Read John 4:16-18. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Digging Deeper
Do you have difficulty bringing up a difficult subject? Who wants to disturb a hornet nest or make someone feel uncomfortable? There are many topics that everyone knows that no one is to speak about in front of that person! While it may not be your intention, some topics may be taken as picking a fight. In the end, you might get much more than what you asked for from that person.
Jesus knew the custom of His days. Someone may misinterpret Jesus’ motive and thinking that He was propositioning her for sexual favors. The neighbors may be watching and more gossips will be spread about her! Perhaps this is one reason why Jesus asked her to bring her husband. If her husband came, that will quell all rumors about His intention and her talking to a stranger.
What will she do? Does she call one of her former husbands? Will she asked her companion to pretend to be her husband? Definitely, she doesn’t want to tell a stranger that she is divorced. That’s embarrassing for her. What would you done and said if you were in her place?
Did it dawn on her that if this man can offer her “living” water that meets her inmost need that she can be honest with Him? Would she be afraid to admit her inmost need? Would she side step the question? Would you and I be afraid to admit what is our inmost need? Have you ever shared your hidden secret in your life with someone else? Jesus doesn’t broadcast what we share with Him in confidence. It’s between you and Him.
Jesus gave her the opportunity to be honest with herself. In order to receive help, one must admit that one has a need that one can’t meet by oneself. Jesus reveals to her that she is longing from something from her previous five husbands and this current relationship isn’t meeting her need. What a startling revelation from a stranger who doesn’t know her at all.
Jesus wants to meet our needs, but we must be honest with Him. Jesus doesn’t condemn her for her divorces, not even for living with this man who is not her husband. He was seeking to meet her need. Jesus will meet you where you are at if you are honest with Him about your need. He has living water which can fill that need in your life. Will you go to Him and share with Him? I hope you will.
Kingston