John 4b Commentary
The Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus changes her life for good. She rushes back to her village and tells everyone about Jesus. No seminary training. No certificates and practicing licenses. No ordination ceremony. But she does the job. Evangelists are envious.
Share what you have seen. Tell someone what the LORD has done. Invite them to have the same saving experience. Then Jesus will do the rest. “Come and see”. Let them see and hear for themselves.
From the lips of the believing Samaritans, we have this less-known title: The Savior of the world. Verse 42. It wasn’t any more dependent on Israel’s historical privileges. The petty argument of who has a first-class ticket to Heaven between the Jews and the Samaritans becomes insignificant. Jesus is the Savior of the World.
“Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Verse 15. Yes, there is sarcasm. Yes and importantly, there is a deep protest against life’s endless routines. It is actually these routines we describe as life. Jesus (the giver of life and life by Himself) responds to this human puzzle.
The endless routines, the aimless, and the tiring activities we call life can all end as we receive the real life that Jesus gives. He is life itself.
This gospel gives us a complete picture from all sorts of angles. We need food and water to stay alive. He is the bread of life; He is the living water. He is the life that we need.
Nature has supplied replacement components: Food, water, parental care, marital fellowship, family cover, human interactions, friendships, and other relationships. The intellectual space would bring in education, the sciences, and technology. The social space would include the arts – sports, and entertainment but all these human activities are frustratingly short.
They always leave you with an exasperated statement: “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
The woman probably needed to say, “Give me a good husband so I won’t have to keep searching”.
Many of us have replaced our spouses several times in our hearts. The current one isn’t actually our spouse. The current one is simply warming the bed for someone better – a loop that has kept us busy with dissatisfaction. Look at it again and know the search for life continues without an end. This gospel has an important announcement. It should be breaking news! Jesus is life!
Jesus is life but who wants to believe? Who understands? The healing of the official’s son isn’t a miracle but a sign. Won’t Israel see it and believe Jesus’ life-giving mission? This is the second sign. The first sign was the transformation of water into wine.
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