January
19, 2003
SIR,
I PERCEIVE THAT YOU ARE A PROPHET
"The
woman said to Him, 'Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet"
(John 4:19, NKJV).
Jesus
had just spoken to the Samaritan woman of living
water. "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst,
nor come here to draw" (John 4:15).
"Jesus
now abruptly turned the conversation. Before this soul could
receive the gift He longed to bestow, she must be brought
to recognize her sin and her Saviour. He 'said to her, "Go,
call your husband, and come here." She answered,
'I have no husband.' Thus she hoped to prevent all questioning
in that direction. But the Saviour continued, 'You
have well said, "I have no husband," for you have
had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your
husband; in that you spoke truly' (John 4:16-18).
"The
listener trembled. A mysterious hand was turning the pages
of her life history, bringing to view that which she had hoped
to keep forever hidden. Who was He that could read the secrets
of her life? There came to her thoughts of eternity, for the
future judgment, when all that is now hidden shall be revealed.
In its light, conscience was awakened.
"She
could deny nothing; but she tried to evade all mention of
a subject so unwelcome. With deep reverence, she said, 'Sir,
I perceive that You are a prophet.' Then, hoping to silence
conviction, she turned to points of religious controversy.
If this was a prophet, surely He could give her instruction
concerning these matters that had been so long disputed.
"Patiently
Jesus permitted her to lead the conversation whither she would.
Meanwhile He watched for the opportunity of again bringing
the truth home to her heart. 'Our fathers worshiped on this
mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place
where one ought to worship' (John 4:20)... In answer to the
woman, Jesus said, 'Believe Me, the
hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor
in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do
not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the
Jews' (John 4:21, 22). Jesus had shown that He was
free from Jewish prejudice against the Samaritans. Now He
sought to break down the prejudice of this Samaritan against
the Jews... He declared that the great truths of redemption
had been committed to the Jews, and that from among them the
Messiah was to appear. In the Sacred Writings they had a clear
presentation of the character of God and the principles of
His government. Jesus classed Himself with the Jews as those
to whom God had given a knowledge of Himself."-- The
Desire of Ages, pp. 187-189. (to be continued)
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