John 4:1-26
The Samaritan woman at the well, John 4:1-26, is such a familiar passage. I don't know how many messages I've heard or lessons I've read that deal with these verses. Now the fact that I'm very familiar with this passage is a good thing, but if can also work against me if I'm not careful. Here's why. You see, when I'm really familiar with a story, my tendency is to just skim over it. Not today, however. There was no speed reading and I was very intentional in looking at and considering all that was going on in this passage.
So read through this passage again and as you do pay attention to how Jesus interacts with and responds to this woman. What do you see? What does this passage show us about how Jesus will respond to us? Tami W.
I feel that Jesus is dealing with the blinders that this women has on regarding faith. She asked Jesus a question"Give me this water" She thinks he is dealing with actucal water, but Jesus gently talks to her about her spiritual life and tells her to bring her husband and she tells him, he is a prophet as the discussion continues the women still seems to miss the point but Jesus continued to lead her to a point of clarity. The women is still waiting for the Messiah and to be told all and then Jesus turn on the light so to speak and says "I who now speak with you am He" Jesus did not argrue with her beat her over the head with scriptures but in a loving conversation lead her to the light.
A GOD BLESSED DAY TO YOU TAMI:
THIS IS SUCH A FAMILIAR STORY THAT I HAVE HEARD PREACHED ON MANY OCCASIONS BUT I FOLLOWED YOUR SUGGESTION AND WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN LOOKING AT THE STORY THIS TIME AROUND.
I SEE TWO MAIN THINGS TODAY: (1) HOW PATIENT JESUS IS (2) WHAT AN AWESOME TEACHER HE IS. BOTH QUALITIES WERE BROUGHT INTO PLAY WITH REGARDS TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AS JESUS KNEW THAT SHE WOULD NOT WILLINGLY GIVE HIM A DRINK.
HE ALSO KNEW HOW IGNORANT SHE WAS AS EVEN AFTER SHE ASKED HIM FOR THE LIVING WATER SHE STILL DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING SPIRITUALLY DUE TO HER COMMENT IN John 4:15 "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” CONSEQUENTLY, JESUS DEMONSTRATED HIS PROPHETIC ABILITY (John 4:16-18) BY TELLING HER ABOUT HER FIVE PREVIOUS HUSBANDS AND HER PRESENT PARTNER
TO WHOM SHE WAS NOT MARRIED PRIOR TO MAKING HIS CLAIM IN John 4:26 OF BEING THE MESSIAH.
I HAVE RECOGNIZED MY IGNORANCE IN DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS AND HAVE OFTEN TOLD THE LORD THAT I AM CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF HIS BRIGHTER CHILDREN SO I ASK HIM TO SPEAK TO ME PLAINLY.
GOD HAS BEEN ANSWERING MY PRAYER AS THE WAY THAT HE GOT ME ON TO POWERED BY 4 JUST IN TIME TO BENEFIT FROM DR. KROLL'S EIGHT WEEKS TEACHING ON REVELATION IS STILL BOGGLING MY MIND.
PLEASE BE VERY PROUD THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO USE YOU GUYS AS TOOLS TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS, HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN OTHER PERSONS.
REGARDS IN CHRIST
CECIL
I agree with John,i can see love and care in how Jesus converse with the woman. And just has He has done to that woman,He is doing to us every blessed day,showing us love and care,revealing more of Himself to us if only we can permit Him.
I believe Jesus' meeting with this woman is no coincidence. Jesus knew who she was and everything about her. Jesus does not have to ask anyone for water or anything. He is Jesus. Everything on this earth belonged and still belongs to Him. His first entry on earth was with humility but believe me it would not be so when He returns.
Jesus has said that He did not come to save the righteous because they do not need any saving. He came to save sinners (paraphrase). So it was no coincidence. Jesus knew this woman was living in sin but He also knew that talking with her would draw many more to Him. This shows me that Jesus cares for everyone one of us Jews, Gentiles no matter our ethnicity.
He loves us all and wants what is good for us. We are the ones who do not want what is good for us. We prefer worldly things. By now the world should see exactly what is going on around us, so many rich people are losing, or have lost all they have had. Some because of greed, some because we have not been good stewards of what the Lord has given us. We must take note of the times and we must do something about it, like the woman at the well, and seek and accept Christ our Saviour who lovingly shed His blood and died on the cross so we may live and have life eternal.
Every day that we get out of bed, the first thing we should do is to thank our God for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for sending His only begotten Son that we who believe in Him should not perish but that we will have life for ever and ever. Thank You Lord for this day and I pray that you will set a guard over my mouth, and keep watch over the door of my lips that i will testify to your goodness and not speak ill of anyone and give thanks and praise to You.
He seems to be slowly dealing with the issues of society and herself before revealing who He really is - like peeling off layers to get to the truth. Is this the first revelation of Jesus being the Messiah?
The main features of this conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman have already been stated in the other commentaries and for me are his abundant patience, his undying love and his excellent teaching ability. He made a convert and an evangelist out of the Samaritan woman that day.
He has made me a convert and an evangelist also. praise him, for he alone is worthy.
I think what this means is that while speed reading is good and fast, sometimes you have to slow down a bit to get the real message.