Daily Devotional | A Theological Dialogue

One Sunday after worship service I began a conversation with a family that was visiting our church for the first time. After a few casual comments I mentioned to the husband that he looked like a well-known personality in our area. To my surprise, he stated, “I am he!” I wasn’t expecting that!

In John 4, Jesus was continuing His conversation with the woman He had met at Jacob’s well in Samaria. Jesus asked the woman to go and get her husband. She explained that she didn’t have one. This gave Jesus the opportunity to reveal that He already knew her story (vv. 17–18). When the woman realized how much Jesus knew about her, she concluded that He must be a prophet. She used this opportunity to turn the conversation into a theological discussion regarding the proper place to worship God.

Jesus did not hesitate to dig deeper during the conversation. He saw through the superficial and led her to the truth that God seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth despite the location (v. 24). Confused and embarrassed, the woman exclaimed that the Messiah will “explain everything to us” once He comes (v. 25). Jesus revealed Himself to her, saying, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he” (v. 26). She wasn’t expecting that!

Like most Samaritans, she was looking for a “teaching” Messiah and she got one. Jesus taught the woman about the Messiah and to her surprise, the Messiah was He! Jesus was more than a prophet. He was the One she was waiting for.

>> Our world is filled with people like the Samaritan woman. They believe in a god or higher power but have no idea what that means. Often, they will debate you when you try to share the simplicity of the gospel with them. Pray that the Lord gives you words that will cause them to listen and see Jesus clearly for Who He is.

Pray with Us

Lord, without Your intervention our words have no power to change hearts or open eyes. Since You know what is in each person’s heart, give us Your words to speak to those on the cusp of coming to You in faith.

BY Eric W. Moore

Eric Moore is Professor and Chair of the Applied Theology Field at Moody Theological Seminary. Eric is graduate of Michigan State University, Dallas Theological Seminary, the University of Michigan, and Western Seminary. He is the author of Pastoring the Small Church and a contributor to the One Volume Seminary (Moody Publishers). He has pastored Tree of Life Bible Fellowship church for over two decades. Eric and his wife, Marilyn, live in southeast Michigan and have three children.