CHANGING THE SUBJECT

John 4:16-24
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So 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?”

21 Jesus 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. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But 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. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”


Did you notice that the Samaritan woman does what we so often do when the conversation is not going in the direction we want it to go? We are quick to change the subject. Jesus was stepping on her toes when her immoral living was exposed. She never denied it but quickly wanted to focus on something else. That was OK with Jesus. He had made His point.

He was also ready to give an answer to the challenge presented in the new topic. 1st Peter 3:15 tells us to be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. It sounds like the Samaritan woman had one of those canned challenges to faith questions. It was a question from her church … her culture … her denomination. She says, “…we Samaritans…”. Jesus responded with the message of Christian unity. “…the time is coming when it will no longer matter…” Your focus on issues or things that separate will not count for anything because, “…true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”

The day has come … “…indeed it is here now…” … for the Body of Christ to quit arguing among itself and worship God as Jesus directed, “… in spirit and in truth.”