Jesus has been talking to a woman at a well in a village in Samaria. Jesus tells her that he offers "living water" that never needs to be replenished. The woman responds, "Sir, give me that water..."
John 4: 16-18, Husbands
He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Jesus appears to invite her husband to join in the conversation, but clearly knows about the woman's past. This past probably explains the reasons she is alone at this well in the heat of the day. The woman's past (and her inclination to hide it) may represent a barrier in her progress towards spiritual health.
The woman is intrigued by this offer of eternal fresh water but Jesus intends a serious spiritual encounter and lays the groundwork for a deeper conversation.
John 4: 19-20, Tangent
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Surprised by Jesus' knowledge, the woman admits that he is "a prophet". But her next statement is probably a red herring -- she focuses on the religious differences between the Jews and Samaritans.
John 4: 21-24, Tangents
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Jesus follows this pseudo-religious distraction by telling her that a time has (Now!) come when the place of worship is irrelevant. Jesus does correct the Samaritan (yes, the Jews were right) but downplays the differences. Salvation, coming from the Jews, through the Jewish Messiah, is available to all. Those who wish to worship the true God can do that, "in spirit and in truth". (Is the emphasis on truth a subtle suggestion that honesty is necessary in dealing with God?)
No matter what direction the woman takes the conversation, however, it is going to ultimately end up discussing the Jewish Messiah.
John 4: 25-26, Messiah
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
The woman acknowledges that she is aware the Messiah will come. Jesus responds that it is Done. Indeed, the Messiah is speaking to her now.
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