At the Well: Something to Debate

The woman at the well was not finished trying to keep the truth she’s heard from changing her. She already tried to distract Jesus on two different occasions, and has failed each time. She uses a different tactic in her third attempt. It is seen in John 4:19-20:

“The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

This is a very common tactic put on display here. She is like many of us, and when presented with a truth she doesn’t understand, or want to accept, she tries to debate little pieces of that truth. With her sin exposed the woman tries launching into theological debate to avoid the topic of salvation. This tactic of trying to debate over religious matters is used by those who fear the truth of salvation. They do this because if they are able to look at the words of Jesus more as a thing to debate than life or death they can more easily ignore their need for Him. It’s another trap not to fall into.

Any person, especially in a Western society, is familiar with the Bible, and knows some of the stories. They even know some of the debate that surrounds them (was Jesus really born in a manger? Was He a carpenter? Did the whole world really get flooded? Creationism vs. evolution. Etc.). It gives the unsaved lots of things to bring up as distractions when the truth is being presented to them. We cannot fall into this trap. Avoid such debates, for they can keep you from discussing the really important truth. What really matters is getting someone to accept that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

Do not debate such matters, but follow the example Jesus has shown every time there is an attempted distraction. Use whatever is said to continue revealing the truth about the salvation of Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus never condemned the woman for all her attempts to distract him with offense, history, or theology. Her revelation of her sin did not stop Him from speaking to her. He used everything to reveal more of the truth about Himself to her. This is one of the most important lessons from this story. Don’t get distracted, but always witness.