Come and See

The woman left her waterpot and went her way into the city.

What a blessing it is if we are enabled to give a rich and alluring testimony of the Lord Jesus, of His service and of His ways, and if we may show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! What a blessing it also is when we may be evangelists, bringers of good tidings unto a lost, wretched people!

In this history we see and hear of such an evangelist. She brings her message without delay, with the highest priority, for she even left her waterpot and went her way into the city to tell the people what He, that Man, had done unto her. Who is that evangelist? Where did she receive her training and what is her name? We know the history. This was not a highly respected and thoroughly religiously educated person. She was just a woman of Samaria. There are no reasons to be proud of her background, for she came from Sychar and was among the despised Samaritans, those semi-heathens. She was one of the most wicked ones, a woman who publicly lived in sin, and therefore was an outcast even among her own people. That was the reason that she came to the well at such an unusual time, for at that time it was unlikely that anyone else would be there. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, and neither did most of the Samaritans, her own people, want to have dealings with her. It was the fruit of her own wicked, corrupt life.

But something unexpected, something very unusual, happened. When she came to the well of Jacob, that historic place, she did not find the well deserted. A stranger was sitting there, and she saw immediately that it was a Jew. This Jew acted much differently from the other Jews. He wanted to have dealings with her. No, she did not invite Him to do so. She turned her back to Him and wanted to be left alone. Fortunately, she was not to be alone when coming to draw water out of the well of Jacob. She did not make any effort to hide her feelings of enmity and resistance. Oh, if she had known this, she would have come at another time, for she did not want to be involved in any conversation with a Jew, certainly not with this Jew who even dared to ask her: “Give Me to drink.”

But it is a wonder of grace if we cannot do what we want, if we must come at a certain time, to some place, in order to meet an unknown Teacher. This Teacher was there even before she came. He always comes first, before any ignorant student comes and sits down at His feet. So He must also go and be there. That is what we read in verse 4: “And He must needs go through Samaria.” This is a divine “must.” No invitation from men or any earthly circumstances caused Him to go this way. It was a route which the orthodox Jew rather avoided, preferring the other way from Judea unto Galilee, through Decapolis and Per-eah, at the other side of Jordan. Yet “He must needs go through Samaria,” because God wanted Him to go this way; it was the Father’s good pleasure which shall prosper in His hand. Because He is the Father’s Servant who came to do His will and as the Bridegroom of His church delights to do His will and to seek and to save those who are lost. For that reason He came, before this woman to the well of Jacob. There, a woman, thirsting for vain and sinful pleasures would be discovered, and would be made a poor, crying sinner, thirsting after God and seeking a way to be received into His favor again.

Although this woman tried to escape from His discovering instruction, He drew her irresistibly, with loving-kindness, unto Himself. She did everything she could in order to maintain and to continue her wicked way of life. Upon His questions and His speaking of living water, which she also needed, she answered with expressions of resentment, ignorance, unbelief, and even mockery. Oh, how true it is that the Lord is found of those who sought Him not!

But “this man will not be at rest until He have finished the thing this day.” It is His work and will to seek those lost sheep and to gather them to His flock. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring” (John 10:16).

Although she did not know the gift of God and who it was that said to her, “Give Me to drink,” He continued His conversation and gave her that humbling, discovering command: “Go, call thy husband and come hither.” That was the sword of His Word that He thrust into her heart. No, He did not say to her: “Go, and never come back again, woman; you are too impudent.” That would have been deserved. But wonder of His grace, He said: “Go, call thy husband and … come hither”! That was a wonder of merciful, seeking love. “Come here,” come as you are, come as a guilty sinner, with your corrupt, defiled, ruined life. Your bruise is incurable; there are no healing medicines for this disease, but come, and I will heal you.

Then it becomes apparent that we do not want to come in our shame and in our leprosy, but want to cover it. That’s what this woman did, too. But who is able to hide his transgressions, his lost existence, before the all-seeing eyes of an omniscient God? This stranger appeared to know everything about her. It was as if He said, “I know the inmost recesses of your heart and I know your ungodly, whoring, alienated existence. I know how long you have drunk from the filthy, poisoning waters of sin.” The Lord passed judgment on her life. He often does this step by step, but in the life of this woman it took only a short time, and then He had laid bare her whole life; nothing was hidden in His sight.

