Finding Answers

Finding Answers

The Woman At The Well

Read: John 4:17-26

When Jesus revealed that he knew the details of her sinful lifestyle, the Samaritan woman didn’t deny the facts or storm off. In continuing the conversation, she admitted the truth of Jesus’ words, although she steered the talk away from her personal life. This stranger knew all about her, yet he talked to her respectfully and offered her “living water.” He must be a prophet. Perhaps he knew the answer to the debate between the Jews and the Samaritans over whether Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim was the appropriate place to worship God.

Jesus answered not only her spoken question but her unspoken ones as well. He bluntly told the woman that she had grown up with a false religion and didn’t know as much about God as she thought she did. He explained that since God is Spirit, a worshiper’s attitude matters more than a location. Then Jesus astounded the Samaritan woman. For the first time in his ministry, he overtly revealed his identity as the Messiah. The woman’s mouth must have dropped open—she had received more than an answer to a theological argument; she had discovered the One who is the Answer to all of life’s questions.

We all have questions, but sometimes we don’t find the answers because we stubbornly refuse to admit our need. If we’re driving around looking for a location, we won’t get the directions we need until we admit that we’re lost. When we have a health problem, we won’t find the advice we need until we call the doctor and admit that we’re sick. Similarly, we can’t receive God’s forgiveness until we admit that we are sinners. The Messiah still reveals himself to those who admit their need of the Savior. Then we settle something more important than any theological debate—we find the Answer to our deepest needs.

Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”

John 4:26