“The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.’
“He said to her, ‘Go call your husband and come back here.’
“The woman replied, ‘I have no husband.’
“Jesus said to her, ‘Right you are when you said, “I have no husband,” for you have had five husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!’” —John 4:15–18
In these verses, Jesus demonstrates to us the truth of Proverbs 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.”
Going forth in the wisdom that God alone provides, the righteous are as trees of life. Continually displaying and offering God’s teaching, reproofing, and training in righteousness, God’s people point others to the Savior. We have the unique privilege of communicating with both words and deed God’s wisdom and His love to those who do not know Him!
This woman was in need of deliverance. Coming alone to retrieve water from the well in the middle of the day indicates to us perhaps that she was not surrounded by the companionship of many female friends. Most likely, the women would go together to the well in the early morning hours. According to her own words, she desired not to have to keep coming to the well to draw water. Perhaps she did not like the task; perhaps she did not like the rejection. More than likely, this woman was ostracized by the women of her town due to her lifestyle, and therefore she was open to the hope and acceptance which Jesus held out. Whatever the reason, she wanted the liberation that He was offering.
Jesus knows that she will be open to the remedy of grace. He doesn’t badger her, he doesn’t accuse her, he simply says, “Go, call your husband and come back.” Her response to Him is true, yet misleading: “I have no husband.” Jesus knows her exact situation. Her response was intended as a denial, yet sweetly Jesus interprets it as a confession. This woman is about to be set free!
“The love of Christ both wounds and heals, it fascinates and frightens, it kills and makes alive, it draws and repulses. There can be nothing more terrible or wonderful than to be stricken with love for Christ so deeply that the whole being goes out in a pained adoration of His person, an adoration that disturbs and disconcerts while it purges and satisfies and relaxes the deep inner heart.” —A. W. Tozer
Just as Jesus’ words revealed to the woman at the well who she really was, the Word of God reveals to us who we really are. The writer of Hebrews tells us:
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” —Hebrews 4:12–13
We need to be open to the Holy Spirit’s conviction so that we can live in the liberation that Jesus bought for us on the cross.
Become More
“Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to ‘set your words on fire’ for His glory.” —Oswald Chambers
Further Reflections
“Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify—our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.” —Tremper Longman
“Stand with confidence, serve with compassion, speak with care, submit with contrition, and share with concern. A believer should be what God wants him to be, do what God wants him to do, say what God wants him to say, sense what God wants him to sense, and share what God wants him to share. Spiritual maturity involves every aspect of life.” —Bible Knowledge Commentary