Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                  Chapter Four

                                                                                                                                      Verses 19-30

When Jesus accurately told the woman about her life with men, she realized that Jesus had to be at least a prophet, a man sent from God. She then expressed a desire to learn what constitutes true worship. She did not try to excuse or defend herself about that which Jesus had told her. She honestly realized that she was a sinner in need of a true contact with God. Jesus told her that salvation would come through the Jews. He did not mean the Jews' religion but Himself. Jesus told her that she was about to learn how to be a true believer and worshiper of God. Jesus informed her that true believers "shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." Jesus made her realize that when she became a true believer, she would be able to worship God at any time and anywhere. Jesus further informed her that since "God is a Spirit," then those who believe in Him while still alive in the flesh would be able to worship Him "in spirit and in truth."

When the woman heard Jesus preach that spiritual message, she became even more deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit because she realized that this type of gospel could only come from the prophesied Messiah. She believed that only the Messiah could tell the people all they needed to know about God. Jesus then openly revealed to her that He was that Messiah.

At this point, the woman must have immediately become saved by grace because she left her waterpot and went back to her city to tell everyone that she had found the Messiah. This reaction happens to be exactly that which every person saved by grace does. They want to tell everyone that Jesus has saved them. But she was able to tell only the men in her city. The women avoided her because they did not like her. They were afraid that she would seduce their husbands. The woman did succeed in getting the men to go out to see Jesus. The women probably followed later.

Just before this woman left her waterpot to return to the city, Jesus' disciples came back from the city where they had gone to buy food. They were surprised to see Jesus talking with a Samaritan because they assumed that Jesus did not like Samaritans either. But they did not ask Jesus why He talked with her probably because they realized that Jesus loved everyone.