John 4:25-26 The woman said to him, I know that Messias comes, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.… The stricken deer tries once more to wrench the arrow from the wound; the wanderer thus caught amid the entangling thorns makes yet one other effort to escape the pursuing shepherd; the bold transgressor, unable to discuss these high spiritual themes, tries to stifle her convictions by the new plea of procrastination, wishing to break off the conversation in the spirit of conscious-stricken Felix. I. POSTPONING THE QUESTION OF SALVATION TO AN INDEFINITE CONVENIENT SEASON, THE CRY OF THE CONVICTED SOUL IS "GIVE ME THIS WATER!" — BUT NOT YET. 1. "Give me this water!" is the cry of youth — but not yet. Disturb not my bright sunny morning; wait till I reach the threshold of manhood. 2. "Give me this water!" is the cry of ripening manhood — but not yet. Disturb me not in the burden and heat of the day; wait till I have leisure and breathing-time; wait till the eventide sets in, and the shadows are lengthening, and the drawers of water stand with their pitchers around life's fountains. 3. "Give me this water!" is the cry of old age — but not yet. Though far advanced in the pilgrimage journey, my strength is yet firm. I have a long evening ere the sunset hour. I may linger yet a while amid these olive-glades ere the flagon be let down for a draught. 4. "Give me this water!" is the cry of the dying. But postponement cannot be pled now; procrastination merges into despair. "Give me this water!" but it is too late. II. IN HER ATTEMPTS AT EVASION THE WOMAN HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SHAKE OFF HER CONVICTIONS THAT SHE STOOD BEFORE A SUPERIOR BEING. 1. She had called Him prophet. The Jews looked for a kingly Messiah, the Samaritans for a prophetic. As she listened to His wondrous disclosures did the thought flash across her mind, "Can this be He?" The world was then expecting a Divine advent. Besides the prediction of Moses, her own Pentateuch had told her of the prophet who fifteen hundred years before had lifted up his voice on the hills on which she could now gaze. Caravans passing daily Jacob's well must have brought tidings of John's testimony. 2. The crisis of her life had come. Will the Saviour abandon her to her procrastination and say, as was said of her tribe, "Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone?" or will He disclose His Divine Person? Such a disclosure may be fraught with peril. But the destiny of a human soul depends upon it; He will save others, but not Himself. III. WHAT A REJOINDER TO HER QUESTION — "Art Thou greater than our father Jacob?" Yes, I am the Shiloh of whom he spake, the ladder he beheld, the angel with whom he wrestled. The Baptist's words have their first echo and fulfilment, "He will gather His wheat into the garner." She understands all now — the penetrating revelations, the living water, salvation. The Giver of all stands by her and offers them to her. She requires no miracles. IV. THE IMMEDIATE SEQUEL IS UNRECORDED. Her feelings are left to our imagination. She may have been dumb with silence or tears. But angels rejoiced over this returning sinner as she starts on an errand of mercy to her native town. Lessons: 1. Christ stands at the door of every heart. 2. None need despair; the first may be last and the last first; for Samaritan as well as Jerusalem sinners may find mercy. 3. Christ speaks in many ways — in the mercies He bestows, in the blessings He withholds; in life's storms and sunshine. 4. Christ speaks at every season. (1) Early in the morning to His disciples on the lake shore — to youth in life's early morning. (2) At midday as here — in the hot noon of day to manhood and womanhood. (3) At eventide on the way to Emmaus — in life's evening to the aged. (4) At night to Nicodemus — to the dying. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. |
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