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T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S to a poor, outcast woman. (Rom. 10: 20 , 21 .) “A n d I s a ia h is v e r y b o ld a n d s n ith , I w a s fo u n d o f th e m t h a t s o u g h t m e n o ti I b e c a m e m a n if e s t u n to th e m t h a t a s k e d n o t o f m e .' “ B u t to I s r a e l h e s a ith , A ll th e d a y lo n g d id I s p re a d o u t m y h a n d s u n to a d is o b e d ie n t a n d g a in s a y in g p e o p le .” Hbw lovingly did He heal the wound which He had made! (3) 'T H E WITNESS F O R T H E TRUTH, vs. 27-30, 39-42. The fountain of life immediately springs up w ithin the woman’s soul. She cannot control its rise. Immedi ately she sta rts as fast as she can for the city where she m u st needs te ll it. She cannot be restrained. Wings of love bear h er along. She m u st .tell the good news. She forgets her water pitcher. She forgets h er shame. She forgets th a t the people of th e city de spise her. H er soul sings w ith joy, “Come and see, ‘ Is not th is the Christ?” (1 Cor. 14:24,; >25.) The outcast is transform ed. A creature of shame becomes a flaming evangelist. This is a tru e evidence of life., It is th e normal condition of the tru e dis ciple. Absorbed in Christ, she is full of thoughts of Him. She forgets all m inor m atters, all secondary considera tions, leaves all to folldw' Him. The new life was bubbling up w ithin her h eart and must flow out, (Job 32:18- 20). (Jn. 3:11) “ V e rily , v e rily , I s a y u n to th e e , W e s p e a k t h a t w e d o , k n o w , a n d t e s t if y t h a t w e h a v e s e e n .” She had a h ea rt consciousness of the searching glance qf, her Lord, yet no hesitation in acknowledging th a t He knew h er life. ■ ' How blessed is such a testimony. How blessed to sta rt people towards Christ, “ She brought; them .” H er clear, faithful words were fruitful, “Many more believed because of His own word.” They crowned th e Lord Jesus w ith a new |itle , “Savior of th e world.” Before we can testify to others we
to avoid meeting those who despised her. She had sought happiness but found only misery. (2) THE WOUND OF A FRIEND, vs. 16-26. See how Jesu s deals w ith this wo man and get a lesson in soul-winning. He introduces th e subject naturally, tak ing th e well of w ater for a theme. Then H e suggests a source of supply for a th irsty soul. Then He digs a well in her h ea rt by going down deep into1h er experience.' He creates a de sire and her response is “Sir, give me th is w ater.” But He puts aside her request and probes deeper, “Go, call thy husband.” She realizes th a t she is in the presence of One who knows her heart. H er conscience is stirred and she is convicted. So must w e : work w ith sinners. A surgeon uses a knife and often finds it necessary to make, a deep wound, but he looks beyond the wound and sees the healing. You cannot win souls w ithout hu rting them. The Word is a sword (Eph. 6:17 ) and we must learn to use it skilfully. The woman’s mind in stan tly reverts to her sins and her need of a sacrifice for sin. H er though ts go out toward the temple. How can the need of her soul be supplied? How can she come into the presence of God? H er long ing h ea rt goes out tow ard the Mes siah, the long-promised Deliverer: Here is One who knows h e r life yet con demns h er not. He was not defiled by h er presence. She is convicted and w ith trem bling lips she says, “ I know th a t Messiah cometh,” and then from His lips falls th e announcement, “ I th a t speak unto thee, am He.” (John 9:37.) “J e s u s s a id u n to h im , T h o u h a s t b o th s e e n H im a n d H e i t is t h a t s p e a k e th w ith th e e .” This is th e first revelation which Jesus made of H imself and He made it
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