These are the “doctrines”, or lessons, as edited, that Hutcheson (1626-74) draws from these verses, in his Exposition of the Gospel of John.
John 4:27-30. And upon this came His disciples, and marvelled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest Thou? or, Why talkest Thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.
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Poor sinners may meet with so sweet a time in Christ’s company that even the company of disciples would be an interruption to it; for she had so sweet a time with Christ that the disciples’ coming puts an end to it. They had been sent “to buy meat” (v 8), and when they return, the conference breaks up, or at least does so shortly afterwards.
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Providence wisely and graciously orders dispensations towards Christ’s people, so that they do not lose by them, but they tend to good; therefore the disciples do not come till she knew Him to be the Messiah, and till the breaking up of the conference tended to a greater good in sending her to bring in more people to Christ.
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Christ will humble Himself and stoop so low to a poor sinner, as is marvellous to flesh and blood. There is more kindness, meekness and humility in Him alone than in all His followers; for “His disciples marvelled that He talked with the woman”, or that He should take notice of such a person; and it seems He was about to finish his conversation, but had not yet ended it when they came. He is so compassionate that he needs no intercessors.
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It is no strange thing to see Christ’s followers soon forget themselves and, although advanced by grace, to become so proud as to despise others; for they who were even now chosen out of the dust “marvelled that He talked with the woman”.
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Such reverence is due to Christ in His working that, even when we can see no reason for what He does, we are bound not to quarrel with Him, but to suppress our own thoughts. So did the disciples: “yet no man said, What seekest Thou? or, Why talkest Thou with her?”
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When a soul has tasted of Christ and His excellence, other things will be little regarded which before were in great esteem. So it was with this woman; she came to draw water for her thirst, and thought much of that water, but now she forgot her errand and “left her waterpot, and went her way”.
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True grace communicates itself, and knowledge of Christ will make a person diligent to spread His name, particularly to those they have the greatest interest in; for “she goeth to the city,” where she dwelt, “and saith to the men, Come . . . ”.
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Such as kindly invite others to Christ, from any saving knowledge of Him, will not be content that men rest on their report, but would have them taste and see themselves. Nor will they be content to send others, but will go to share in it themselves: “Come (not go), see a man,” says she.
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As Christ knows all that men do, so His searching and discovering word is a special means of conversion; and a sanctified sight of one sin, discovered by Christ, will open men’s eyes to see more; therefore, although Christ spoke many good words to her, this was the hook that caught her: He “told me all things that ever I did”. She says, “all things”, either because in one instance He gave proof of His ability so to do, or because that discovery represented other things to her as seen by Him.
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Christ’s doctrine is then effectual and prevails, when Himself is seen in and by it; therefore she adds, “Is not this the Christ?” – not as doubting of it herself, seeing He had told her, but as pointing it home to them, that they may consider such an opportunity.
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Weak instruments, and such as have but small knowledge and weak faith, yea, even women in their stations, labouring in the gospel, shall not be without their own success, but may have powerful effects; for upon this weak woman’s invitation, “they went out of the city, and came unto Him”.
Repentance and faith are the gifts of God, and gifts that He often withholds when they have been long offered in vain. I grant you true repentance is never too late. But I warn you, at the same time, late repentance is seldom true. I grant you, one penitent thief was converted in his last hours, that no man might despair; but I warn you, only one was converted, that no man might presume.
J C Ryle