John 4:28-30 The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men,… 1. The impulse is natural to communicate to others what- ever may have been imparted to ourselves. The successful son sends word quickly home; the soldier of the forlorn hope hastens to communicate intelligence of his safety and success. The shepherd calls his neighbours to rejoice with him, and the father of the prodigal throws open his banqueting halls; Mary Magdalene "departed quickly from the sepulchre" to the disciples to communicate her joy. So with the woman of Samaria. 2. This is ever the result of saving conversion. Christianity must be expansive. The work of the Spirit is a life ever giving. 3. How unlike the selfish, grasping spirit of the world! 4. Christian influence is not confined to the active. The sick Christian may speak with a speechless eloquence. Notice — I. THE WOMAN'S CREDENTIALS. 1. Honesty and outspoken candour. In ordinary circumstances she would have shrunk from such a self-revelation. We should have expected efforts to keep them from Christ lest He should disclose more. But her honest avowal could not but have its weight with her fellow-townsmen. 2. Her earnestness; perhaps at first derided as fanatical, or hypocritical to serve her own ends. But her pleadings are irresistible. Earnestness is the power of the ministry, not charm of intellect or subtlety of reasoning, or sorcery of eloquence, but living words welling up from experience. 3. Her happiness. She had what they all wanted. II. THE SUBJECT OF HER MESSAGE. She tells what we should have expected her to withhold. 2. She omits what we should have expected her to proclaim — the well, everlasting life. 3. The effective and influential characteristic of the gospel message is not figurative descriptions and metaphysical disputes, but the direct commending of the truth to the conscience, awakening the sense of sin, and thus preparing it for the remedy. In conclusion, notice the power of feeble influences. Never undervalue weak instrumentality. (J. R. Macduff.) Parallel Verses KJV: The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,WEB: So the woman left her water pot, and went away into the city, and said to the people, |
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