S146P3 – Moments of clarity: the woman at the well
Jn. 4:25-29
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”
Hundreds of Old Testament scriptures predicted the coming of Christ by describing what we can expect of him. Those prophecies held at least two purposes. One purpose was to encourage Israel that Messiah indeed would come and deliver them. The other purpose was to legitimize the arrival of Messiah through this prophetic record. In this passage, we see prophetic expectation at play. The woman who spoke with Jesus told him what she expected of Messiah. We can say this would be her sign of his arrival. In telling her all things about herself and meeting this expectation, He let her know something else we might miss if we do not look closely.
Jesus could have taken any approach in deciding what to share with this woman to show that He is the Son of God. He could have spoken about his fulfillment of those many prophecies. He could have spoken about or showed her his miraculous powers of healing. Ultimately, He displayed to her what He must have known she was expecting to see. The fact that He told her about herself, told her what she considered to be all there was to tell, would have shown her that He knew she was looking for someone to tell her all things. I dare say that He catered to that which would convince her of who He is. He knew what it would take to give her that revelation, and that is what He gave her.
Speaking from my own experience, what convinced me of Christ’s identity and deity was what He showed me about myself. I did not have the luxury of a personal conversation with him, but He showed me through others and through his word that He understood my questions and doubts. He knew what it would take for me to have revelation that He is real. He knew what it would take to bring me to my knees in worship and submission. It is a testament to the Lord’s love, compassion and grace that He would make his way to us just how we need him to. Father, thank You for the patience shown in how your Son is revealed to us and the way in which You restore our hearts.