The profound account
of our Lord's dialogue with the “Woman At The Well” in Samaria is a familiar one to most of us (John 4:3-43),
and is a rich passage, copious with truth and profuse with spiritual insights for all who would believe upon the Son of God
and live within His Body, “as lively stones...built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Many different sermons can be preached and have been preached
from this text, focusing on any one of its many themes. It is my purpose to focus upon one of the greatest, and yet lesser
known themes of this passage, while touching briefly upon some of the others. I invite you to look into this narrative, and
I pray it shall be a blessing and encouragement unto each reader.
John 4:3-6;
“He [Jesus] left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. (4) And He must needs go through Samaria. (5) Then cometh He to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that
Jacob gave to his son Joseph.” (6) Now
Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey,
sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour [noon].”
Some background
of the history of the children of Israel and God's dealings with them through
the ages is necessary in order to fully appreciate the spiritual insight made real to me a few years ago. It is of the highest
importance to note that this ancient well, known as “Jacob's Well,” dates back to the very beginnings of the people
known as Israel. We remember it was Jacob who's name was changed to “Israel” by God. (The name “Israel”
means: “a prince with God.”) That this well was still known by his name at that time of Jesus is highly significant.
"Jacob"
was his birth name (his natural name), and “Israel,” his new spiritual name. Since their beginnings, the Lord has been dealing with a “natural people” (the physical descendents of Jacob; known as “natural” Israel, often referred to in the Old Testament
corporately as “Jacob”), and the Lord has been dealing with “a
spiritual people” (the spiritual seed, out of every kindred, tongue,
tribe, and nation, regardless of physical heritage; also known as “Israel;” the Body of Christ; (those accepted
in the Beloved, etc.).
Galalatians 3:14,
26; “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise
of the Spirit through faith... (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Jacob was the
Patriarch who sired twelve sons, who became the Twelve Patriarchs (or namesakes) of the corporate nation of Israel; each tribe
being named after their respective father. One of those Twelve Patriarchs was Joseph, unto whom Jacob gave the parcel of land
near the famous ancient well. When Jacob was ready to die, he blessed his twelve sons (Genesis 49), and Joseph received the
greatest of those blessings:
Genesis 49:22-26;
“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (23) The archers
have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: (24) But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were
made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (25) Even by the
God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings
of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: (26) The blessings of thy father have prevailed
above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph,
and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.”
Joseph was sold
into Egyptian slavery by his brothers (excepting Benjamin), and eventually his entire family, excluding his deceased mother,
were gathered unto him in Egypt. “Natural Israel” became a nation when the Kingdom of Egypt was in full power.
Egypt was the first major power to rule the known world at the time (that is: the greater Fertile Crescent Region, Egypt,
and parts of the Mediterranean lands). Egypt was the first of six “world powers” which would arise, even unto
the present. A seventh (the ten-horned “beast” of Daniel 7 and Revelation 12, 13, and 17) shall arise before the
Appearing of our Lord, at which time, He shall usher-in the eighth world power, which is commonly known as the “Millennial
Reign of Christ.” (Seven is the number of completion. Eight is the number of new beginnings and new life. The number
which represents Jesus Christ is 888.)
The second “world
power” to arise (and supersede Egypt) was Assyria. The Israelites were oppressed by this world power, even as they had
been oppressed by Egypt. Yet, in spite of such oppression, still they sought to worship and embrace the gods of Egpyt and
Assyria as their own. It is true that the Kingdom of Israel was divided at the time of the Assyrian captivity, which began
in 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom of Judah remained in Palestine, but the majority of the Israelites (the ten northern tribes)
were carried as captives to Assyria. This was permitted by Almighty God as punishment for their idolatry! For the people of
God (Israel), this paradoxical circumstance would be repeated in subsequent generations. From their inception, God's “Corporate-Prince”
would be oppressed in various ways, by those existing world powers, and yet, they would repeatedly be found guilty of “whoring”
after the heathen gods of their captors and oppressors (Exodus 34:15-16; Judges 2:17; 1 Chronicles 5:25; Ezekiel 6:9; Hosea
4:12).
