Isn’t it interesting that Jesus discloses His Messiahship for the first time to a SAMARITAN WOMAN?
They are talking about prophets and the coming Messiah and He says to her, “I am [He, I am the Messiah.]”
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the One who is called Christ. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!” Just then His disciples came back. They were shocked to find Him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do You want with her?” or “Why are You talking to her?”
John 4:25-27
Imagine how shocked they would have been to be privy to the conversation He has just had and what He has told her. “Lord you haven’t even told us that yet as clearly as that. That’s not fair, she is a Samaritan Woman and we are Jews – salvation (and the Messiah) belongs to the Jews.” Ian’s imaginary translation.
Well actually what he said to her was so much more than that. What he actually says to her is “ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ λαλῶν σοι”. “I who am speaking to you, I AM.”
This is the first of John’s I AM sayings, said to a Samaritan woman. Remember he (John) has told you he has written these things so that you would know Jesus is the Christ. We will see that John has a series of equative “I am (something)” statements in His gospel.
Like:
- I am the bread of life
- I am the living water . . .
But here is the first of the pure I AM sayings. There are three of them: John 4:26, John 8:58 and John 18:5-6. Wow HEAVY. Why did they fall to ground in John 18:6? Seems a strange thing to do when he has told them the information they were seeking.
Well let me take you back to Exodus 3:14 – what is your name?’
God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” This is the unmentionable name of God. The name that no Jew would say. Jesus has now dared to say that holy, most sacred name. The name that only belongs to God and NO OTHER. Hence their shock and they fall over. (John 18:6) If they ever needed proof to arrest Him for blasphemy there it was right there. He has just disclosed that He is Messiah, God to a Samaritan Woman.
There is much more to say about this but I will leave it for the next I AM saying in John 8:58.
Troubles to the left of us, threats on the right, danger lurking behind us and obstacles ahead; but that’s alright, there’s God above.
Ian Vail