After Jesus had aroused in the woman the thirst for living water, and granted her wish for God’s gift, he showed her the barrier that prevented her receiving this gift – her sin. He did not accuse her harshly by saying, "You are an adulteress," but gently asked her to call her husband to him. This request struck a painful chord in her. Like all women she longed for the protection and care of a husband. But she was lonely and despised, and unwilling to disclose her shame to Jesus. So she shielded herself by saying, "I have no husband."
Jesus confirmed his claim to be the truth, who knows all secrets. He knew she was abandoned alone, seeking love through lust, falling from one sin into another.
Every adulterous act is a calamity, twisting the conscience, and sickening our inner feelings, notable in women. A woman still longs for her husband even after this split, anxious for reunion and understanding.
Now she realized that Jesus was no ordinary man; his was a prophetic insight. Deep down she knew that only God could help her. But where could she find him? By what means? Prayer and ritual had become alien to her. For years she had not attended any religious services, and yet she longed for deliverance and peace with God.
After Jesus had aroused in her a thirst for cleansing, he led her onwards to realize that the site for worship was not the vital matter, rather it was the Person to worship. He announced that God was the heavenly Father. He thus bestowed on her his own salvation in the essence of knowing God. He used the key term "the Father" three times. It is not genius or piety that creates the knowledge of God, but faith in Christ alone.
Jesus made clear that not every god deserved the title of Father. Samaritans used to venerate various gods. Whereas Jews knew who was the Lord, who had revealed himself in history, and promised that a Savior for the world would appear of David’s house.
Biblical religion was to become worldwide. Since then the worship of God was freed from links with a particular temple. Believers were to be the Temple of God, with the Spirit indwelling them; their whole life was becoming the worship of God’s glory. Christ’s redemption was to become their distinction, as they entered the vastness of His love. They have chosen life that is upright, honest, clean in His power. Their heavenly Father has renewed them. Their heartfelt adoration is full of praise. God is pleased when His children address Him spontaneously, with thanksgiving and devotion as "Our heavenly Father."
God is Spirit, not an idol or phantom. He is our Father, and we know His Spirit. He knows our weakness and our inability to approach Him. He came to us in the Son, cleansed us by His sacrifice to receive His Spirit. God wants to have many children; only His children can offer true worship in spirit and truth. We pray to the Father to fill us with His Spirit and truth and grace, so that our lives may become a response to His love.
No one can worship God fittingly, so Jesus gave us the gift of the Spirit. In Him we become faithful suppliants, joyful servants, and bold witnesses. Then our lives will be worship of our loving Father in the Spirit’s power flowing from Christ’s cross.
Christ has cleansed the temple, to institute true worship. The Father was revealed in Christ to that sinful woman. Confessing her sin and a thirst for living water, Jesus gave her grace.