The Kingdom which
would supersede Assyria was Babylon, under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar; under whose reign the Southern Kingdom of Judah (the
Israelites who remained in Palestine during the Assyrian Captivity) were taken into captivity as a judgment from God, for
their sins of idolatry. The inhabitants of Judah well knew of the history of the Assyrian Captivity, and knew why God previously
judged the ten northern tribes, and yet with all of that, they were guilty of whoring after the same false gods:
Jeremiah
3:6-11; “The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding
Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath
played the harlot. (7) And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not.
And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. (8) And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding
Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not,
but went and played the harlot also. (9) And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom,
that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. (10) And yet for all this
her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. (11) And the LORD
said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
In this captivity,
God's people were oppressed in Babylon, but tragically, they continued to embrace idols and false gods as their own. God is
a jealous God and will not share Himself with idols and false gods. God has declared: “Thou shalt have no other gods
before Me,” (Exodus 20:3). A very small percentage (approximately 50,000) of those carried into the land of Babylon
returned after seventy years, to restore and repopulate Jerusalem and the land of Judah, as well as to rebuild the Temple,
and raise again the walls.
The Kingdom which
would supersede Babylon was Persia, under the reigns of Cyrus and Darius. Although many of the returned Jews had been purged
from idolatry during the Babylonian captivity, among those still dispersed and growing in number, the bondage of idolatry
remained (both of the dispersed Northern and the Southern Kingdoms of Israel). The historical record bears witness that Persia
also oppressed and enslaved the people of God and just as the other world powers, occupied Palestine.
The Kingdom which
would supersede Persia was Greece, under the reign of Alexander the Great. True to their history, many of the Lord's people
persisted in embracing the religions, idols, and gods of their oppressors.
The Kingdom which
would supersede Greece was Rome, under the reign of the Caesars. Again, the historical record bears out that the majority
of the Lord's people under the Roman occupation fell to the sin of embracing false religions, idols, and gods.
Each of the six
(above-mentioned) “world empires,” would be greater in size and dominion; covering more land-mass and wielding
more power, than the previous! It is important to note that many less significant kingdoms existed throughout the world in
antiquity. However, only six “world powers” came to such prominence in their time, to rule the known world. Each
of these conquered and overthrew their predecessor, following the ascent of Egypt.
The seventh “world
kingdom” as yet is not visible. That is shall rise is a given for those who believe the Scriptural prophecies. Many
notable scholars believe it to be even now in an embryonic stage of formation. This seventh world power will overshadow and
eclipse even the mighty Roman Empire. It's influence and governance will be international, and some believe it shall possess
significant similarities to the Roman Empire.
To further substantiate
the reality of the existence of these world powers, as they are prophetically revealed in the Word of God, let us look to
the Book of Daniel, which clearly reveals the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, showing that the “multi-colored
image” seen by Nebuchadnezzar was representative of five world powers, beginning with Babylon (the ruling power in that
day). Remember, Egypt and Assyria were overthrown and redundant by the time of Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
This succession
of kingdoms is explained so well by Myer Pearlman, when he wrote:
“The succession of world empires is set forth under the figure of a gigantic image composed
of various metals. In the diminishing value of the metals composing the image may be seen the deterioration of world empires
in relation to their character of government. The following is the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream:
The head of gold represents the empire of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon (606-538 B.C.). The power of
Nebuchadnezzar was absolute, he could do what he willed (Dan. 5:19). His empire was a unit.
The breast and arms of silver represent the inferior empire of Medo-Persia [Persia] (538-330 B.C.).
This kingdom was inferior to the first, for its monarch depended on the support of the nobility, and could not do what he
willed, as shown by the ability of Darius to release Daniel (6:12-16). This empire was dual, composed of the empires of Media
and Persia.
The belly and thighs of brass represent the less valuable empire of Greece (330-30 B.C.). 'The
government of Alexander was a monarchy supported by the military aristocracy that was as weak as the ambitions of its leaders.'
This empire was later divided into four parts (7:6; 8:8).
