Bible Commentaries

Can This Be The Christ?
- John Four -

John four provides an intimate look into the heart of the Savior as His compassion and care are set forth. A much married, sinful woman was precious to Jesus, as were the people of Samaria and Galilee. Jesus also loved and met the needs of a nobleman and his son. We can truthfully say with Peter, "We have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6:69) The Bible land in the time of our Savior was divided into three parts. Judea was in the south, Galilee in the north and Samaria was between them. In John four we see Jesus in all three parts of the land. Where ever we find Jesus He is preaching to all who will listen.

This can be the Christ because He offers living water -- John 4:1-26 : At Jacob's well Jesus met a sinful, Samaritan woman. Some of Jesus greatest teaching was done to just one student. He spoke to this woman about living water. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink," you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10) Our Lord's mercy is remarkable. His wisdom is beyond measure. He recognized the sinfulness of this woman, yet He showed mercy in being willing to forgive. Jesus spoke to this woman about worship because "true worship" binds all souls together. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24) How beautiful it is when brethren can take sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company with one another. (Psalms 55:14) True worship builds us up and draws us together as the church of Christ.

This can be the Christ because He knows all things -- John 4:27-38 : Jesus knew all about this woman. He said to her, "Go, call thy husband, and come hither." (John 4:16) Her response was, "I have no husband." Jesus knew her situation so he said, "Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly." (John 4:17-18) The woman was so amazed with Jesus that she, "Left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"" (John 4:28-29) Christ's knowledge of this woman and her sinful life was enough to convince her that He was the Christ. The words of Jesus caused this woman to believe and His words should cause us to believe. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) Jesus also used this occasion as an opportunity to teach His disciples that everyone has a place in His kingdom, even this Samaritan woman. He said, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." The souls of men are always subject to being gathered into God's kingdom. Let us all do our part to bring others to Jesus. There must be a harvest of souls for God among all people at any time.

This can be the Christ because His words are believable: John 4:39-45 : There was within that sinful woman a spark of goodness waiting to be kindled by Jesus. When this woman became a believer in Jesus she soon became a soul-winner for Him. She believed Jesus to be the Messiah. Out of her simple faith she led others to Christ. John wrote, "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."" (John 4:39) They were so interested that they asked Jesus to stay longer and teach them more. "So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word." (John 4:40-41) Observe that John said many more became believers through the words of Jesus. They said, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John 4:42) Not only did people in Samaria believe but people in Galile also believed because of the things Jesus did in Jerusalem. The more good one does anywhere the more good he can do everywhere, even at home. "So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast." (John 4:45) Be thankful for the Savior!

This could be the Christ because of His miracles and signs -- John 4:46-54 : The healing of the nobleman's son was a second miracle at Cana. It was here that Jesus had made the water into wine. (John 2:1-11) This is a tender and touching story of a father pleading for his son. It is also a powerful story of the miraculous ability of Jesus. "Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household." (John 4:50-53) What a beautiful picture of the compassion, concern and power of Jesus, the Son of God. This was a genuine miracle. A miracle is something above the laws of nature, something the laws of nature could not do in their normal course of operation. Jesus performed great signs, wonders and miracles. The purpose of miracles was to establish the foundation truth of Christianity and salvation, and that truth is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Later John wrote, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:30-31)

What a thrill when people come to the point of total faith in Jesus as the Christ. You can enjoy redemption in the blood of the Lamb and also forgiveness and hope because "this is the Christ."