501
THE KING’S BUSINESS
would think of putting a detail of this kind in, especially without any hint of its significance. Why did she leave her waterpot? It may be that she in tended to come right back and the message she had to bring was so vital and important that she must not be encumbered or delayed in the least even by the fulfilment of the mission that originally brought her to the well. It may be she was so excited by what had been told her that she forgot her waterpot altogether in her eagerness to tell at once to others the great, good news, that she had found the Christ. In either case it shows how much more important in her eyes find ing the Christ and telling others about the Christ were than all ordinary, earthly, interests. Matthew left the receipt of custom (Matt. 9:9), Peter, James and John forsook their nets (Mark 1 :18, 19), this woman forsook her waterpot and Paul gave up every thing (Phil. 3:7, 8 ) to tell others of their great find, Jesus the Christ. What cared she for the waterpot any how? She now had a whole well of water ever springing up in her heart (v. 14). She bore the good news not to her “husband” only but to all, to the inhab itants generally. The word translated “men” is not the word that contrasts “men” with “women” but the generic word that describes human beings in general so that the American Revised Version is almost warranted in trans lating it as it does “people.” That word gives the thought. Luther has an equivalent rendering. She says what she has to Say to everybody she meets sitting at their doors or chatting on the streets at even time. Everybody must hear about Him. The woman’s testimony to Jesus, that he had “told her all things that she (I) did,” seems exaggerated but it was essentially true. He laid bare the deepest secret of her heart and life
even thus early learning to trust Him and abide His own time for explan ations. They couldn’t understand His action, they were more than puzzled by it, they “marveled," at it, but they knew it must be right whatever the explanation might be. It might be their Master was seeking some help from her that He needed, but they reverently forbore from asking what it was. It might be that He had some reason for talking with her of which they could not conceive, but they did not ask, “Why talkest thou with her ?” If they had asked He might have opened their eyes to see how infinitely important it was to reveal Himself to a sinning woman, just as important as to reveal Himself to the man Nico- demus, “the teacher of the Jews.” Vv. 28, ,29. “The woman then left her waterpot (rather, so the woman left her waterpot ) , and went her way (rather, away) into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which (rather, who) told me all things that ever (omit ever) I did; is not (omit not) this the Christ (or, can this be the Christ?”) The woman did not tarry to talk any longer with Jesus or to ask Him any more questions. She could not talk with Him freely any longer for the disciples were present and moreover there was nothing more to ask, He had declared the all im portant fact “I am the Christ.” She had made the great discovery, she must hurry away and tell it to others. When any one really finds Jesus as the Christ the first irresistible impulse is to go and tell others. (See ch. 1 :40-42, 43-45). This woman also has exactly the same appeal as the first disciples, “Come, see.” (cf. ch. 1 :46 and 1 :41, 42). It is a significant little detail (and one that clearly shows the eyewitness) that John adds jn the words “left her waterpot.” No one making up a story
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