A fascinating encounter is recorded in John's Gospel, Chapter 4. Jesus was weary after a long morning of activity. He asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water from the town well. Her first impression of Jesus was clear in verse 9: ". . . How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? . . ." So Jesus talked to her about the water of life and she understood nothing of the conversation.
Jesus then asked that she go call her husband. She claimed to have none. He revealed to her that she had answered correctly, because she had been the wife of five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. This knowledge advanced her opinion of Him as seen in verse 19: ". . . Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet." But she immediately changed the subject to talk about the places of worship adopted by the Jews and the Samaritans. That discussion led to Jesus' claim of being the promised Messiah of Israel and ended with the arrival of His disciples.
The woman then left the well, leaving her water pot there and told the men of her encounter with Jesus. Her understanding of His person rose to its pinnacle in verse 29: "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" The men did meet Jesus, heard Him speak the truth, and trusted Him as their Savior.
So her opinion grew from "a Jew" to "a prophet" to "the Christ". She had heard Him talk about spiritual water, which He was willing to give her. They talked of the best place to worship. Jesus tactfully identified her sin and it was that alone which convinced her that He was the Christ.
Dear reader, Jesus was a Jew, He was a prophet, and He is the Son of God. He is the source of spiritual satisfaction for the thirsty soul. He is seeking men to worship Him in spirit and truth. But He is also interested in dealing with your sin. He knows everything about you, but loves you anyway. He is not willing that you should perish because of your sin and has paid the penalty for your sin that God might be just in forgiving you. If you will confess yourself a sinner, believe on Him as your own personal Savior, He will forgive you today.
So what is Christ to you? Is He but a Jew of history? Is He a mere prophet among many in Israel centuries ago? Or will you acknowledge Him as the Christ, the Savior of sinners? Will you acknowledge your need of His sacrifice because of your sin? And will you, by faith, accept Him as your own personal Savior that you might be forgiven? May you, too, really come to know Him.