. Our Lord, on the contrary, says, “Thou hast well said.” (Bp. Ryle.)
There is no salvation till you confess your sin. There was a man in India who, one evening having nothing else to do, went to play at religion with the parson—as some of you have come here this afternoon. “Religion is all verywell,” began the officer, “but you must admit that there are difficulties—about the miracles, for instance.” The chaplain knew his man, and quietly answered him, “Yes, there are some things in the Bible not very plain, I admit; but the seventh commandment is very plain.” The man’s temper rose, and he swung himself out of the tent; but a little later he came back, no longer to raise false difficulties, but to ask how a poor adulterous British officer might be saved. There are men and women here kept from salvation by what kept back this Samaritan woman. Give up that man, give up that woman, if you would be saved. The pitcher must be emptied before it can be filled. (John McNeill.)
Now, after this discourse, and revealing of her heart and conscience, and bringing her to honest confession, Jesus answers her next remark, and unveils one of the greatest truths ever spoken, and, that he who spoke with her was her Messiah:
Joh 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Joh 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 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.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
The Saviour, however, in the unsullied purity of His manhood, brushed aside as cobwebs all social regulations which tended to degrade or oppress women. But He could not do it without exciting the wonderment even of those who knew Him best. Notwithstanding her life of illicit indulgence, the Saviour enters into earnest holy conversation with her, telling her to go and get her husband.
Joh 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
These words were an honest and truthful confession, so far as they went. The way in which our Lord received her declaration makes it probable that she did not profess to be a widow, and very likely her dress showed that she was not. In this point of view the honesty of her confession is noteworthy. There is always more hope of one who honestly and bluntly confesses sin, than of a smooth-tongued hypocrite.
Our Lord’s commendation of the woman’s honest confession deserves notice. It teaches us that we should make the best of an ignorant sinner’s words. An unskilful physician of souls would probably have rebuked the woman sharply for her wickedness, if her words led him to suspect it. Our Lord, on the contrary, says, “Thou hast well said.” (Bp. Ryle.)
There is no salvation till you confess your sin. There was a man in India who, one evening having nothing else to do, went to play at religion with the parson—as some of you have come here this afternoon. “Religion is all verywell,” began the officer, “but you must admit that there are difficulties—about the miracles, for instance.” The chaplain knew his man, and quietly answered him, “Yes, there are some things in the Bible not very plain, I admit; but the seventh commandment is very plain.” The man’s temper rose, and he swung himself out of the tent; but a little later he came back, no longer to raise false difficulties, but to ask how a poor adulterous British officer might be saved. There are men and women here kept from salvation by what kept back this Samaritan woman. Give up that man, give up that woman, if you would be saved. The pitcher must be emptied before it can be filled. (John McNeill.)
Now, after this discourse, and revealing of her heart and conscience, and bringing her to honest confession, Jesus answers her next remark, and unveils one of the greatest truths ever spoken, and, that he who spoke with her was her Messiah:
Joh 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Joh 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 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.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
THE TRUE WORSHIP OF THE FATHER OF ALL
There could be volumes written, on what these verses teach us. I'll only point out a few here.
The Lord never spoke in such direct terms concerning himself to his own countrymen; nor even to his own disciples, till a little before his death. The reason given by Bishop Pearce is the following: The woman being alone when Jesus said it, and being a Samaritan, he had no reason to apprehend that the Samaritans, if they knew his claim, would disturb his ministry before the time of his suffering came; which seems to have been the reason why he concealed it so long from his own countrymen. Adam Clarke
The great point to bring out in this conversation between them is-Jesus reveals Himself to her, a sinner, while she was still in her sin. Her heart was changed, and salvation came to her, by her reception of Jesus, and confessing her sin to him, in simple honesty. There was no form of religion in it, it came from the heart.
In my personal life, and testimony, I can relate to this story completely. On a cold Monday in March of 1978, I had finished reading a Christian book given to me by a family member, it was late morning, and becoming weary, and fell asleep. I woke in the afternoon, near 3:00 p.m., and felt the strong sense that someone was in the house with me-this Presence permeated the house, as I remained in the chair I had awoke in. A strong sense to speak came up from my stomach-and I began to utter my first prayer "Lord, if this is You, and what I've read in this book is true, would you forgive me, I've done so much wrong. But, if you will forgive me, please come into my life, and help me to live for you. I'm ready to leave this world now, but, if there is a reason for me to be here, please let me know." As soon as I opened my eyes, I looked ahead, out the window to the front yard, and saw my daughter walking up the driveway, coming home from school. As soon as I'd opened my eyes, that first prayer had been answered.
