The next profound lesson from John 4:27-39 is drawn from the conduct of the disciples, noting particularly verse 27.

The disciples marveled, not only that He talked with a woman, but that He should talk with that woman, who was a Samaritan. The antecedents of the Samaritans are detailed in 2 Kings 16 and 17, noting in particular 2 Kings 17:24-34. That animosity and enmity remained such that Jews had no familiar conversation with Samaritans, men or women. Their astonishment was not merely at His talking with a woman, and with a Samaritan woman, but at what He said unto her, that the Lord should plainly tell her that He was the Messiah, when He so strictly charged them to tell no man (they arrived on the scene to overhear verse 26).

Yet no man said; no, not even Peter who was bold and forward could ask questions:

• what seekest thou? or
•  inquirest of her about? is it food, or drink, or what? or
• why talkest thou with her?

when it is not customary, seemly, and lawful.

We take from their conduct as to questioning His raison d’etre, the definition of reverence and such as the disciples had for Christ. The same reverence is required of us in such times as we face today. The continuing ravages and disruption to the well-being of many by Covid should draw us to such reverence as was taught in this Scripture.

Reverence was and remains an open acknowledgement that whatever He did was well and wisely done even when it seemed strange to them, and they could neither account for it nor explain it. It was inconceivable that He who was their Lord and master was accountable to them for what He did; and they doubted not but He had good reasons for His conduct.

I ask myself and ask you too, am I or are you there at this point of reverence for the Lord our God! Selah.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash