Jesus and the Woman of Samaria (12)¹

George Hutcheson

John 4:25,26. The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He.

1. Some knowledge of the mysteries of religion may be found among those who otherwise are very far off. By this the Lord would condemn all those who are nearer, yet remain grossly ignorant, and all those who content themselves with notional knowledge. For this woman, a Samaritan, not only knew the Messiah was promised, but was expecting Him as near at hand, because things prophesied before His coming were accomplished, and especially that the sceptre was removed from Judah: “I know that the Messiah cometh”, she says.

2. It is the will of God that the Scriptures and truths of God should be made plain to the capacity of all, and that men should not please themselves with forms of words in the matter of knowledge, but should be acquainted with the thing itself. Therefore the name “Messiah” is expounded: “which is called Christ”, (not by the woman, who understood that name well enough, but by John,) for the use of all readers, that they might know what was signified by that name.

3. Resolution in a controversy of religion is only to be had and sought from Christ, who is the infallible resolver of all who come to His light. Therefore she remits the matter to Him.

4. As the will of God concerning religion and the way of salvation was not fully revealed till Christ came from the bosom of the Father, so Christ came to be a teacher of His Church and has fully revealed the counsel of God concerning His service and man’s salvation; so there is no place for adding to it or diminishing it. So much is implied in her expectation: “When He is come, He will tell us all things” – that is, which relate to this subject in hand.

¹These are the “Doctrines”, or lessons, as edited, that Hutcheson (1626-74) draws from these verses, in his Exposition of the Gospel of John.

1. Christ is not far off from any who have a high estimation of Him and a desire after Him, however great the distance may seem to themselves to be; for to this woman, so affected, He is at hand: “I am He”.

2. It commends Christ’s great condescension, that He not only came into the world, but was pleased to converse with the vilest of sinners to do them good; for says He, “I am He that speaketh unto thee”, a lewd woman, and a scoffer.

3. It commends also His great compassion towards needy sinners that His secret is with them, and that He will reveal Himself to them when He lets others lie in darkness. Although, on wise grounds, He forbade His disciples to make Him known, and would not Himself answer many fault-finding and tempting questions of the Jews, yet He will not conceal Himself from this Samaritan, now convinced of her need of Him.

4. No one can know or take up Christ, though present with them and speaking to them, unless He will reveal Himself; therefore this woman needs this declaration.