The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.”
John 4:19*
Titles come in all styles and sizes, so it sometimes helps to sort them out into categories to better understand how it applies to Christ. For example, the derogatory titles were given to the Lord by His enemies in order to put Him down (e.g. glutton and winebibber) A similar grouping is what I call the “lightly esteemed” because these terms fall far short of understanding. Labeling Jesus as a carpenter, a Nazarene, or even calling Him “Sir” understates who He really is.
The woman at the well came to draw water and she assumed that the stranger she saw sitting there was no one out of the ordinary. Even when she saw some of His exceptionalities, the most she could imagine was that maybe He was a prophet. There was nothing wrong or disrespectful in addressing Christ as “Sir.” If anything, it’s the highest courtesy and honor that you can give someone that you don’t know.
In time and with interaction, faith grows and knowledge of who the Savior is increases. At the end of the conversation, this Samaritan lady acknowledged Him as the Messiah and no longer did she approach Him as “Sir.”
The significant point to be made is that this is an important pre-faith title that can transition into a deeper relationship. “Sir” communicates both respect and openness. Living in this world of God-haters and Christ-rejecters, derogatory titles are often used and that often shuts the door of our faith.
Mislabeling also misses the mark. Attitudes that frame the incarnate God in images of “Jesus, my ol’ buddy” or the “all-accepting god” makes it hard to understand that His name is Holy. However, a sinner who is searching for God, can probably find him if he has enough faith to approach him as “Sir.”
*see also John 4:11, 15, 49; 5:7; 20:15
May 5
