John 4:15-26 PODCAST
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you, I am he.” ~ John 4:15-26
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you, I am he.” ~ John 4:15-26
The Lord Jesus needed to go through Samaria (John 4:4) because this empty lady was in need of the fullness that He longs to impart to those who are willing to receive from Him. And, He knew that there was something hindering this Samaritan woman. So, He passed through Samaria to deal with her emptiness. Her need defined the trajectory of the Lord Jesus. What a thought!
The Lord Jesus knew this lady had been married five times. He also knew that she was now living with a man without the benefit of the commitment of marriage. The Lord Jesus reveals to her that He knew all of this, and yet, He did not condemn her. He was there to help her with this gnawing incompleteness in her soul.
Numbers are significant in the Scriptures. The number seven is the number for completeness in the Scriptures. The number six is the number of incompleteness. Since, he was created on the sixth day, it is also the number of man. You will remember that this true story happened at the sixth hour. This woman was on her sixth man and she was unfulfilled.
The Lord Jesus knew this lady had been married five times. He also knew that she was now living with a man without the benefit of the commitment of marriage. The Lord Jesus reveals to her that He knew all of this, and yet, He did not condemn her. He was there to help her with this gnawing incompleteness in her soul.
Numbers are significant in the Scriptures. The number seven is the number for completeness in the Scriptures. The number six is the number of incompleteness. Since, he was created on the sixth day, it is also the number of man. You will remember that this true story happened at the sixth hour. This woman was on her sixth man and she was unfulfilled.
In v.16, the Lord Jesus says to this woman, "Go, call your husband." She admits that she has no husband, and he tells her she has had five, and is now living with another man. The Lord Jesus knew more about this woman than she did. He knew there was a thirst in her heart, a hunger for something more.
When I was younger, I was duped into believing that romance was the answer to life. The problem with this is: romance can not be maintained. What I thought was love is a mere image of true love. Romance introduces us to the deeper forms of love in life. This explains why so many get out of marriage, because it doesn't deliver as it did in the beginning of the relationship. Perhaps, this is why this woman was on her sixth man.
We hate pain, trouble, problems, and disappointment. In fact, we would almost do anything to avoid these "unwanteds." However, I have learned there is great value to these "unwanteds". Over and over in my life, I have arrived upon the fact that wounds render wisdom. Pain garners for us perspective. Lack leads us to the Lord.
We hate pain, trouble, problems, and disappointment. In fact, we would almost do anything to avoid these "unwanteds." However, I have learned there is great value to these "unwanteds". Over and over in my life, I have arrived upon the fact that wounds render wisdom. Pain garners for us perspective. Lack leads us to the Lord.
The Samaritan woman's response in v.17-19, is honest and authentic. She admits that she is on her sixth guy. Then, without really knowing it, she asks an honest question: "Where do I go to get satisfaction for my soul?" We do not know how old this lady was but we get the idea that she had been searching for a long to find satisfaction, and it is obvious she is not content with her life.
The woman's question about where to worship in v.20 is honest and relevant. Our theology touches everything in our lives. And, what we worship is the key. The first time the word worship appears in the Bible (Genesis 22) is the first place the word love appears. That which we love, we worship, and the which we worship we love. And, as the Lord Jesus points out in v.21, geography is not the issue, what we give our hearts to is the issue. This is eternal life that we might know the Father (John 17), this is the life that all of mankind is searching for in this world.
On a side note, the first time love is used in the Scriptures is of the Father loving the Son. Then, the second time the word love is used in the Bible is in Genesis 24 where the son is loving his bride (Isaac and Rebekah). The Gospel is tucked in throughout the Old Testament, and ultimately all that is substantive comes from the Father through the Son.
On a side note, the first time love is used in the Scriptures is of the Father loving the Son. Then, the second time the word love is used in the Bible is in Genesis 24 where the son is loving his bride (Isaac and Rebekah). The Gospel is tucked in throughout the Old Testament, and ultimately all that is substantive comes from the Father through the Son.
As I, in October of 1981, this lady at the well in John 4, was the victim of a stunted understanding of the truth. In fact, she had some truth but she lacked a relationship with the One who was/is the truth standing in front of her. And, as a result, her understanding of love was stunted, as well.
In v.22-24, the Lord Jesus informs us that true worship is done by our spirit, out of our heart. Truth must inform our worship of God. It must be honest, as well.
In v.25, the woman responds with "Yes, I know you are right, but we must wait until the Messiah comes. We cannot expect these kinds of things in our time." Her words drew an incredible response from the Lord Jesus in v.26. He essentially says, "You have searched the whole world over for true love. You have had six incomplete relationships with men whom you had hoped would deliver real satisfaction, to no avail." The Lord Jesus is saying, "I am your seventh man. I am the One who will deliver to your soul that which you have so longed for." The Lord Jesus is the seventh man who completes, who fulfills all who cry out to Him.
In v.25, the woman responds with "Yes, I know you are right, but we must wait until the Messiah comes. We cannot expect these kinds of things in our time." Her words drew an incredible response from the Lord Jesus in v.26. He essentially says, "You have searched the whole world over for true love. You have had six incomplete relationships with men whom you had hoped would deliver real satisfaction, to no avail." The Lord Jesus is saying, "I am your seventh man. I am the One who will deliver to your soul that which you have so longed for." The Lord Jesus is the seventh man who completes, who fulfills all who cry out to Him.
