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1. Christ, with divinely skilful art, seeks after a single soul. We must have large congregations or we are disinclined for soul winning.

2. See the skill which compassion taught Him. Souls yield not to force, but to gentleness and wisdom.

3. The disciples marvel because Christ talked with a woman, a Samaritan, a sinner.

4. How could they do so after Christ had chosen them? It is sad when saved ones affect super. fine spirituality and turn away from such as Jesus would have welcomed.

5. In consequence of their interruption one of the sweetest conferences ever held was broken up. No breakers of communion are more blameable or frequent than Christ's disciples when out of sympathy with their Master.

6. Although the conference was broken up it was over-ruled for good. Since the woman cannot contemplate Christ nor hear Him, she will give herself to holy activity. Driven away from sitting like Mary at the Master's feet, let us rise to play the worker. When you are taken out of your usual course by a jerk, the Lord has special work for you to do.

7. The woman now becomes a messenger for Christ. From conference to testimony.

8. She leaves her waterpot —

(1) For speed.

(2) Perhaps her errand has made her forgetful; just as our Lord forgot His hunger in seeking her soul.

(3) Without thought she hit upon as good an action as thought would have suggested. The waterpot may have been useful to Christ.

(4) It was a pledge of her return.

9. Observe particularly her mode of address.

(1) Her one aim was to bring the people to Christ. She said nothing about their sins, nor did she try to reform them. She called them to one who could set them right.

(2) She was very earnest.

(3) She was self-forgetful. If you have been a great sinner be ashamed of it, hut do not be ashamed of the love which saved you. Never mind what people think — testify, and only look to what they will think of Jesus for having forgiven you.

(4) She was brief. If women preached just as long as she did no one could find fault with them.

(5) She was vivacious — almost as laconic as Caesar. "I came, I saw," etc.

(6) She was sensible. She did not say that Jesus was the Christ, but suggested it with great modesty for the men to examine.

(7) Her argument was exceedingly strong — drawn from herself and adapted to the men. Let us look at the woman's whole message.

I. THE INVITATION.

1. It was a clever, as well as a genuine and hearty invitation. "Come, see," was putting it most fairly, and men like a fair proposal. This is Christ's own word to His first disciples, and they used it when pleading with others.

2. It threw the responsibility on them. I may preach the gospel to you, but I cannot go to Christ in your stead.

3. It was pleasantly put, so as to prove the sympathy of the speaker — not "go," but "come." A sister's heart spoke in that word.

4. What a blessed vanishing of the speaker there is! Preaching is spoiled by self-consciousness. The fish knows little about the angler, but he knows when he has swallowed the hook.

II. THE ARGUMENT.

1. The argument lies concealed. The woman does not argue the point. "If Jesus be the Christ, then you should come with me and see Him," because she is persuaded that the people have agreed to it. You are not so practical as these people. You believe that Jesus is the Christ; why then don't you believe in Him as your Saviour?

2. What she did argue was this — this man, is He not the Christ? because —

(1) He has revealed me unto myself. Were you ever out in a black night when a single lightning flash has come? It has only smitten one oak, but it has revealed the landscape. So when the Lord showed one point in the woman's history He showed all. No one proves himself truly anointed unless he begins by showing you your sins.

(2) He has revealed Himself to me.

(3) She seemed to say — "This is more to me than it can be to you, for He has dealt personally with me; therefore I abide in my assurance that He is the Christ; but go and learn for yourselves.

(4) "You may come, I know, for He received me. I was at home with Him in a moment." Conclusion: If you do not come to Christ for salvation, you will have to come to Him for judgment.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: 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?

WEB: At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, "What are you looking for?" or, "Why do you speak with her?"