This dear woman had just had an encounter with Jesus that touched her soul deeply. She met someone with all the qualities of the long awaited Messiah, who also openly claimed to BE the Messiah. This… This was news! And she went to tell “the men”. Why the men?

Now, to be fair, the Greek word used here “could” refer to mankind, not just to males specifically. But that is unlikely. We cannot be 100% sure either way. Nonetheless, translating to “the males” fits with the concepts in scripture.

All through the bible, cover to cover, it is “the men” tasked with the responsibility of discerning truth. It started with Adam right after the fall, and continues through revelation.

Does that mean discrimination? Are women less worthy? Less capable? Less valuable? Of course not! The church may battle about this concept back and forth, but scripture is clear. The men are called to discern what is truth. At any level, family, church, city, nation, it is the responsibility of the men to be watchmen over their families and society. They must discern, proclaim, defend, and guard the truth, or their society suffers deeply. This has been true since the that day in the garden.

But sadly today it seems men have dropped this holy call. Families, churches, cities are left to fend for themselves as the men reject their primary God given duty to discern truth. Where is the man who acknowledges this foundation of society? Where are the men with sore knees and broken egos from seeking God’s truth and will? Where is the weeping, the searching, the crying out to God to light the path?

The woman of Samaria ran to “the men” seeking an answer. “Is this the Christ?” Families all across our land, and right here in our community run to the men seeking an answer, “where is the light?”. But how can a man answer when lost in his own world of walking in the darkness, ignoring the call to personal holiness? Adultery, drunkenness, abuse of authority, pornography, money loving, self serving, pleasure, relaxation… These things blind men to the light so that they can not be the watchmen. Those depending on them are left alone, unprotected, in darkness, and God will not overlook this!

Where are ” the men” today? Who is the man that others know they can run to when faced with a need to hear from God? To discern truth? Where is the man who watches diligently over his own, worthy of respect by dying to all of self and living daily for Christ? Where is the man that those who know best proclaim, “I want to be like that guy!”. Where is the man with sore knees from hours of prayer?

The woman of Samaria ran to the men, and they dropped everything to come and discern about Jesus, and truth, for the town.

Sir, are you ready? Have you spent the necessary alone time in the presence of a holy God so that His nature is what those closest to you see? His glorious light glows from your face and heart? Can you hear clearly the Holy Spirit, untainted by your own selfish ambitions? Have you repented in sackcloth and ashes, broken by the realization of your own sin?

Do your knees hurt?

Where are the real men?