The LORD JESUS be magnified!
"And He must needs go through Samaria." -John 4:4 [KJV] And what was there, blessed Jesus, that constrained Thee to this necessity? Was it because there was a poor adulterous woman there, that needed Thy grace, and the hour was come for her conversion? Sweet thought! let me cherish it this morning. Was there not the same needs be for the Father setting Thee up, from everlasting, for the Head of Thy church and people? Could there have been a church without Thee? And when Thy church had fallen by sin, what archangel could have recovered her but Thee? Why then there was a needs be that Thou shouldest take the nature of Thy people upon Thee, and come to seek and save that which was lost. And as it is said of Thee concerning this poor woman, that "He must needs go through Samaria," so must it be equally said, Jesus must needs go to Jerusalem, to save Jerusalem sinners by His blood. Oh yes, there was a blessed necessity upon Thee, Thou Lamb of God, that Thou shouldest