John 4:25-26 I am the Messiah_

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John‬ ‭4:25-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This story is incredible. The dance continues between this woman and Jesus. He says, she says, he says, then she says… every step of the way Jesus is giving her reason to believe without stating the obvious, which she now suspects. This man talks to her, makes an offer of living water, brushes aside religious differences, then goes on to teach about what is important to God. Could this be the Messiah? Then bam! He says it.

There is no ambiguity here.

I often have wondered why Jesus was so guarded about his identity and the miracles he performed and then openly told a Samaritan the thing the entire nation of Israel wanted to hear.

This declaration He was free to make among a people with whom He could not be used for political ends. “I think, too, there will be felt to be something not only very beautiful, but very characteristic of our Lord, in His declaring Himself with greater plainness of speech than He had Himself hitherto done even to the Twelve, to this dark-minded and sin-stained woman, whose spiritual nature was just awakening to life under His presence and His words” (Stanton, Jewish and Christian Messiah, p. 275).

Although it’s a subject too deep for this page, the expectation of the Jews about their Messiah and what he would do for them had mutated from reality in epic proportions. It reminds me of stories of Daniel Boone staring down a bahr, or Chuck Norris jokes (from Walker Texas Ranger). Israel needed a Messiah and he came at the right time. But even his disciples viewed him as someone primarily establishing the kingdom on earth and ridding Israel of her enemies — forcefully evicting Rome and any other who is opposed to the Law. Today, it’s difficult to understand the depth of misinformation the Jews held about the Christ when a modern believer simply reads the messianic prophecies in the Bible. Jesus came to realign man to God. Of course, in that process there would be personal and national healing, but first, some very fundamental issues must be dealt with. Issues of the heart. And as we all know, when one is on a stage (as a political ruler, a religious spokesperson, even a “Samaritan”) we act very differently than when we are alone with the little voice and conscience within. Jesus is offering a very personal transaction of trust in God. The very thing lost in the first step away from Him in the Garden. In Israel, there was such a heightened desire for the Messiah that any little indication he was “the one” would have resulted in men taking him by force to prop him up as their new David, their new king — totally missing the transactions of the heart. Who cares how many character flaws a man had, but wait, Jesus looks to be a pretty good candidate… One may understand why he didn’t want to be the center of a revolt from Rome based on the flesh.

Thus, he hid from them. He used obscure speech. Preached in parables. Came from the least of the cities in Judah. Was born in a stable. Had a group of know-nothing disciples. Associated with sinners. Here in Samaria, he didn’t have this concern. There was no possibility that Samaritans would exit the city and forcefully make Jesus the King — the Jews would die laughing! And with this woman, the Father reveled in making himself known. And here she enters into a long string of women with similar prominence: Ruth, a foreigner; Rahab, an alien from one of the cities Israel destroyed; Mary, the humble teen in remote Judea, the Canaanite woman whose daughter he healed.

The cross if foolishness. But God’s foolishness is wiser than man’s, and his weakness is mightier than man. Even the most loved among us can barely discern the ocean of love he truly has for an individual.

Let this story be a lesson: the more you know and learn of his kingdom, it is likely that you are traveling a similar path to that of this Samaritan woman: little in the eyes of other men. Enjoy your fame… with God. From all indications, from this point forward the woman believed. And an interesting lesson follows in how to strengthen faith — in community.