The Samaritan woman has a lot to think about. Here is a man who told her life story in a nut shell, yet did not put her down for it. She recognizes him as a prophet. She is emotionally and spiritually touched by him. She is almost afraid to verbalize the question that is reverberating in her mind. She dare not ask it, so she expresses it as a statement. “I know that Messiah is coming…When he comes, he will tell us all things” (John 4:25)
Jesus answers her unspoken question. “I who speak to you am he.”
If you too are unsure, ask him. He will let you know.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
An Odd Comment
Jesus appears to insult the Samaritan woman. “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Couldn’t Jesus have ignored that part? Why was it necessary to point out that salvation came through the Jews and why rub it in her face that it was not coming through the Samaritans?
I do not understand this fully. He could not be telling her that the Jewish customs were the way to worship because he had just told her that men would not be worshiping based on location (John 4:21). Perhaps he was reminding her of the prophecies that the Messiah would come through the lineage of Judah. He may have been reminding her so that she would make the connection between him and the fulfillment of prophecy.
What do you think was the reason for that statement?
I do not understand this fully. He could not be telling her that the Jewish customs were the way to worship because he had just told her that men would not be worshiping based on location (John 4:21). Perhaps he was reminding her of the prophecies that the Messiah would come through the lineage of Judah. He may have been reminding her so that she would make the connection between him and the fulfillment of prophecy.
What do you think was the reason for that statement?
Monday, July 4, 2011
Which Church?
The Samaritan woman is shocked that Jesus knows her entire life. Instantly she recognizes that he is not an ordinary man. “I perceive that you are a prophet” (John 4:19). She has forgotten all about his asking for water or his claim to provide water that satisfies thirst forever.
She knows he is a Jew, which means he worships in a certain way in a certain place. She is suddenly confronted with a choice between her cultural teaching and the ones of the Jews. So she asks the only question she can think of.
“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (John 4:20).
Jesus is not finished surprising her. “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship he Father… The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship he Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him” (John 4:21-23)
How are we worshiping the Father?
She knows he is a Jew, which means he worships in a certain way in a certain place. She is suddenly confronted with a choice between her cultural teaching and the ones of the Jews. So she asks the only question she can think of.
“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (John 4:20).
Jesus is not finished surprising her. “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship he Father… The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship he Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him” (John 4:21-23)
How are we worshiping the Father?
Friday, July 1, 2011
Pick a Little, Peck a Little
In the Broadway play, The Music Man, a group of women sing a song, Pick a little, Peck a little. The song connects hens with gossiping women. But it is not only women who pick people apart. It is the sinful nature.
However, Jesus did not make fun of the Samaritan woman’s life. He did not condemn her or call her names for having so many husbands. He did not talk about her behind her back when the disciples returned from their shopping trip. In fact, he does not mention her to them at all (John 4:16-38).
If we are to be like Christ, we need to follow his example. What people share with us, we keep confident. What we know about people we do not reveal to others. Our conversations should be directed toward the needs of the person we are addressing.
Paul puts it this way, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).
However, Jesus did not make fun of the Samaritan woman’s life. He did not condemn her or call her names for having so many husbands. He did not talk about her behind her back when the disciples returned from their shopping trip. In fact, he does not mention her to them at all (John 4:16-38).
If we are to be like Christ, we need to follow his example. What people share with us, we keep confident. What we know about people we do not reveal to others. Our conversations should be directed toward the needs of the person we are addressing.
Paul puts it this way, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).
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