“Go…”

Jesus’ fourth utterance to the Samaritan woman can be described as a gentle command. This is what He said,

“Go call your husband and then come back.” – John 4:16 (MSG)

“Go…”, what is it about that one single word, when spoken by the Lord, makes you feel that you don’t have an option? This woman at the well is not the only person Jesus ever commanded to go.

To the adulterous woman He said, “…go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11 KJV)

To the blind man He said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam…” (John 9:7 KJV)

To the once demon possessed man He said, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” (Mark 5:19 NKJV)

To the man healed of leprosy He said, “…go your way, show yourself to the priest…” (Matthew 8:4 NKJV)

When Jesus commands you to go there’s no staying. He is calling you to act – every time Jesus has told someone to “go” it always requires them to not just go but to go and do something. And it was no different for the Samaritan woman, but Jesus’ “Go…”command to her was an action she could not fulfill because she had no husband (John 4:17).

Jesus, aware of the woman’s condition, did not speak in vain; by this command, He had gone straight to the heart of the matter. His words would have, undoubtedly, affected her deeply. With one sentence, Jesus opened her eyes so that she may be able to see the truth of her condition for herself. Jesus did not condemn her, instead He pointed her in a direction that caused her to begin to see her fault.

If Jesus commands you “Go…” and you remain, then you’re not ready to move forward with Him, you’re not ready to move on to the next step. The command to go indicates progress. The Samaritan woman was progressing from a state of unbelief to belief.

The beginning of the Samaritan woman’s transformation and ours starts with the realization that we are desperately in need of something so much greater than what our present condition indicates. When we realize that nothing and no-one but Jesus can satisfy that sense of need in us, is when we realize our need for Jesus and in response to His command “Go…”, cry out, “I’ll go. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8 MSG).

Amen†

“Go…”

Shelley Johnson March 22, 2017