Tag: John 4
Knowing Jesus for ourselves!
Scripture reading for April 10: John 4
“Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His Word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42
Jesus had purposely gone to Samaria to reach lost people there. The Samaritans were Jews who had intermarried with the people of Canaan in disobedience to God’s Word and were shunned by the rest of the Jewish world. The Samaritans had set up their own alternate place of worship. Jesus encountered a woman at a Jacob’s well in Samaria that He initiated a conversation by asking for water. She was shocked that Jesus, a Jew, would ask her for a drink! During this encounter, Jesus revealed to her that He knew her marriage failures. He challenged her religious knowledge about worship, revealing her need to worship God in Spirit and Truth, not just in a ‘right’ location. She ran to her village and invited others to come and hear Jesus themselves.
People often respond to other’s testimony or spiritual experiences. We are all wired with a deep but hidden desire to know truth about ourselves, God, and eternity. The Jews of Jesus’ day were stirred with reports from those who had encountered Jesus, heard His teachings with authority, or received His miracles. In this Samaritan village, the woman who encountered Jesus, shared her exciting testimony of Jesus’ prophetic ability in knowing her intimately. This caused many to come to see for themselves and receive prophetic words. Jesus stayed two more days ministering there and the people’s testimony was solidified: We now know for ourselves that this is the Savior of the world! Second hand testimony is good, but no one can talk you out of a personal encounter!
Have you heard testimonies of those who have encountered Jesus today? How have you responded to what others have said about Jesus? What could you do today to seek out Jesus for a personal encounter that solidifies your faith?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for those You have sent to me with testimonies of what Jesus did for them. Thank You that You have now revealed Yourself to me personally so that I know Jesus as my Savior and the Savior of the world! Use me like this Samaritan woman to call others to Jesus today! Amen!
Look at the fields!
Scripture reading for April 9th: John 4
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 4:34-36 “”My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.””
Jesus often used the images of the countryside that He walked to help His disciples understand His mission and heart. Jesus told them that His food was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work of salvation for all mankind. He admonished them not to say ‘Four months more and then the harvest’ even though it was not at this time ripe or ready. But the spiritual fields were ripe for harvest and disciples should be aware and working. Even as Jesus was talking, people were streaming out of the town to find the Man that the woman at the well spoken to them of. There were truly white fields for those with eyes to see! The harvest was precious and might be lost for lack of workers!
Key observations for over-comers: Disciples of Jesus are never without a harvest field and work to do. It is glorious work and the pay is amazing! “The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.” (Psalm 65:12-13)
Food for Jesus! (and His disciples!)
Scripture reading for April 10th: John 4
Jesus purposely left Judea and returned to Galilee by way of Samaria. Samaritans were mixed race people who were despised by the Jews because of their compromised marriages with Gentiles. But Jesus knew that there were lost people in that area that needed reached. About noon, Jesus and His disciples arrived at Sychar, the ancient site of Jacob’s well and there stopped for a rest. Jesus sent the disciples into town to buy some food while He rested by the well.
“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give Me a drink?” . . .The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. Ho can You ask me for a drink?” (For the Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:7-10) Jesus initiated the conversation to the shock of this woman! He then revealed that if she knew who He was, she would ask Him for a drink of ‘living water’ that would become in her a spring of water leading to eternal life. He was the “Messiah”!
As the disciples returned, they were also shocked that he was talking to a woman! They urged him to eat some of their food. Jesus replied to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about!”. . .”My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” (John 4:32-34) Reaching lost people and revealing eternal life was Christ’s food and doing His Father’s will was His highest priority! Would all who follow Jesus eat this ‘food’!