February 25, 2023
I Am No Prophet
“He said to her, Go, call your husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly. The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” John 4:16-19 (NASB)
Many years ago, I served as a youth pastor at a local church. One Wednesday night I was speaking to our youth group. A couple of girls were talking on the front row while I was sharing a message. I finally explained to them the importance of listening. It could make a difference in someone’s life that night. I said, “You never know whether you pull out of this parking lot and another car hits you, it could be your last night... Then what?” Well… it happened right after the service was over. Thankfully no one was hurt. One of the girl’s cars was T-Boned leaving the parking lot. Later that night, one of the girls mentioned my statement to their mother. The mother came angrily to me. She asked me why I spoke something into existence and made it happen. I explained I never had that type of intuition. Maybe it was a circumstance the Lord used to get their attention (words said in my young youth pastor immaturity). The mother stormed off. She said some un-Christian words as she left. I was no prophet. I wasn’t even wise. I never heard any words from God about what to say that night. If I was a true prophet, everything, without mistake had to have happened. I was not a prophet that night. God uses prophets for more than just telling students to be quiet. That’s why we have leaders in the youth department…
Jesus turned His conversation with the woman to something more personal, “Go, call your husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband.” It was true. She had no husband. In fact, she had five, and the one she was with was not her husband either. This was in-part who she was drawing water that day. This turn in the conversation was for the woman and her life of sin. It turned from an illustration of water to the conviction of sin and guilt. With this, she would put together his use of water as a metaphor for eternal life and the need for forgiveness. Her response at the end of these passages says, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” She essentially said, “I am beginning to perceive” from what you say, and your knowledge of my private life. In its usage the word “prophet” is a Greek word known as prophētēs; or a prophet, an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will.[1] In methods of communication, prophets were forthtelling and proclaiming the wonderful works of God. [2] Jesus was there to proclaim the wonderful works of God to this woman. It was God’s divine will.
To be addressed by Jesus today like the conversation He had with the woman might be a little perilous. We would be offended someone would know this about us and expose us. Jesus, being God, knew she would be alone that day and He knew it was what she needed. We need it too. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will come to us and speak some things into our life we don’t want exposed. He doesn’t need a prophet to do it. He knows our heart as Christians. He knows the heart of the unbeliever. He knows what we all need to hear. When He speaks, He speaks truth. We need to embrace His truth, and respond the way the woman does later in this story…
[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).
[2] Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Prophet, Prophetess,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1783.