The legs of iron, and the feet and toes, part of iron and part clay, represent the Roman empire
(30 B.C. Till the return of Christ). Here is represented a still inferior form of government, in that the emperor of Rome
was elected and his power depended on the good will of the people. This empire will, in the last days, be divided into ten
parts. The mingling of the iron and the clay in the ten toes suggests a further deterioration of this government into that
of a democratic monarchy where the monarch carries out the will of the people (2:41-43).
The stone cut out without hands falling on the feet of the image signifies the coming of Christ
at a time when the Roman empire will have been restored, His destruction of Gentile world-power, and the setting up of His
own Kingdom.”
Space will not
permit a more full treatise of the prophecies in the Book of Daniel and those which correspond respectively in the Book of
Revelation and elswhere in the Bible, but suffice to say that later prophecies of Daniel are also interpreted by Daniel, showing
that these same world powers or world kingdoms are likened unto (understood as, prophetically known as), “Beasts”
(KJV). The same is true of the interpretations in Revelation given unto John by our Lord.
As for this great
“multi-colored” image of Daniel 2, the golden head represented Babylon (and/or the King of Babylon = synonymous),
which was also symbolized prophetically in vision form as a lion with wings. The silver shoulders and chest of the image represented
the next world Kingdom to take over, being Persia, which later in Daniel is understood and depicted as a bear. In like manner,
the bronze portion of the image, being the upper legs, represented Greece, which Kingdom later in Daniel was a known and depicted
as the leopard. The lower legs of iron and the feet of iron and clay represent a dual Kingdom, which was the Roman Empire
of old [legs of iron = sixth world empire], as well as the seventh world power [feet of iron and clay = a revived pseudo-Roman
empire = seventh world empire], which would be similar. Rome is later depicted in Daniel as the most dreadful beast with teeth
and having ten horns (Daniel 7). Note that there was iron (Rome) in the feet of the image, although the iron in the feet was
mixed with clay. Thus, Daniel saw in advance, five specific Kingdoms in the image, and later named them in vision form as
“beasts.”
This is confirmed
in Revelation as well: “And there are seven kings [“Kingdoms” represented by respective “kings”]:
five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space”
(Revelation 17:10). The five which were fallen at the time John was given the Revelation by our Lord on the isle of Patmos,
were: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. The one that was in existence was Rome; and the one to come would be the
seventh “world power.”
We must
understand that the above statements are not merely opinions, but are actually visions which were interpreted by Daniel and
John. They not only received visions, but possessed also, the ability to interpret them:
“I [Daniel] came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he [the angel] told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things” (Daniel 7:16). (Read Daniel chapters 2, and 7-12.)
Galatians
4:3-5; “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: (4) But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem
them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
The Roman Empire
(the sixth world kingdom) was in power at the time Jesus was born of a Virgin, and it was in “the fullness of time”
(Galatians 4:4) that He came into this world as the incarnate Son of God. This same empire was in power when Jesus met the
woman at the well.
Another important
note is that much of the idolatry which took place during the time of the Divided Kingdom of Israel, took place in Samaria,
which was the capital of the Northern Kingdom. The inhabitants of Samaria, including this woman, were not pure-blooded Jews,
but knows as sort of “half-breeds,” having a mixed descent of Jew and Gentile, and as such were rejected by the
Jews of Judea and Jerusalem at the time. They were not permitted to worship God as Jews in Jerusalem because of this. Let
us now return to the narrative of the Woman at the Well:
John 4:7-12; “There
cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (8) (For His disciples were gone away unto
the city to buy meat.) (9) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of
me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (10) Jesus answered and said unto
her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him,
and He would have given thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the
well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us
the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”
Who was this man
that she did not perceive, who she did not recognize or “know?” She was speaking unto Jesus the Christ, who was
indeed not only greater than the ancient father she was descended from (Jacob), but He was also “Immanuel”
(God With Us), the Great “I Am” (John 8:58 – Jesus said: “Before Abraham was, I Am.”). She
was speaking unto the God of Jacob and the God of Israel, incarnate. How much greater was Jesus, the Almighty God incarnate,
the image of the invisible God! He would give her the “Living Water” which she needed.
