2/4/11- John 4:25-26 Believing in the One with the Answers

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

(Woman at the Well- Alonso Cano 1601-1667)

Thoughts: Her image of the Messiah was right.  She was longing for the Messiah to come to answer the questions.  Jesus was explaining that both Mt. Gerazim (where the Samaritan Temple was) and Mt. Moriah (where the Jewish Temple was) would be gone.  But such an unbelievable thought was hard to understand.  That the Messiah was standing there before her at the well was an unbelievable thought as well.  Yet, the next thing we see were the disciples returning, and the woman telling others that this might be the Messiah (the Christ).  Believers do not have all the answers, but we do know who does.  We should long for Christ to come and answer us.  In our day, many have questions and give up- fueled by their past and immorality.  Here was a woman with a darkly checkered past, but who did not give up on God- or believing He had the answer.

Prayer: Lord, may I find grace to believe that you have the answers for my need.  May my sin not blind me to faith in you.

John Calvin Abridged:  Christ had said a big change was coming.  Perhaps the woman was thinking the Messiah would restore all things when He came. Her statement implies three things 1) The Law was not perfect (and did not answer all questions); 2) She expects the Messiah to interpret the Father; and 3) The Messiah's teaching is perfect and we need nothing else.  We would do well to imitate this woman who was content to listen to the Messiah's teaching- not adding anything else to it.