Bible Study With The Bishops: I Am He

Reading Plan Text for March 10: John 4:19-30

For the third time in this Gospel we see Jesus in an extended conversation--though they keep getting longer--where the person he is conversing with is led to understanding just who and what Jesus is. And each time, the conversation has grown a little longer. The conversation with Nathanael takes seven verses, with Nicodemus 21 verses, and the Samaritan Woman 30. In contrast to Mark's portrayal of Jesus, where Jesus repeats over and over again, "Tell no one," John's Jesus seems to tell everyone in sight!

As Burridge remarks, these conversations move from being addressed to "you" singular to "you" plural. These conversations are meant for John's audience--for all of us--not just the characters who initiate them with Jesus.

Another fact that Burridge reveals is that the language Jesus uses when he tells the Samaritan Woman who he is

recalls the name of God revealed to Moses, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14).

When the disciples arrive toward the end of the conversation, and contrary to our familiar remembrance of them, they are remarkably quiet. They don't question Jesus for talking with the woman, and they don't try to chase the woman away. In fact, John goes out of the way to point out that

no one said "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?"

However, their arrival causes her to leave anyway. She even leaves her water jar behind. She might have been flustered by the arrival of so many Judeans. One at the well in the middle of the day was unusual enough, but a crowd of them? Yipes! Or, given what she does next, their arrival may just have been an opportune time to leave.

However, what she does next is also surprising, given what appear to be her circumstances. She comes to the well in the middle of the day because no one else would be there in the heat. She is obviously trying to avoid her neighbors and their gossip, scorn, and ridicule. Yet she leaves Jesus to go back to town and proclaims his presence. On top of that, the citizens follow her back to the well! As Mary Magdalene will be the first to proclaim the Resurrection to the disciples, this woman is the first to proclaim Jesus as the Christ to the Samaritans.

Peace,
Jeffri