Notice she didn't
say, “Art thou greater than our father, Israel?” She spoke in natural terms, naming her “father Jacob,”
referring to her natural lineage, i.e.“natural Israel.” Jesus, however, spoke to her in spiritual terms; dealing with spiritual realities! 1 Corinthians 15:46; “...first...that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.” The natural is only a foretype, pointing always to the
spiritual reality, which is always exceedingly greater. It was the intention of Jesus Christ to usher-in a New Covenant which
would encompass a “spiritual Israel,” comprised of all kindreds, tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations.
I truly believe
that the woman at the well was a very real person with whom Jesus met. I also believe that prophetically, she represents the
nation of Israel from the time of her inception in Egypt, even unto the end of the Age! Furthermore, I believe that she represents
“Spiritual Israel,” (The Body of Christ of every kindred) to which our Lord would be spiritually married as the
Great Bridegroom. The nation of Israel began as a natural nation, but the Lord intended her to become a spiritual nation.
How else could she attain unto that spiritual state unless she be endued with His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Thus, He offered
her “Living Water” (Divine Scriptural Truth) which He alone could offer, and which alone was able to quench her
thirst for all time and eternity.
John 4:13-19;
“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh
of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life. (15) The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not,
neither come hither to draw. (16) Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. (17) The woman answered
and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: (18) For thou hast had five husbands;
and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. (19) The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive
that thou art a prophet.”
Firstly, we see
that when Jesus further explained unto her what this “Living Water” was; SHE ASKED FOR IT: “Sir, give
me this water...” An act of obedience and an act of faith! She wanted this Living Water which Jesus would give her.
She recognized her need for this water, which previously she had lacked. Up to this point in history, the corporate Israel
of God (both in Palestine and those scattered abroad) lacked this fuller infilling of the Holy Spirit; but now Jesus was bringing
this Living Water unto her, ushering in the New Testament Age. Indeed, Jesus had come to a natural well, but little did she
know that a spiritual well had come to her. She was acquainted with the well of Jacob, but coming to her was the “well
of Israel” who would satisfy both natural and spiritual Israel with Living Water. It was the ending of a natural era,
and the beginning of a spiritual era. Jesus ushered-in the “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20).
Notice that Jesus
did not immediately fulfill her request, however, but rather, pointed up her sins! Interestingly, He revealed that she had
five previous husbands; “...and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband...”
She at once confirmed His declaration and affirmed her perception that He was indeed a prophet! Let us continue:
John 4:20-29;
“Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (21)
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship
the Father. (22) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour
cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (25) The
woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (26)
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He. (27) 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? (28) The woman then left her waterpot,
and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, (29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did:
is not this the Christ?”
The woman confessed
her belief in a coming Messiah who would usher in a New Kingdom with a New Way of acceptable worship. Then, Jesus revealed
to her that He was that Messiah. He said unto her: “I Am He.” She believed on Him, she representing the one He
had come for. She received Him! John 1:12; “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name.”
The woman believed
on Him and left her waterpots. This is very significant, because her waterpots were those of a natural well. Those waterpots
drew water that would not eternally satisfy. Jacob's natural well could not save her and bring her into maturity; but Jesus,
who spiritually is “Jacob's Well,” or “Israel's Well,” could give her the The Water of Life! Therefore,
she left one realm, and typically as the new Israel of God, she received the Living Water of God, the Holy Spirit, and began
drawing from this Spiritual Well. “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah
12:3).
Therefore, the
Woman at the Well left her natural way of dealing with a natural well, and proceeded to become the first New Testament Evangelist,
running into the city and under a mighty unction, proclaiming Him to the people and summoning them to “come and see
a man!” She demanded a response from all who heard her: “Is this not the Christ?” And notice that as she
was evangelizing the whole town, she was saying: “Come see a man...come see a man...who told me ALL THINGS THAT EVER
I DID.” I have often thought about this woman, and wondered at this statement she made. As a literal woman, it was
always a wonderment to me that all she had ever done was have six illegitimate husbands. Surely she must have at some point
in her life told a lie, perhaps stolen something, acted out in anger, or committed some other sin common unto man, besides
adultery. I have oft pondered upon the significance of her “six husbands.” Yet, it is her testimony that the Lord
told her “ALL things” (“things” includes all sins,
as well as everything else she EVER EVER DID). Jesus, in one statement, told her every single thing she ever did in
the duration of her life.