As soon as I prayed that prayer of salvation-the Lord gave me a hunger for the Word of God, that is like a starving child, I couldn't get enough of it, that's never changed in all these years. The story of the Samaritan woman was one of the first ones I was led to read-and I knew it was the Lord speaking to me, that her story was a reflection of my own. I've learned much from it, that would take too long to share here, but, a few truths are:
I've learned from first hand experience, that Jesus Christ saves sinners, that He is no respecter of persons, and that once he's forgiven our sins, and covered us with His blood, nothing anyone may do, or say will change that fact. There is no sin that He won't forgive, except the one you refuse to confess, and keep hanging onto. Even when you are sorely tried, He will not leave you-He will keep working with you, and will deliver you, and every time we turn to Him for forgiveness, and ask for strength to walk in righteousness, He is faithful, and just to forgive us, and give us all we need to get up, and walk on with Him.
I've learned that Jesus is instant in answering prayer at times, and at other's it may take years. These lessons have been learned by walking out my faith, day by day, when trials and adversity comes.
I've also learned, from personal experience, Jesus will speak to me about things that most people would never believe. I've shared a small portion at times, of the things He's revealed to me, but not much, because I know it would be unwise. It's better to pray much-before ever sharing the deeper things of God, with this world. But, what he spoke to the Samaritan woman is a good example of how Jesus chooses those who are the most unlikely, and reveals deep things to-if we have a heart to hear Him.
Trials, temptations, persecutions, and attacks from many directions will come-but through it all, Jesus will be with us, and be all that we need, to endure, and overcome.
He has proved this to me, over, and over again. There is victory in Jesus.
Lorna Couillard
The Lord never spoke in such direct terms concerning himself to his own countrymen; nor even to his own disciples, till a little before his death. The reason given by Bishop Pearce is the following: The woman being alone when Jesus said it, and being a Samaritan, he had no reason to apprehend that the Samaritans, if they knew his claim, would disturb his ministry before the time of his suffering came; which seems to have been the reason why he concealed it so long from his own countrymen. Adam Clarke
The great point to bring out in this conversation between them is-Jesus reveals Himself to her, a sinner, while she was still in her sin. Her heart was changed, and salvation came to her, by her reception of Jesus, and confessing her sin to him, in simple honesty. There was no form of religion in it, it came from the heart.
In my personal life, and testimony, I can relate to this story completely. On a cold Monday in March of 1978, I had finished reading a Christian book given to me by a family member, it was late morning, and becoming weary, and fell asleep. I woke in the afternoon, near 3:00 p.m., and felt the strong sense that someone was in the house with me-this Presence permeated the house, as I remained in the chair I had awoke in. A strong sense to speak came up from my stomach-and I began to utter my first prayer "Lord, if this is You, and what I've read in this book is true, would you forgive me, I've done so much wrong. But, if you will forgive me, please come into my life, and help me to live for you. I'm ready to leave this world now, but, if there is a reason for me to be here, please let me know." As soon as I opened my eyes, I looked ahead, out the window to the front yard, and saw my daughter walking up the driveway, coming home from school. As soon as I'd opened my eyes, that first prayer had been answered.
As soon as I prayed that prayer of salvation-the Lord gave me a hunger for the Word of God, that is like a starving child, I couldn't get enough of it, that's never changed in all these years. The story of the Samaritan woman was one of the first ones I was led to read-and I knew it was the Lord speaking to me, that her story was a reflection of my own. I've learned much from it, that would take too long to share here, but, a few truths are:
I've learned from first hand experience, that Jesus Christ saves sinners, that He is no respecter of persons, and that once he's forgiven our sins, and covered us with His blood, nothing anyone may do, or say will change that fact. There is no sin that He won't forgive, except the one you refuse to confess, and keep hanging onto. Even when you are sorely tried, He will not leave you-He will keep working with you, and will deliver you, and every time we turn to Him for forgiveness, and ask for strength to walk in righteousness, He is faithful, and just to forgive us, and give us all we need to get up, and walk on with Him.
I've learned that Jesus is instant in answering prayer at times, and at other's it may take years. These lessons have been learned by walking out my faith, day by day, when trials and adversity comes.
I've also learned, from personal experience, Jesus will speak to me about things that most people would never believe. I've shared a small portion at times, of the things He's revealed to me, but not much, because I know it would be unwise. It's better to pray much-before ever sharing the deeper things of God, with this world. But, what he spoke to the Samaritan woman is a good example of how Jesus chooses those who are the most unlikely, and reveals deep things to-if we have a heart to hear Him.
Trials, temptations, persecutions, and attacks from many directions will come-but through it all, Jesus will be with us, and be all that we need, to endure, and overcome.
He has proved this to me, over, and over again. There is victory in Jesus.
Lorna Couillard