Part 20 The Subject of Messiah, John 4:25–30
(4:25–30) Introduction: this is a dramatic picture of conversion and witnessing. The Messiah was discovered, and the discovery was excitedly shared.
1. There was the sense that Jesus was the Messiah (v.25).
2. There was the great claim of Jesus: He is the Messiah (v.26).
3. There was the spirit contrary to the Messiah: a spirit of evil thought and pride (v.27).
4. There was the proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah (vv.28–29).
5. There was the response of searching for the Messiah (v.30).
1 (4:25) Jesus Christ, Messiah—Gospel, Open to—Truth, Open to: there was the sense that Jesus was the Messiah. The woman’s heart was burning within her. There was an intense, flaming sense of God’s presence. The subject of her sin and of true worship was causing her heart to reach out for God. She sensed something very, very special about Jesus …
• that no man could speak as He had spoken unless He had a very special relationship with God
• that perhaps He was the Messiah Himself
She brought up the subject. Note the two things she believed.
a. That the Messiah was coming (erchetai). The idea is that the Messiah was coming soon. His coming was at hand, imminent. Her belief was based upon such Scriptures as Ge. 3:15; 49:10; Nu. 24:17; De. 18:15.
b. That the Messiah would be the Supreme Authority: “He will tell us all things.”
The point is this: the woman did not deny the Messiah; she believed in the coming and authority of the Messiah. Her belief was not a saving belief, not a belief of commitment . It was only a mental or an intellectual belief, a belief of knowledge; but the fact that she believed in the Messiah made her open to personal belief. She did not reject the witness of Jesus: she was not rude; she listened to Him. Therefore, God was able to give her a sense of His presence.
Thought 1. The person who constantly rejects Jesus Christ or claims to be agnostic or atheistic is seldom reached for Christ. However, a person who listens to the Scripture and believes intellectually, mentally accepting the facts of God’s promises, stands a much better chance of being reached by God. Mental or intellectual belief is more open; it is exposed to God’s Word. Thereby it is more likely to become a saving belief, the belief of commitment.
However, a warning does need to be issued. A person with only a mental belief can hear and reject so much that he becomes gospel-hardened, that is, so hardened against the gospel that he never trusts Jesus Christ as his Savior.
“And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” (Mk. 12:32–34).
“God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him” (Is. 28:26).
“Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein” (Ho. 14:9).
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Pr. 14:15–16).
“The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge” (Pr. 18:15).
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Pr. 22:3).
2 (4:26) Jesus Christ, Messiah: there was the great claim of Jesus, that He was the Messiah. Note three phenomenal claims.
1. He claimed to be “the Messiah”
2. He claimed to be the great “I Am,” which is the basic name for God.
3. He claimed to be the Supreme One, the Supreme Authority who would tell her all things. He claimed …
• that what He told her about her sin was true
• that she must take care of her sin
• that the only way to take care of her sin was to worship God in spirit and in truth
3 (4:27) Prejudice—Evil Thoughts—Tongue: there was the spirit contrary to the Messiah, the spirit of evil thought and pride. Just as Jesus made His phenomenal claims, the disciples arrived. They marveled (ethaumazon): were astonished, amazed, bewildered because He was talking with the woman. There were two reasons for this.
a. She was a woman. The Rabbis of that day would not be alone or talk with women in public. They feared what people might think and say.
Thought 1. Very honestly, there is some merit to this idea. A person, especially a leader, must guard himself and his thoughts around the opposite sex. Of course, one can carry the practice too far. Wisdom and self-control are both needed.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt. 5:28).
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Co. 10:5).
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Ph. 4:8).
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Ge. 6:5).
“A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief” (Pr. 6:18).
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth” (Eze. 8:12).
b. She was a Samaritan, a person considered despicable, below their social standing, unfit to be seen with in public. Note how Christ tore down the barriers of both problems and how the disciples controlled their tongue from questioning and gossiping.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Ac. 10:34–35).
“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Ro. 10:12).
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Ga. 3:28).
“If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth” (Pr. 30:32).
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am” (Ps. 39:1–4).
4 (4:28–29) Witnessing: there was the proclamation that Jesus was the Messiah. Note the tender, yet meaningful statement: “The woman then left her waterpot.” She was very excited. The Messiah had confronted her; she had actually met Him, and He had met the need of her heart and life. She had to tell everyone about Him.
Note also the strength of the woman’s witness. She was an outcast from society, had no friends because of the immoral life she had lived. However, meeting the Messiah changed all that. He dealt with her sin and shame. She could now face everyone. They, too, must have the opportunity to meet the Messiah.
Thought 1. What a lesson for every believer!
“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mk. 5:19).
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
“For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard” (Acts 22:15).
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Tit. 2:15).
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pe. 3:15).
“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul” (Ps. 66:16).
“I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all the LORD hath bestowed on us” (Is. 63:7).
“I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me” (Da. 4:2).
5 (4:30) Jesus Christ, Response—Seeking, Jesus: there was the response of searching for the Messiah. Note two facts.
a. The woman was of no social importance, not to the men of the city. In fact, she had often been misused, and she was often the very subject of gossip and jokes. But now something had happened to her: she had met the Messiah. The event had so changed her appearance, behavior, and attitude that people listened eagerly to what she said.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Co. 5:17).
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:4–7).
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (Js. 1:18).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pe. 1:3–4).
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Eze. 36:26).
b. The people responded—at least a good number did. The idea of the words “came unto Him” is that of a long streaming procession. The people “kept on coming to Him.” It was her dynamic witness, the striking change seen in her life, that caused this enormous response. Because of her witness, many set out to find the Messiah for themselves.
“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and laid meat unto them” (Ho. 11:4).
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (Jn. 12:32).
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to John Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
