George Hutcheson
John 4:4-6. And He must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh He to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
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When persecutors have done their worst, neither Christ nor His followers will lack work or success so long as the Lord pleases; for Christ, driven from Judea, finds both in Samaria.
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As persecution and exile should not discourage Christ’s servants from attending to their calling and, as they should employ even the time of their journey in seeking to do good, so a very short time, through God’s blessing, may produce great effects; thus Christ’s practice and success, while He is on His journey, teach us.
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In every step of men’s way they should study to have a clear calling, especially for doing those things at which others are apt to stumble and take offence; therefore Christ, however His love put a necessity upon Him to visit these wandering sheep, (and he did not hold back from going to a hateful place to seek them) yet, being the minister of circumcision (Rom 15:8), and having forbidden his disciples to go to the Samaritans, (Matt 10:5), he will have his journey thither freed from criticism by the necessity of his going that way from Judea to Galilee; “He must needs go through Samaria,” as being the straight way, which appears from Luke 9:51,52, 17:11, and is clear to them who know the situation of that country.
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A lawful and necessary calling makes converse lawful with those with whom otherwise it is not justifiable, for therefore He went “through Samaria”, and did so warrantably, since it was the straight way to Galilee.
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Piety and faith in God have a sweet savour above any excellence that men can hunt after besides; therefore is this place so eminent, even in Christ’s time, by reason of Jacob’s abode, who worshipped God there (Gen 33: 19,20); and because of his faith in giving that land to his children when they were sojourners in Egypt.
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Christ took on, not only our nature, but its common infirmities, and He is to be as seriously looked on as emptied in His humanity, as in the glory of His Godhead, for the comfort of those who know themselves to be sinners, who come to such a High Priest; therefore it is recorded that He was
1These are the “Doctrines”, or lessons, as edited, that Hutcheson (1626-74) draws from these verses, in his Exposition of the Gospel of John.
“wearied with His journey” before half the day was spent and that, through weariness, He “sat thus on (or beside) the well” – that is, even as the seat was available, or as wearied men use to sit.
Faith1
W K Tweedie
Romans 1:17. The just shall live by faith.
How mighty, yet how weak, is faith! How mysterious, yet how simple! How prized in the religion of God! How undervalued or perverted in that of man!
Where does it operate? What is the secret of its power? Has it any inherent virtue? How does it save? How does it sanctify? How does it overcome the world? What secret force does faith possess, when all these things are ascribed to it?
The one answer to all these questions is that faith receives Christ; and hence is all its power. In itself it is nothing; it can do nothing. But when it welcomes or embraces the Lord, then it can do all things. It can lead to the fountain opened for sin. It can purify the heart. It can overcome the world. With the Spirit of God for its Author, with the Word of God for its foundation, with Christ for the great object to which it clings, with the salvation of the soul for its end, faith leads God’s children in triumph along the narrow way. It is the evidence of things not seen. It is the substance of things hoped for. It puts on the Saviour’s righteousness and is safe. It teaches the soul in trial to say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him”.
It points, amid danger, to Him who is a hiding place from the storm, and in the day of prosperity it tells of the Sun of Righteousness. In a word, faith receives and rests on Christ. Hence its more than mortal power; hence its triumphs; hence it has led many to the stake amid songs of joy. Or, far more than that, hence it obtains from God, as an empty hand held out obtains alms, the righteousness which justifies, the blood which cleanses, the peace which is the foretaste of heaven.
The language of faith is, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”; I will not fear though ten thousand be set round about against me; “The name of the Lord is a strong tower”; I flee thither and am safe, and if my faith works by love, all is well; “All things are possible”; “only believe”; “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief”; “Lord, increase our faith”. Should these not be the cherished sentiments of every self-loving soul?
1Taken, with editing, from Tweedie’s volume, Glad Tidings of the Gospel of Peace.