19“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.20So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
21Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.22You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.23But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25The woman said, “I know the kMessiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
27Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”28The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone,29“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”30So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
This woman just will not let up! She has the ear of a prophet and she is going to ask some burning questions she has. They have just discussed her sins, which made her an outcast among the towns people, but she doesn’t let that stop her. Obviously this is a question that has been rolling around in her head for a while because there is no hesitation. She just blurts it out. And like so many other questions Jesus is asked, he doesn’t really answer it, he answers the real question.
Jesus tells the woman that now everything is changing. All the rituals and animal sacrifices and rules are all about to be fulfilled. Now is a time when the true Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit will become one with all believers and all believers will worship God through that Spirit and that truth. God is looking for people, like this woman, who want more than man or this world can offer.
The woman then goes that one more step. She doesn’t ask Jesus directly if he is the Messiah, but her question shows that she has been longing for that too. She is easily convinced. Jesus answer is special because when he says I AM he invokes the words God answered Moses with when Moses asked what his name was in Exodus 3:14 “I am who am”. Clearly Jesus is saying here he is God and the woman doesn’t miss the point. She runs to the village and brings out the people who had been shunning her. She didn’t let her previously hurtful relationship with them keep her from sharing this wonderful person with them.
Lord, change me and help me to worship in Spirit and in truth and to share You with all those who cross my path. *obbs*
