John 4:29-30 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?… I. THE WOMAN'S FAITH AND HOW IT WAS TO BE TESTED. 1. She was a most unlikely subject. A Samaritan scorning the Jews, having her own notion of the Messiah. 2. Christ was most unlikely to strike her as the Messiah. A Jew; a suppliant for water. 3. Yet she was thoroughly convinced, for she leaves her water-pot and carries with enthusiasm the joyful news into the city. 4. This is what has happened ever since. It is not those who are in a most favourable position for believing who are readiest to believe. There are thousands of young people who have been trained in Christianity who never dream of loving Christ, whilst there are thousands for many years utterly untouched by Christian influences who find in themselves a strange power to lay hold of Christ. Beware of the subtle influence of familiarity with Divine things. II. HOW THIS WOMAN GOT HER FAITH. 1. Not by miracles. A miracle suggests omnipotence, but does not prove it. 2. There is a much higher thing than power — knowledge. She felt herself in the presence of omniscience. 3. Upon this knowledge of bar secret life she based her belief in the Messiah (ver. 25, cf ver. 29). III. WHAT THIS WOMAN DID WITH HER FAITH. She put it into her proclamation of Jesus. (G. W. Conder.) Parallel Verses KJV: Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?WEB: "Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?" |
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