24"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24
Just before this passage, Jesus has healed a lame man. He is responding to persecution he had received from the Jewish leaders because of this healing.
Read the story:
16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
The truths of this passage:
The religious leaders were angry at Jesus because he healed on the sabbath and he made himself equal with God! They did not rejoice because the man was healed. This clearly show that religious rules were more important to them than the needs of people. It raises the question for us, do we care about the hurting people around us more than we care about church?
Jesus made it clear that he was not operating on his own agenda but according to God's agenda! He said, " The Son does nothing by himself but only what He sees the Father doing" Whose agenda do you follow? Do you sometimes follow your own?
Jesus said that God would show him even greater things in the future.
Jesus, the Son gives eternal life to whomever he is pleased to give it. (Just like his Father) (Lord, thank you for eternal life!)
It is amazing the God has turned alljudgement over to Jesus, His son. We easily see Jesus as saviour and Messiah, but he is also King and ruler and Eternal Judge! Hallelujah!
Jesus made it plain that eternal life comes by hearing the words of Jesus and believing them.
Let's Pray:
Lord thank you for eternal life through your son, Jesus! Thank you that He will also return to Judge the world! Let me warn men and women to flee the coming judgement by hearing and believing the words of Jesus!
In Jesus Name! Amen!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
Key Verse:
"Do you want to get well? "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!" (John 5b-8)
Here is an amazing story of Jesus healing a man who had been lame for many years! Read the story in John 5 verses 1-14.
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, /"It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."
11But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "
12So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"
13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Fred's Comments:
Three things strike me about this story! This man has been sitting at the pool of Betheseda (house of mercy) for many years, waiting for his healing! When he was finally healed by Jesus, the man had no clue who had healed him until afterwards! It required no faith on his part but was a total act of mercy on Jesus part.
Secondly, Jesus didn't mince word with the man. He had one question and one command! Do you want to be healed? and Rise,take your bed and walk!
Thirdly, Jewish leaders were more concerned about the man violating the sabbath than the fact that he was miraculously healed after 38 years.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
As a Christian leader, are you more concerned about the needs of the people than follwing religious rules? What questions and commands have Jesus spoken to you? Do you question Him or argue with Him or just respond in obedience?
Do you know people who are(spiritually, emotionally or physically blind, paralyzed or lame and need to be healed by Jesus? Have you invited them to Jesus, the ultimate healer?
Personally, in what areas of your life are you blind, paralyzed or lame? Do you want to be healed? Do you think that healing is always for someone else, not you? Have you asked Him to heal you? Do you expect Him to heal you?
Let's Pray:
Lord help me to be keen to see the people, waiting by the pool of mercy to receive the healing touch of Jesus, whether that touch is spiritual, emotional or physical. Lord help me to see the areas in my life where I am physically, emotionally or spiritually"
Blind (can't see)
Lame (can't walk) or
Paralyzed (can't move).
I ask for your healing in my life and the lives of others around me. In Jesus Name, Amen!
For more information on the pool of Bethesda, cut and past these links into your browser.
Online Exposition of passage:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4fVJh_7Iu5IJ:www.biblebelievers.com/Pink/John/john_17.htm+pool+of+bethesda&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Reference to Pool of Bethesda:
http://www.bible-history.com/jerusalem/firstcenturyjerusalem_pool_of_bethesda.htm
"Do you want to get well? "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!" (John 5b-8)
Here is an amazing story of Jesus healing a man who had been lame for many years! Read the story in John 5 verses 1-14.
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, /"It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."
11But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "
12So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"
13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Fred's Comments:
Three things strike me about this story! This man has been sitting at the pool of Betheseda (house of mercy) for many years, waiting for his healing! When he was finally healed by Jesus, the man had no clue who had healed him until afterwards! It required no faith on his part but was a total act of mercy on Jesus part.
Secondly, Jesus didn't mince word with the man. He had one question and one command! Do you want to be healed? and Rise,take your bed and walk!
Thirdly, Jewish leaders were more concerned about the man violating the sabbath than the fact that he was miraculously healed after 38 years.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
As a Christian leader, are you more concerned about the needs of the people than follwing religious rules? What questions and commands have Jesus spoken to you? Do you question Him or argue with Him or just respond in obedience?
Do you know people who are(spiritually, emotionally or physically blind, paralyzed or lame and need to be healed by Jesus? Have you invited them to Jesus, the ultimate healer?
Personally, in what areas of your life are you blind, paralyzed or lame? Do you want to be healed? Do you think that healing is always for someone else, not you? Have you asked Him to heal you? Do you expect Him to heal you?
Let's Pray:
Lord help me to be keen to see the people, waiting by the pool of mercy to receive the healing touch of Jesus, whether that touch is spiritual, emotional or physical. Lord help me to see the areas in my life where I am physically, emotionally or spiritually"
Blind (can't see)
Lame (can't walk) or
Paralyzed (can't move).
I ask for your healing in my life and the lives of others around me. In Jesus Name, Amen!