That was what she told the people in Samaria: “Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did.” A man, yes, but not a man like others. It was a Prophet whose instruction she needed and longed for. And His instruction was profitable to her. It showed her what her place really was: outside of the kingdom of God and without hope, for salvation is of the Jews. She was just an ignorant, carnal Samaritan woman, utterly unable to worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Not only her unrighteousness was revealed, but also her religion and her self-righteous works were shown to be nothing but filthy rags. Although she could not explain this longing herself, there was now a strong desire to worship, to serve God again, as He is worthy to be served. But that appeared to be utterly impossible. Oh, how mysterious, how incomprehensible is God’s leading toward the Savior! When a sinner is made to long to live to God’s honor and glory again, then he says: “Who would not fear Thee, oh King of nations, for to Thee doth it appertain?”

Do you also know that desire, my young friends? God is so worthy to surrender your young life, by grace, unto Him, and to serve Him in your youth. But how painful it was for this woman, now thirsting, not after the bitter drink of sin, but after God and His nearness, to find out that this way, from her side, is closed forever, and that she can never worship God anymore as He is worthy. In this way the Lord Jesus made room in her heart for Himself, for His mediatorial work. She stood there, instructed in the truth of her lost condition, but also of God’s majesty and glory. She knew that Messiah would come. He is the only Way, but… she did not know Him. He alone can do that which is impossible with men. He only can teach her the way which is so hidden to her. But when would He come, and would He also by willing to help such a wretched creature as she was? Then it was God’s time to refresh the poor, longing soul of a thirsty sinner with the water of life. He is the fountain of life Himself, and He says: “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”

In the dark night of all her impossibilities a door of hope was opened to her. Christ revealed Himself unto her, saying: “I that speak unto thee am He.” And then she might drink, as much as she wanted, as much as she needed of that water of life. Then she might behold Him “who will give unto him that is athirst of the water of life freely.”

“I am He.” That was what she heard, the Messiah, the Christ, anointed as Prophet to teach blind, ignorant Samaritans the way they should go. “I am He,” the Priest who came to sacrifice Himself for the transgressions of enemies. “I am He,” the King who is mighty to deliver from the bondage of sin, to guide, protect, and preserve a weak, helpless people.

“I am He,” the Pearl of great price, and now she can behold His glory.

I am the Preserver of life, the greater Joseph whom God hath sent before them to save much people alive, to save them from eternal destruction.

I am the Redeemer, who will give strangers a place among His sheep, the greater Boaz who will ingraft a Samaritan into Israel.

I am the mighty One upon whom help is laid, the greater David to whom those gather themselves that are in distress and that are in debt.

I am the King of Israel, given by God, the greater Solomon. A Samaritan woman, as once the Queen of Sheba might marvel because of the glory of Him who is fairer than the children of men. Oh, how He became necessary for her, but also how suitable, amiable, and precious! He had everything she needed.

Is it a wonder then, that she left her waterpot and went her way into the city? So we see her here as an evangelist among her own people. How alluring and urgent was her message. Come and see … a man, yes, but also the Man, the Christ, the Messiah. She had tasted something of the living water out of that blessed fountain herself and she could no longer remain silent Grace made her liberal — come and see. But God made her also honest: “He told me all things that I ever did.” Her entire abominable, corrupt life was unveiled and now she wanted to confess who she really is, but also who He is for her.

An impressive message, crowned with rich and blessed fruits! For we read: “Then they went out of the city and came unto Him.” No, they did not come unto her, but unto Him. To whom else should we go? He only has the words of eternal life. Why do we hear so seldom about such rich, living and real testimonies today? There are so few meetings with the Lord and there is so little discovering work of the Spirit; therefore there is so much turning to the broken cisterns which can hold no water. The Lord says: “Ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence.” What a precious privilege it is to be a living witness of Him, saying: “Come and see,” knowing ourselves, what a poor, hungry, humbled soul may see in Him, when He reveals Himself. Oh, waiting, longing, crying soul: “Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall behold the land that is afar off.” Here He is often hidden again, also because of our sins. But once you will see Him in His glory and you will say, “Behold, the half was not told me, Thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I have heard.” Oh, then the greater Solomon will give unto you all your desire! Then you may worship Him in spirit and in truth and give Him all the honor of His own work.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

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