I believe this
woman to be a type of Israel, and that everything the nation of Israel ever did up to that point in time, took place during
the time of the six previously mentioned Kingdoms (in order, being: Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Babylon, Greece, and Rome). If
Israel's whoring after the gods of each nation represent each husband, then it would make sense why Jesus DID NOT just
say: “You have had SIX husbands.” Rather, He said, “You HAVE HAD FIVE, and the ONE you are with is NOT your
husband.” At the time Jesus met this woman, the first five world Kingdoms had passed, and were no more. Yet, the one
that was in power at the time, Rome, was “not her husband.” This same unique description of “five who were”
and “one that is” is echoed in The Book of Revelation in reference to the same world powers. Look again at Revelation
17:10; “And there are seven kings [“Kingdoms” represented by respective “kings”]: five
are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space” (Revelation
17:10).
The entire Book
of Hosea prophetically reveals God's plan to eventually heal and restore His backslidden people, which began at the time of
Jesus' earthly ministry. The story of the Woman at the Well is an example of the fulfillment of much of Hosea. Let us look
at a series of key verses, chronologically, in Hosea, which proclaim Israel's whoredom and backslidings, as well as God's
heart for their restoration. Remember, these prophecies refer to natural and spiritual Israel:
Hosea 1:2; “...And
the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great
whoredom, departing from the LORD.”
Hosea 1:10-11;
“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and
it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them,
Ye are the sons of the living God. (11) Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered
together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.”
Hosea 2:14-15;
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel], and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. (15)
And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in
the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.”
Hosea 2:19-23;
“And I [God] will betroth thee [Israel] unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness,
and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. (20) I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and
thou shalt know the LORD. (21) And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens,
and they shall hear the earth; (22) And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
(23) And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will
say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”
Hosea 3:5; “Afterward
shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness
in the latter days.”
Hosea 4:12,
15-18; “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath
caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. (15) Though thou, Israel, play the harlot,
yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. (16) For
Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. (17) Ephraim is joined
to idols: let him alone. (18) Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually...”
Hosea 6:1-6; “Come,
and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. (2) After
two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. (3) Then shall we know,
if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as
the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
Hosea 9:1; “Rejoice
not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every
cornfloor.”
Hosea 13:9-10,
14; “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help. (10) I will be Thy King: where is
any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?... (14) I
will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will
be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”
Hosea 14:1-3,
9; “O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. (2) Take with you words,
and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our
lips... (4) I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. (5) I will
be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. (6) His branches shall spread,
and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. (7) They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they
shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (8) Ephraim [Israel]
shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From
Me is thy fruit found. (9) Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways
of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.”
Jesus came to
establish His Kingdom upon the earth and prepare a people to inhabit that Kingdom. In the Old Testament Period, Israel had
failed, and gone “whoring” after other gods of other nations. She had been “married” to Egypt, Assyria,
Babylon, Persia, and Greece,” but at the time Jesus spoke with her, was no longer married to them. Rome would have been
her current husband, but the “one” she was with was “not her husband.” Why? Because Jesus had come
to her as her spiritual Bridegroom. By giving her His Holy Spirit, she would now be filled spiritually with the one true God.
Corporately, Israel in the Old Testament period was not walking in victory. She lacked that thing which Jesus came to give
her. She needed the “Living Water.” She needed the Holy Spirit. Jesus came in the fullness of time to impart the
Holy Spirit unto Israel.
John 4:30-43;
“Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. (31) In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master,
eat. (32) But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. (33) Therefore said the disciples one to another,
Hath any man brought him ought to eat? (34) Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish
his work. (35) Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your
eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (36) And he that reapeth receiveth
wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
(37) And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. (38) I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed
no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
(39) “And
many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever
I did. (40) So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that he would tarry with them: and He abode
there two days. (41) And many more believed because of His own word; (42) And said unto the woman, Now we believe,
not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
(43) Now after two days He departed thence, and went into Galilee.”