For more information on the pool of Bethesda, cut and past these links into your browser.
Online Exposition of passage:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4fVJh_7Iu5IJ:www.biblebelievers.com/Pink/John/john_17.htm+pool+of+bethesda&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Reference to Pool of Bethesda:
http://www.bible-history.com/jerusalem/firstcenturyjerusalem_pool_of_bethesda.htm
Sunday, September 12, 2010
John 4:27-54 My Meat is to Do the Will of My Father
Key Verses: 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." 33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do 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. John 4: 34-35 NIV
Have you ever been so passionate about a project that you were working on that you "forgot to eat"? As much as I love food, it has actually happened to me a few times. This is how Jesus felt about the mission that he was sent to do on earth!
Read the account below:
“
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 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. 36Even 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.
37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Fred’s Commentary: Jesus lays out for us a wonderful example of passion to do the will of God. Jesus first priority was to do the will of God and to finish his work. Everything else paled by comparison, even his need for food. This passion to do God’s will allowed him to cut through cultural norms and religions barriers and delay his need for food. He even changed his schedule in order to get the Gospel to the Samaritan woman and her people.
Questions to Ponder:
1-Do I think of myself as being sent by God?
2- What am I passionate about? How hungry (passionate) am I to do the will of and the work of God. What passions do I put before God’s will and God’s work?
3-Do I think about the fact that I have Living Water (eternal life) to offer unbelievers??
4-Who are the Samaritans (the social and religious outcasts in my life who need Living Water?
5--Am I willing to be misunderstood in order to take the Gospel to people different from me?
6--Am I willing to change my schedule in order to stop by Samaria to share the Living Water?
Prayer: Lord, make me hungry to do your will. Make me " hungry" to do the work you sent me to do! Help me see the fields ready for harvest. Help me go into the fields and reap! In Jesus Name!
Have you ever been so passionate about a project that you were working on that you "forgot to eat"? As much as I love food, it has actually happened to me a few times. This is how Jesus felt about the mission that he was sent to do on earth!
Read the account below:
“
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 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. 36Even 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.
37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Fred’s Commentary: Jesus lays out for us a wonderful example of passion to do the will of God. Jesus first priority was to do the will of God and to finish his work. Everything else paled by comparison, even his need for food. This passion to do God’s will allowed him to cut through cultural norms and religions barriers and delay his need for food. He even changed his schedule in order to get the Gospel to the Samaritan woman and her people.
Questions to Ponder:
1-Do I think of myself as being sent by God?
2- What am I passionate about? How hungry (passionate) am I to do the will of and the work of God. What passions do I put before God’s will and God’s work?
3-Do I think about the fact that I have Living Water (eternal life) to offer unbelievers??
4-Who are the Samaritans (the social and religious outcasts in my life who need Living Water?
5--Am I willing to be misunderstood in order to take the Gospel to people different from me?
6--Am I willing to change my schedule in order to stop by Samaria to share the Living Water?
Prayer: Lord, make me hungry to do your will. Make me " hungry" to do the work you sent me to do! Help me see the fields ready for harvest. Help me go into the fields and reap! In Jesus Name!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
John 4:27-42 What Food Do You Really Care About the Most?
Key Verse: "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:34
Why Is Jesus Talking to That Woman?
27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
Could This Be The Messiah?
28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
The Food Jesus That Jesus Cared About Most!
31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Harvest The Crops For Eternal Life! Now!
35Do 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. 36Even 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. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
The Samaritans Believe that Jesus is the Savior!
39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Fred's Commentary:
As I read this passage I am challenged. The question for me is this: Do I care about lost souls more than I care about satisfying my natural hunger. Do I care about lost souls more than I care about satisfying my own needs. Do I care about lost souls more than I care about my own pleasure or comfort? Is My meat to do the will of God...the one who saved me and sent me out to do His will?
Let's Pray:
Father I admit with shame that too often my meat is really not to do the will of God by caring about lost souls! Too often, I am caught up in satisfying my own needs or doing the kingdom work that I really like to do. Give me your heart for lost souls. Give me a passion to tell people about you so that they, like the woman at the well can drop their "water pots" and run tell their friends that they have found the Savior.
Why Is Jesus Talking to That Woman?
27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
Could This Be The Messiah?
28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
The Food Jesus That Jesus Cared About Most!
31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Harvest The Crops For Eternal Life! Now!
35Do 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. 36Even 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. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
The Samaritans Believe that Jesus is the Savior!
39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Fred's Commentary:
As I read this passage I am challenged. The question for me is this: Do I care about lost souls more than I care about satisfying my natural hunger. Do I care about lost souls more than I care about satisfying my own needs. Do I care about lost souls more than I care about my own pleasure or comfort? Is My meat to do the will of God...the one who saved me and sent me out to do His will?
Let's Pray:
Father I admit with shame that too often my meat is really not to do the will of God by caring about lost souls! Too often, I am caught up in satisfying my own needs or doing the kingdom work that I really like to do. Give me your heart for lost souls. Give me a passion to tell people about you so that they, like the woman at the well can drop their "water pots" and run tell their friends that they have found the Savior.
