15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 

John 4:15-19 (ESV)

(un)well woman

The encounter continues from yesterday with Jesus talking to this samaritan woman adultress. Jesus offered her “living water” that gives eternal life. Of course, the woman wants it. But she’s still thinking earthly. Who wouldn’t want a time and labor saving gift! But I also think she wanted to avoid the shame of having to go to the well alone to avoid others talking about her.

Get your husband

Knowing divinely about the woman’s situation, Jesus now asks her to get her husband and bring him to Jesus. Some commentators believe that since the discussion was getting more personal, Jesus wanted her husband there. However, I agree with Alford’s assessment that it was Jesus’ “first step of granting her request, ‘give me this water.’ The first work of the Spirit of God, and of Him who here spoke in the fullness of that Spirit, is, to convince of sin.” (enduringword.com) Without the knowledge of sin, there’s no need for salvation.

You’re a prophet

After Jesus, a stranger, reveals accurate details that only a few people could have known, she identifies him as a prophet. Spurgeon once said, “It would have been better if she had perceived that she was a sinner.”

On the brighter side, “The Samaritans acknowledged no prophet after Moses other than the one spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:18, and him they regarded as the Messiah … For her to speak of Jesus as a prophet was thus to move into the area of messianic speculation.” (planobiblechapel.org quoting Morris) This dialogue continues tomorrow…

<- Reflection ->

• As I read this, I imagined that I was with Jesus and observed how gently, but sternly and altogether lovingly Jesus dealt with this woman. Can you picture this?
• Is there a concealed sin that the Spirit is pointing out to you? Don’t “change the topic”. Deal with it, now.
• One final plug for The Chosen TV series (Season 1, episode 8) about this interaction.