Anchor My Faith

Uncovering Her Needs

Scripture: John 4:15-18

The conversation about living water ended in the previous lesson with a lack of understanding by the woman just as the conversation about being born again with Nicodemus ended with a lack of understanding. In response to Jesus telling the woman who he was and that he could provide her with living water, the woman clearly communicated that she still did not understand the spiritual nature of the living water by saying, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water” (John 4:15 ESV). Like Nicodemus, she was still unable to understand spiritual things and therefore unable to understand what Jesus was saying. Notice what Jesus says in response to her lack of understanding.

Jesus realizes that further conversation about living water would not be productive so he changes the focus of the conversation to her marriage by requesting her to “Go, call your husband, and come here” (John 4:16 ESV). We need to see this transition and understand that God has not prepared her heart to receive any more at this time. Here in the west we tend to continue the conversation which becomes an effort to persuade the person to pray the sinner’s prayer. Convincing a person to pray under those conditions does not necessarily equate to being born again. It simply deceives the person into thinking they have been born again. The Father determines the time for spiritual birth, not our arguments!

Jesus wisely changes the conversation with a command to go call her husband. “The woman answered him, “I have no husband.”’ (John 4:17a ESV). She is technically truthful, but it appears she is attempting to end that conversation. Jesus then demonstrates his ability to know the lives of people, even their thoughts replies with, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true” (John 4:17b – 18 ESV).

The fact that she has had five husbands and is now living with another man is not as important as what Jesus is doing. He is pointing out the importance of getting to know the person you are trying to share the gospel with. I believe this deeper insight is important because in my western culture we often share the gospel without any real interest in the life of the person. Jesus never tried to convince the woman to believe something or to make some kind of decision. He knew there was a deeper issue in her life that he needed to uncover and then make a spiritual connection to. As we look at these verses do we see a possible clue that might open a door into her life?

In verse 15 and 16 is the word “here”. It seems that the woman doesn’t like to come “here” to the well to draw water and when she comes it is at noon when no one else will be there. Why does she not come in the morning along with other woman when it is cooler? In verse 16, Jesus makes reference to “here” by requesting that she go and get her husband, which she does not have, and bring him “here” with her. What is the connection? Might it be a painful experience for her to come to the well when other women are there? Might the fact that she has had so many husbands and that she is currently living with a man who is not her husband result in some form of persecution from other women?

Jesus perceives that in her pain to come to the well and the fact that she has had five husbands and is now living with a man, is a sin problem that he can focus on with her that could show her an important need that he can meet. Jesus is searching for a way to get into her inner life to open the door for her to see her need of salvation.

We are beginning to see the importance of establishing a caring relationship with the person we want to lead to salvation. Salvation is not simply making a decision. It is a manner of the heart. In our next lesson we will consider this further.

Prayer

Father, thank you for teaching me, while I was in China that salvation is not winning a debate with a person that convinces them to pray a prayer, but is finding a need in a person’s life and showing how Jesus wants to meet that need. Thank you for teaching me that you determine the time of salvation, not me. Thank you for showing me that salvation is needs based not winning an argument.