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it could be entered into with knowledge and understanding acquired first hand from the
Word itself. To her and a few selected people Christ plainly reveals Himself as the
Messiah. To direct questioning from antagonistic Jewish leaders He gives no direct reply
that can be twisted against Him, but leaves them in no doubt as to His claim to the title.
"How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly?" (4: 24).
Our Lord's statement "I and My Father are one" (verse 30) was the most satisfaction
He would afford them on this occasion.
To those who have made much of the Bible their own, it is good sometimes to stand
back and try to see the broad plan God has for His creation, and this is not only earth but
heaven with its host of spirits as well. What a wonderfully comprehensive summary of
the gospel is II Cor. 5: 19: "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself".
John's gospel is devoted to forging the links for this plan of reconciliation. First the
insistence by the Son that the Father had sent Him. Secondly that He and His Father
were one. Thirdly, the blessed gift of eternal life to those who understood and accepted
all that the sacrifice of the Lamb of God involved and secured.
John's gospel anticipates the way Jew and Gentile responded to this message. In this
chapter (4:) of John's gospel the Gentile Samaritans say:
"Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and
know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (4: 42).
But of the Jews, our Lord said to some:
"Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" (4: 48).
For us the path of salvation commences with faith:
"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him Who
hath subjected the same in hope" (Rom. 8: 20).
"Hope" here is our utter conviction in the truth of God's Word. How overjoyed our
Lord must have been to have received this response from the people of Samaria.
Looking now at John 4: 10:
"Jesus answered and said unto her (the woman at the well), if thou knewest the gift of
God, and Who it is that saith to thee, give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of
Him, and He would have given thee living water",
and in verse 14:
"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the
water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life."