TEXT: John 4:9-15
READING: Isaiah 11:1-16
SUBJ: The discourse with the woman at the well in Samaria and the answer to her inquiry as to how He would obtain water.
AIM: That we might learn to ask of Him concerning the very issues of life.
INTR: While this is a familiar narrative, we do well to revisit the setting and the circumstances that afforded this encounter, and we do it with an emphasis on verse 4 of this chapter.
1. One of the Puritans wrote a book on the mystery of providence. We do well to meditate upon such things and reckon it with the will and purpose of God.
2. It is here that we will examine the matter of divine revelations in the most unlikely of both people and circumstances.
3. We would examine this passage in the following manner: The answer to her question, His identity, and A proper suggestion as to what she should do.
THESIS: All that has been revealed, is being revealed, and shall be revealed is embodied in Christ and we shall learn of it as we look to Him and the Word of God.
I. The Answer to her question (vv. 9-10)
1. The encounter begins with her trying to redirect His attention to the issue of conflict between Jews and Samaritans.
2. This was in response to a simple request for a drink – and the stage was set for what follows.
3. If thou knewest the gift of God:
1) She might have thought of: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).
2) Or of: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (Isaiah 42:6).
3) But then we are made to think of: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13).
4) Or also: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). And to remember as well, 1 Corinthians 1:30.
II. His Identity (Who it is that is asking)
1. This thought becomes interwoven with the previous statement.
2. Some passages on His identity:
1) From the man born blind: He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. (John 9:36-37).
2) We consider as well: And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. (John 16:3).
3) And we must reference Our Lord’s prayer: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3).
4) Revealed in Jesus: And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20).
III. What she should have asked of Him And what should we be asking of Him?
1. He would have given her living water and we see further: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14).
2. She would in time come to believe: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35).
3. And we must not forget: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39).
4. See also: Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3).
5. Like Nicodemos, she began to reason from a human perspective even debating with Him as to His greatness compared to Jacob.
6. I share this from J. C. Ryle – There are four prominent views as to what the Gift of God was:
1) Some think it is the Holy Spirit as it reasonable to understand what was to attend the gift –“Living Water.”
2) Some think it to the grace of opportunity which was offered her – If you knew you ask.
3) Some think it to be Christ Himself. This may be thought reasonable in that the Greek word for and can also be translated: even, also, and several other things. See John 3:16
4) Some think it to be “God’s gift, and especially gift of grace,” which is now being proclaimed and made manifest to the world by the appearing on earth of His Son. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15).
