The Gospel of John #15
/By Robert Guenther
We are continuing our review of the Gospel of John chapter four by looking further into the divine appointment the Lord had to meet a woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well. He reveals the truth to her about what will be acceptable worship of the Father.
Vs. 23 states: “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.” It seems to me that there needs to be the principle of “Right Division” applied here to understand what the Lord is telling this woman. Whatever manner of worship that was acceptable prior to this meeting, is now going to become null and void. Think a moment what these changes would be. Worshiping in the temple, baptism and circumcision, keeping the Sabbath day holy, the sacrificing of animals and doves just to name a few were no longer going to be accepted. A new and better way will be accepted as we read in our next verse.
Vs. 24 states: “God is Spirit:and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.” After Acts 28 all acceptable worship will be done in spirit. We need to recognize that God does demand different types of worship and the doing of something that was acceptable in a former age will not be acceptable now.
Vs. 25 reads: “The woman saith unto Him, “I Know that Messiah cometh, Which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.” This woman has already acknowledged that this Man is a prophet of God in verse 19. I believe the next verse will reveal that He is not only the Prophet of God but also the very Christ of God that had been promised before in the Old Testament.
Vs. 26 states: “Jesus saith unto her, “I that speak unto thee am He.” I am amazed sometimes how simple and clear God makes the message of His truth. This woman is surprised that He has chosen her to reveal this great truth to. I think the next verse indicates that the disciples were marveled also.
Vs. 27 reads: “And upon this came His disciples, and marvelled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, “What seekest Thou?” or,“Why talketh Thou with her?” I suppose this was wise on their part not to ask what might be considered to be questions of unbelief. After all Jesus surely knew who He needed to speak with.
Vs. 28 & 29 read: “The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, “Come, see a Man,Which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Why did God use a woman to be His messenger? I think that it raised a curiosity in these men to go and check this Man out who claimed to be the Christ.
Continued next issue¼
