John 4:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."

NIV: The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

NASB: The woman *said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.'

CSB: The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ ). "When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

NLT: The woman said, 'I know the Messiah is coming — the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.'

KJV: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

NKJV: The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

Jesus' primary conversation in John chapter 3 was with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a wealthy, moral, educated, powerful man. The Samaritan woman Jesus speaks to now is Nicodemus' mirror-image. She is outcast, immoral (John 4:17–18), unlearned, and socially powerless. In the previous verses, Jesus confronted her about her sin. She responded by attempting to change the subject, but Jesus persisted in explaining the truth. That included the idea that God must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, and He is looking for those kinds of followers.

Certain verses in the passage make it clear that the Samaritan woman was no fool. She wasn't formally educated, but her banter with Jesus reveals a certain level of wit (John 4:11–12, 15, 19–20). Here she once again asks a question which reveals a sharp mind. Jesus has just revealed His knowledge of her entire past (John 4:29), and a deep knowledge of spiritual things. Apparently, she has heard a few things about the Promised One, but does not want to ask Jesus directly if this is who He is. She artfully mentions the idea of the Messiah to see how Jesus will respond.

Of course, in the next verse, we see that this is exactly what Jesus is trying to get her to understand: He is the Messiah.

A question raised here is where the woman heard about the Messiah. According to the gospel of John, the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus had attracted quite a bit of attention. More than likely, she had heard from others connected to John the Baptist's ministry. This left an opening for the gospel once she had the opportunity to meet Christ.

John 4:5–26 describes one of the most famous moments in Jesus' earthly ministry. Here, He converses with a Samaritan woman. She is not only an ''unclean'' Samaritan, but also an outcast among her own people. At first, she attempts to avoid Jesus' teachings. Her answers suggest a clever mind, but they are also flippant and sarcastic. Despite that, and despite knowing all about her sin, Jesus encourages her with the love of God. This breaks through her hard heart; as a result, many others are brought to meet Christ. The disciples are also taught a valuable lesson about the purpose of their mission.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. He confronts her about sin, yet He also comforts her with the truth of the gospel. Even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, are reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man (John 3:1–2) to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point: the gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.