"The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' 18 "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." -John 4:16-18
In John chapter 4 Jesus has a divine appointment with a Samaritan woman. Jesus was alone sitting besides an ancient well and His disciples had left to find some food, when this woman came out to fetch some water. Jesus engaged her in conversation and asked her for regular water, and before you know it He is offering her "living water" that is eternal life in Him and a Spirit filled life. (7:37-39) This prompted the woman to inquire and thirst for this living water. But there was something else that needed to be addressed before she could freely partake of this water, and that was her sin. Our loving Jesus subtly but effectively pointed out her sins. (sexual immorality) This woman like all of us needed to acknowledge her sins and be willing to repent before truly coming to Christ. One must come openly if they are to receive freely from Christ. When we profess the good news we must not shy away from telling people what Jesus exactly came to save us from...sin, and un-confessed sin (or willfully hidden) will prevent us from truly coming to Christ. This truth is also practically seen among the saints (believers). John later went on to write "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 Jn 1:9-10) It is in the pattern of the born-again believer to agree with God continually by admitting their sins and always seeking full fellowship with Him through confession and repentance. The more open we are the freely we can receive on a practical level. But if we deny our sin, or attempt to justify ourselves before others, or before the living God then we shouldn't expect this. Remember salvation might be free but sin was costly, sin is the most expensive thing in the world, just look to the cross it cost Him His life. Two things; don't shy away from preaching the bad news alongside the good news, and remember to keep short accounts with God knowing that sin separates us from His love and the fullness of His dynamic Spirit in our life.
- READ JOHN 8:11 WHAT DID JESUS TELL THE WOMAN ACCUSED OF ADULTERY? READ MARK 10:17-22 WHY DID THE RICH YOUNG RULER LEAVE UPSET? WHAT SIN DID JESUS POINT TO IN HIS LIFE?
- “Jesus was not looking for a cheap pseudo conversion. He knew she was not yet ready for living water. There were two issues that needed to be addressed first: her sin and His true identity” -John MacArthur