The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
When Jesus promised to give this Samaritan woman water that would quench her thirst forever, she seeks an explanation. But she asks the wrong question.
Like most people in the world today, she is so focused on the physical thing that she almost misses the spiritual opportunity in front of her.
Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.
It is natural to get caught up in the day to day work of survival and necessity. We need something to jar us, bring us to our senses, and cause us to focus on our spiritual condition as well.
Jesus brings this woman into reality by asking her to go get her husband. He did this because he knew she had five previous husbands and was living with a man who was not her husband.
When the woman realized Jesus knew all about her, she knew He must be a prophet and so the conversation turns at last the way Jesus planned all along.
Finally, the woman at the well begins to seek explanations to some of her long-standing spiritual questions.
This is the work of the Teacher. And this Teacher not only gives explanations but is a living explanation of how to live a life that pleases God.
This is what Jesus was aiming at in His conversation with this woman at Jacob’s Well. And this is what He hopes for every person in the world.
Students of Jesus come to understand, for He is The Explanation.
She had had 5 husbands, and now...
ReplyDelete"The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband."
Maybe the emphasis should be on the word "your" meaning she had someone else's husband. If she was merely living with another man, the town would know - but she perceives he is a prophet - maybe because he knew the secret of her having another woman's husband...
Oh, you'r eright, we'll never know. Why even bring that up?
How would we handle this woman?
If we knew her sinful lifestyle would we have approached her and offered living water?
Jesus brings up a spiritual discussion with this sinful woman.
What about when she asks a spiritual question? Would we lecture her first on her sinful lifestyle before we entertained questions about true worship?
Jesus answers her questions, and explains spiritual depth about worship that as far as we know he hadn't even explained to his disciples yet!
What's my point? How are we at mimicking Jesus when it comes to not judging others and offering spiritual hope - especially when it comes to the topic of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage?
Aren't we striving to become like the Teacher?