The Dark Secrets of Her Past

Jesus now abruptly turned the conversation. Before this woman could receive the gift He longed to give her, she must come to recognize her sin and her Savior. Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” She answered, “I have no husband.” But the Savior 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.”HH 78.5

The woman trembled. A mysterious hand was turning the pages of her life history. Who was He, that He could read the secrets of her life? Thoughts of eternity came to her, and of the future judgment, when all that is now hidden will be revealed.HH 78.6

She tried to change the subject away from this unwelcome direction. “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” Then, hoping to silence conviction, she turned to points of religious controversy.HH 78.7

Patiently Jesus watched for the opportunity to bring the truth home to her heart again. “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,” she said, “and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Just in sight was Mount Gerizim, a subject of dispute between Jews and Samaritans. For many generations, the Samaritans had intermingled with idol worshipers, whose religion gradually contaminated their own.HH 78.8

When the temple at Jerusalem was rebuilt in the days of Ezra, the Samaritans wanted to join the Jews in its construction. The Jews refused, and bitter feelings sprang up between the two peoples. The Samaritans built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. But enemies destroyed their temple, and they seemed to be under a curse. Yet they would not acknowledge the temple at Jerusalem as the house of God nor admit that the religion of the Jews was superior.HH 79.1

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.” Now Jesus sought to break down the prejudice of this Samaritan against the Jews. God had entrusted great truths of redemption to the Jews, and the Messiah was to appear from among them.HH 79.2

Jesus wanted to lift the thoughts of His hearer above controversy. “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”HH 79.3

Not by seeking a holy mountain or a sacred temple are we brought into communion with heaven. In order to serve God rightly, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, making us willingly obedient to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s working. Wherever someone reaches out after God, there we may see the Spirit’s working, and God will reveal Himself to that person.HH 79.4

As the woman talked with Jesus, she was impressed with His words. As Jesus had spread out her past life before her, she realized her soul’s thirst, which the waters of the well of Sychar could never satisfy. Nothing before had so greatly awakened her to a higher need. Jesus read the secrets of her life, yet she felt that He was her Friend, pitying and loving her. While the purity of His presence condemned her sin, He had spoken no word to denounce her, but had told her of His grace that could renew her life. The question arose in her mind, Could this be the long-looked-for Messiah? She said to Him, “‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’” Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”HH 79.5

As the woman heard these words, faith sprang up in her heart. She accepted the wonderful announcement from the lips of the divine Teacher.HH 79.6

This woman was in a receptive state of mind. She was interested in the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit had been preparing her to receive more light. Greater understanding on Old Testament prophecies was already flashing into her mind. The water of life that Christ gives to every thirsty soul had begun to spring up in her heart.HH 79.7

The plain statement that Christ made to this woman could not have been made to the self-righteous Jews. But what He had withheld from them, and what He later told the disciples to keep secret, He revealed to her. Jesus saw that she would make use of her knowledge in bringing others to share His grace.HH 79.8

When the disciples returned from their errand, they were surprised to find their Master speaking with the woman. He had not taken the refreshing drink He had asked for, and He did not stop to eat the food His disciples had brought. When the woman had gone, the disciples urged Him to eat. They saw Him silent, His face beaming with light, and they were afraid to interrupt, but they thought it was their duty to remind Him of His physical needs. Jesus recognized their loving interest and said, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”HH 80.1

The disciples wondered who could have brought Him food. He explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” To minister to someone hungering and thirsting for truth was more comforting and refreshing to Him than eating or drinking.HH 80.2

Our Redeemer hungers for the sympathy and love of those He has purchased with His blood. As the mother watches for a smile of recognition from her little child, which signals the dawning of intelligence, so does Christ watch for the expression of grateful love, which shows that spiritual life is begun in the heart.HH 80.3

The woman had been filled with joy as she listened to Christ’s words. Leaving her waterpot, she returned to the city to carry the message to others. She forgot her errand to the well, she forgot the Savior’s thirst, which she had intended to supply. With her heart overflowing with gladness, she hurried to share with others the light she had received.HH 80.4

“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did,” she said to the men of the city. “Could this be the Christ?” There was a new expression on her face, a change in her whole appearance. “They went out of the city and came to Him.”HH 80.5

As Jesus still sat by the well, He looked over the fields of grain spread out before Him, their tender green touched by the golden sunlight. Pointing His disciples to the scene, He used it as a symbol: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” As He spoke, He looked on the groups coming to the well. Here was a harvest ready for the Reaper.HH 80.6