John 4:25-29 - Homiletics

Our Lord's revelation of himself, and its remarkable effects.

The woman longs for fuller information.

I. HER PRESENT IDEA OF THE MESSIAH "I know that Messias cometh."

1 . She expected, like all the Samaritans, the advent of a Messiah, according to the ancient prophecy, "God will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee" ( Deuteronomy 18:18 ).

2 . Her conception of his character and office entirely differed from that of the Jews. "When he comes, he will tell us all things." She recognized him as a Prophet, not as a King.

(a) an authoritative Expounder of truth, as the Greek word signifies;

(b) and assigns no limits to the extent of his revelations.

II. OUR LORD 'S REVELATION OF HIMSELF ANSWERS TO THE RECEPTIVITY OF HER FAITH . "I that speak unto thee am he."

1 . He reveals himself to her as he never revealed himself to the Jews till the last moment ( John 17:3 ; Matthew 26:64 ), because he saw that she was not subject to the dangerous illusions of the Jews. She did not ask, like the Jews, "If thou be the Messias, tell us plainly" ( John 10:24 ).

2 . It is the Lord ' s delight to reveal himself fully to those with an honest simplicity of heart, who desire to know him.

III. THE WOMAN 'S SILENT BUT EXPRESSIVE RESPONSE TO THE REVELATION .

1 . She made no answer to Jesus, but her soul was immediately filled with a new hope, and her life took on a new interest.

2 . She communicated at once to her neighbours the substance of her own remarkable discovery. "She left her water pot," as a sort of pledge of her speedy return, "and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man who told me all things that ever I did. This cannot be the Christ, can he?"