“Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Messiah, can he?’ So they left the town and began coming to him.” —John 4:28–30
In our verses for today the woman at the well goes from miserable to missionary as she hurries from the well desiring to share her good news of Jesus with others. From apostate to apostle, this woman shows how concerned she was to have her friends and neighbors acquainted with Jesus. What a delightfully proper response from a heart that has been touched by our Lord!
When we encounter Jesus, our earthly duties pale in light of our heavenly ones! This woman rushes off with her good news, leaving behind her initial reason for being there. She has a story to tell and she is not going to be hindered.
There is nothing more convincing than one’s own testimony. How can anyone argue against our own experience? In her haste, she leaves her water jar behind. Perhaps she left it in kindness to Jesus that He may have something to drink with His dinner; perhaps she did not want to be encumbered as she went out to tell the town of Jesus; perhaps she was not longer concerned about worldly things and was simply focused on things above. Whatever the reason, she left on a different mission than the one she had come with.
I am reminded of Jesus’ words to His disciples:
“What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” —Matthew 10:27–33
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes proper priorities in this way:
“So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” —Matthew 6:31–34
This woman’s testimony was a plain and simple one: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.” Jesus has told her what only God and her conscience had known. She was affected by the extent of His knowledge and by the power of His words to her. This woman had secret sins, sins she was reluctant to even admit. Jesus knew all about her lifestyle. He loved her even having full knowledge of her. Is there anything quite as beautiful, or peaceful, or winsome, as unconditional love? Do we not all seek such a love? This is exactly what God offers to us! His love is demonstrated to us through His precious Son Jesus:
“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
Inviting the town to come and partake of the living water so that their insatiable thirst may also be quenched, this woman is a wonderful example of explosive evangelism. She simply shares her testimony. Prior to her encounter with Jesus, she would have been embarrassed to even have whispered in the dark. But the good news of Jesus is that He makes all things new!
Become More
“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” —2 Corinthians 5:17
Further Reflections
“Has he done the honour to make himself known to us? Let us do him the honour to make him known to others; nor can we do ourselves a greater honour. This woman becomes an apostle. I have most opportunity, and therefore lie under the greatest obligations, to do good to those who live near me.” —Matthew Henry
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5–6