◄ What Does John 4:26 Mean? ►

Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

John 4:26(NASB)

Verse of the Day

This much loved story of the woman at the well has become a favourite with many Christians who recognise the beautiful way that God in His goodness and grace has approached each one of us, and has slowly and gently brought us to a deep and saving understanding of Who He truly is.

Someone once said that there is a God-shaped hole in each of our hearts, and the Bible reminds us that God has placed eternity in the heart of us all and yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end. And so throughout their discourse, we see the Lord Jesus slowly, patiently, tenderly, and truthfully addressing each of the issues in this woman's life.

She curiously quizzed this Man, asking Who He was and what was His interest in her, a Samaritan and a woman, whom she knew was despised by Jewish men. She questioned Him about religion and answered provocatively when asked if she had a husband. I have no husband! was her flirtatious reply, until her sordid secret was exposed by this intriguing Man at the well.

She was fairly dismissive of some of His replies: "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep," was her disdainful response when He offered her living water. But her interest grew when she began to perceive that this Man was a Prophet of God.

But Jesus was no ordinary Man and no ordinary Prophet, for he was the Prophet of God about Whom Moses spoke. He was the Priest of Lord after the order of Melchizedek. He was the King of Israel Whose kingdom would never end. He was the Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world.

Finally the woman could not contain her fascination with this Man from Galilee: "I know that Messiah is coming, He who is called Christ, and when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."

I cannot imagine what astonished thrill and ecstatic wonder must have filled her heart when Jesus replied: "I, Who speak to you, Am He." Indeed the word HE was not part of the original text. "I AM" was the staggering reply she received as the Lord God of creation in the Person of Jesus Christ, when He revealed His identity to her on that day, as He sat by the side of a well, in Samaria.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this beautiful story of this woman and the lovely way that Jesus opened up the Scriptures to her in order to reveal to her His person and work. Thank You that Christ has revealed Himself to me and that by faith in Him, I have drunk of His living water and have had a well of water spring up into everlasting life. In Jesus' name, AMEN.