Morning Devotional
April 19, 2005
"The Woman at the Well" (Part 13) 
    by Don Emmitte

The woman said, "I know the Messiah will come--the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!" Just then his disciples arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing. (John 4:25-27 NLT).

 

There are often little asides in the Scripture that may be overlooked. Yet, when we begin to examine them in detail, they often contain some of the most profound truths. Such is the case with the five words I have highlighted this morning: Just them the disciples returned. There are three distinct emphases:

 

§         First, these words show us that Jesus was indeed alone. I should say that only our innocent, sinless Savior could get away with this. I can often remember those times when counseling with a woman that I took extra measures to insure the highest level of integrity and propriety. Jesus, however, met with the Samaritan woman alone. I think it emphasizes his power over temptation and sin.

 

§         Second, never-the-less Jesus must surely have protected His reputation. Scripture discourages even the appearance of evil, so Jesus would have been careful not to do anything that others could have claimed was wrong. Jesus must have had a reason for approaching this strange woman alone. I wonder if the fact that the disciples come back seeming to criticize Jesus’ decision to talk to a Samaritan woman could have been part of the reason Jesus sent them away. Perhaps He knew they would have never accepted the woman, and He knew He had a divine appointment to meet with her.

 

§         Third, I suspect a crowd probably would have frightened the Samaritan woman, who came to the well in the heat of the day to avoid a crowd. Sometimes people today don’t come to church because they are afraid their sins will be exposed. They don’t feel the crowds will accept them. Church to them is another reminder that they “aren’t right” with God.

 

I think Jesus knew this was something He had to do alone. He knew this woman needed a Savior, not a crowd who wouldn’t accept her. There may be people in your path that will never come to your church, but they still need to meet Jesus. They may be neighbors, or coworkers. You may be the best one to individually show them the way to Christ. Are you looking for those divine appointments? You won’t need to look hard. God will show you each of them when you exhibit a wiling heart and mind to share with others.