Some Lessons Taught
(It will be helpful to first read the Scripture text)
We see several significant teachings unfold in this chapter regarding the person of Jesus and also the truths about the salvation he offers.
The person of Jesus:
Jesus clearly claimed to be the promised Messiah, whose coming was prophesized in the Old Testament Scriptures. They foretold that the Messiah would be the Savior, and would be Divine, God in human flesh. Jesus displayed his Deity by his offer to give eternal life, which implies authority to forgive sin, something only God can do. Evidence of his Deity is shown by his supernatural knowledge of the woman’s rocky past. A few years later his Deity was proven by his resurrection from the dead.
Jesus’ love has no limits:
Jesus’ love reaches out to everyone, even to the worst of sinners. This is seen by his putting aside cultural barriers and purposefully walking 40 miles to offer salvation to this needy woman, and also by his willingness to live with and teach these culturally despised, people. His love was displayed even more forcefully a few years later by his sacrificial death on the cross, for her and for every one of us.
Salvation is a free gift:
This eternal life, that Jesus offered was presented as a free gift, therefore, it isn’t earned. A gift cannot be earned or paid for, or it can no longer be considered a gift. Four times in his conversation Jesus told the woman that his living water (eternal life, salvation) was something that he would give her as a gift. The book of Romans (4:4-5) seems very fitting to this story. “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
Eternal life is received by believing and trusting in Jesus:
Jesus noted that the harvest season was still 4 months away, but then he told his disciples to look out and see the fields (the villagers approaching in their traditional white robes) and announced there was about to be a harvest for eternal life. Jesus knew that their hearts were “ripe for harvest” and were ready to receive his free gift. This is exactly what happened from the testimony of the villagers: “And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the Woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know (an expression of belief) that this man really is the Savior (at this point their Savior) of the world.’”
There are scores of verses throughout the New Testament that clearly teach that salvation comes only through believing and trusting in, Jesus and his sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for our sin. (See “Resources” drop-down) Following is just a few.
From Paul’s introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1: 16-17
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
Probably the most quoted verses in the entire New Testament is John 3:16-18. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
God’s grace displayed:
God’s grace is displayed in this true story by Jesus’ offer of his free gift of eternal life in spite of the woman’s sinful life. She had no role in her salvation except to believe Jesus had the authority to give her eternal life, and to trust in him and his promise to grant her this gift. Grace is receiving favor when we deserve the opposite. Ephesians 2:8,9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” We can’t even brag about our faith.
Eternal Life is just that…Eternal:
Jesus further promised that by accepting his gift, the woman would never thirst again. God’s gift of salvation is a forever gift that Jesus called “eternal life” throughout the scriptures. It is ours forever. In John 11:25 Jesus said the following just before he raised his good friend, Lazarus, from the dead, “…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus’ statement was both a promise of assurance to believers in Jesus and also an invitation for anyone to accept him as their Savior and to put their faith and trust in him for their eternal salvation. As Jesus asked, “Do you believe this?” if so, thank him for his wonderful gift of salvation, the living water that “springs up to eternal life.”
For a discussion on if good works are required for salvation CLICK HERE.
If you have questions or comments please CLICK HERE.
May God bless you!