As the narrative
continues, we see how Jesus then taught His disciples the importance of soul-winning; the very act “the woman”
was engaged in, at the moment He was speaking to them. It is amazing how the Lord can so quickly change the heart of backsliders
and set them on fire with the Holy Spirit, to win souls, and to faithfully fulfill His Great Commission, so long as they live.
A picture of God's
plan for the New Testament Era is being shown unto us (also known as the “Church Age”). It is His Divine mandate
until He returns, for His “New Testament Israel” (which is comprised of those from every kindred, tribe, tongue,
people, and nation) to grow in personal relationship with their Heavenly Bridegroom spiritually, as well as evangelize the
great world. The purpose of His Church in this Age is to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. The Gospel message is
so beautifully summed up in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The very heart of that Gospel is that lost souls shall be won
to Christ; forgiven of their sins; filled with the Holy Spirit; grow and develop in their personal relationship with Christ;
and finally, come to a place of maturity and trustworthiness, so they may in like kind, “Go...[forth] into all the world,
and preach the Gospel to every creature [person]” (Mark 16:15).
There will come
a time when the “Stone” will smash Nebuchadnezzar's image (Daniel 2:34-35). The “Stone Kingdom” is
the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's Kingdom, which is the eighth, shall arise as the seventh and final world
Kingdom falls. We are living at the time when the seventh world power is hastening, with all of its gods being presented to
the world. It will only be a Body of Christ full of the Holy Spirit and power that will be able to overcome the seducing and
deceiving spirits even now being unleashed. It is only a Spirit endued Church that will be able to walk in true Bible Holiness,
which is the essence of the true Deeper-Life message. It is only a Church that is pure, without spot or wrinkle, that will
have a part in the Millennial reign of Christ. Only the five wise virgins of Matthew 25 were ushered into the marriage feast.
Another important
note is that Jesus abode in Samaria for “two more days.” The woman of Samaria brought many souls to Jesus, but
He was there to work with her. He abode there, and many who believed her report, believed even more, when they came to Jesus
and heard His words from His mouth. In 2 Peter 3:8, it declares that: “...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day.” Could it be that if this woman is indeed a type of New Testament Spiritual Israel,
that Jesus would work with her for “two more days?” It declares that many of that city believed on Him, and many
more because of His Word. He remained in that Revival until the appointed time. He has been working with His corporate people
worldwide, known as Israel, for the last two thousand years, and is still working with her unto the evangelizing of the world,
so that “...this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then the
end shall come” (Matthew 24:14). The Day of the Lord shall come! The Lord shall return in Bodily form with ten thousands
of His saints and the hosts of Heaven to literally and physically rule and reign on the Earth for a thousand years!
2 Peter
3:8-15; “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand
years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these
things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for
and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness. (14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that
ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord
is salvation...”
In that this Samaritan
woman represents the New Testament Church (the corporate Body of Christ), we may see the transformation which the Lord effected
in her life as a fore-type of His purposes in the Last Days, through His Many-Membered Body in all the Earth.
His heart is also
for the preparation of a “People” for the time of that seventh and final world kingdom, which many believe is
imperceptibly encroaching with an ever-quickening pace, as we near the consummation of the Age. This people shall be taught
to walk in the path of the “Overcomer.” They shall be taught and instructed in the dealings of God, and through
many chastenings and scourgings; not to bring to bear upon them unneccessary punishment, but to train them up as “good
soldiers of Jesus Christ,” who shall be able to stand in the evil day. For those who are faithful and steadfast, consigning
all to God's fire and laying all upon God's altar, they will have a part in the eighth Kingdom, which is the Kingdom of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Amos 9:8-9; “Behold,
the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I
will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. (9) For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house
of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.”
Daniel 7:17-18; “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the
earth. (18) But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and
ever.”
Revelation
11:15-17; “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. (16) And the
four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, (17) Saying,
We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great
power, and hast reigned.”
