What does Jesus' response in John 4:17 teach about His omniscience? The Moment at the Well “I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband.” (John 4:17) What Jesus Knew Without Being Told • She had already been married five times (v. 18). • She was currently living with a man who was not her husband (v. 18). • The details of her private life were hidden from every other traveler passing through Sychar. Why This Shows His Omniscience • No natural source: Jesus was a stranger in Samaria, traveling without prior contact or local knowledge. • Instant, precise facts: He did not guess; He stated exact numbers and current circumstances. • Same pattern elsewhere: – John 1:48 – Jesus tells Nathanael He saw him under the fig tree before meeting him. – Mark 2:8 – Jesus “knew in His spirit” what the scribes were thinking in their hearts. – John 2:24-25 – “He Himself knew what was in a man.” • Old-Testament benchmark: 1 Kings 8:39 says only God knows every human heart. Jesus fulfills that divine prerogative. Implications for Doctrine • Full deity affirmed: Only the all-knowing God could possess such exhaustive knowledge (Isaiah 46:9-10; Colossians 2:3). • Scripture’s reliability: The narrative presents Christ’s knowledge as factual, reinforcing the literal truthfulness of the Gospel record. • Consistent character: Jesus’ omniscience is neither occasional nor selective; it is part of His unchanging nature (Hebrews 13:8). Encouragement for Daily Life • He sees the hidden places of our hearts—nothing shocks Him, and nothing is overlooked (Hebrews 4:13). • His knowledge leads to grace, not condemnation; the Samaritan woman received living water, not rejection (John 4:10, 26). • Because He knows all, His guidance is perfectly trustworthy; we can yield every secret and sorrow to Him (Psalm 139:1-4). Takeaway John 4:17 unveils a Savior who knows everything about us before we utter a word. His omniscience is complete, divine, and always exercised for our redemption and good. |
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