Friday, August 27, 2010
If you Only Knew Who You Were Speaking To!
Key Verse: 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 4:10, NIV)
Today’s Passage: John 4:1-24 (NIV)
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
The Divine Rest Stop 4Now he had to go through Samaria. 5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
Breaking Cultural Norms 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Living Water
10Jesus 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."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
The Revelation 16He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." 17"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
True Worship 21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Jesus is the Messiah "25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Fred's Commentary: Have you ever met a very important person but at the time, had no idea who you were talking to? Maybe you misjudged them or put them off or ignored them. When you discovered who they were, your whole attitude changed. You might have even said, “I'm sorry, I didn't know who you were!”
Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well was not really about his thirst for water. It was really an opportunity for him to offer this woman the living water of eternal life! Initially she had no clue who she was talking to. She didn’t know she was talking to the Messiah! In fact the cultural norms of the day dictated that they would not even be speaking to each other at all! (He was a Jew, she was a Samaritan. He was man, she was a woman). Yet, he disregarded cultural norms and engaged her in a conversation about water. He said "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". When Jesus began to reveal things about her life, she knew that she was dealing with no ordinary man! She soon learned that she was face to face with the Christ, the Messiah: Jesus told her: "I who speak to you am He!" He was not offering her physical water. He was offering her eternal life.”
Then that had a conversation about the proper place to worship. (The woman said "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."Jesus assured her that true worship is not about the place but more about having the right attitude and the right information. True worshipers are those who worship God in spirit (the right motivation and heart attitude) and in truth (according to the truth about God as found in his Word.)
Personal Application
As a follower of Christ you are no ordinary person. You carry in your heart and soul Jesus Christ, the Savior. That sets you apart and gives you a special responsibility. You are an ambassador of Christ. He expects us to share the good news of the Kingdom with the thirsty people around us. They are trying to quench their thirst will all kinds of worldly pleasures but their spiritual throats remain parched! They can only be satisfied by an encounter with Jesus by accepting Him as Lord and Savior!
Let’s Pray: Father, thank you for quenching my thirst by giving me eternal life. Now help me live my life in such a way that thirsty sinners will ask for the living water that I have. Make me a bold witness, approaching people I don’t normally approach and speaking up in ways I don’t usually speak up in order to offer the living water to people.
In Jesus Name! Amen.
To watch an interesting contemporary skit, go on this passage, go to
http://www.urbana09.org/videos.cfm
Scroll down to Day 5 and click on "The Landromat" The next video is a message on the same passage of scripture.
Today’s Passage: John 4:1-24 (NIV)
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
The Divine Rest Stop 4Now he had to go through Samaria. 5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
Breaking Cultural Norms 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Living Water
10Jesus 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."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
The Revelation 16He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." 17"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
True Worship 21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Jesus is the Messiah "25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Fred's Commentary: Have you ever met a very important person but at the time, had no idea who you were talking to? Maybe you misjudged them or put them off or ignored them. When you discovered who they were, your whole attitude changed. You might have even said, “I'm sorry, I didn't know who you were!”
Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well was not really about his thirst for water. It was really an opportunity for him to offer this woman the living water of eternal life! Initially she had no clue who she was talking to. She didn’t know she was talking to the Messiah! In fact the cultural norms of the day dictated that they would not even be speaking to each other at all! (He was a Jew, she was a Samaritan. He was man, she was a woman). Yet, he disregarded cultural norms and engaged her in a conversation about water. He said "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". When Jesus began to reveal things about her life, she knew that she was dealing with no ordinary man! She soon learned that she was face to face with the Christ, the Messiah: Jesus told her: "I who speak to you am He!" He was not offering her physical water. He was offering her eternal life.”
Then that had a conversation about the proper place to worship. (The woman said "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."Jesus assured her that true worship is not about the place but more about having the right attitude and the right information. True worshipers are those who worship God in spirit (the right motivation and heart attitude) and in truth (according to the truth about God as found in his Word.)
Personal Application
As a follower of Christ you are no ordinary person. You carry in your heart and soul Jesus Christ, the Savior. That sets you apart and gives you a special responsibility. You are an ambassador of Christ. He expects us to share the good news of the Kingdom with the thirsty people around us. They are trying to quench their thirst will all kinds of worldly pleasures but their spiritual throats remain parched! They can only be satisfied by an encounter with Jesus by accepting Him as Lord and Savior!
Let’s Pray: Father, thank you for quenching my thirst by giving me eternal life. Now help me live my life in such a way that thirsty sinners will ask for the living water that I have. Make me a bold witness, approaching people I don’t normally approach and speaking up in ways I don’t usually speak up in order to offer the living water to people.
In Jesus Name! Amen.
To watch an interesting contemporary skit, go on this passage, go to
http://www.urbana09.org/videos.cfm
Scroll down to Day 5 and click on "The Landromat" The next video is a message on the same passage of scripture.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Don't Reject Jesus! Accept Him and Gain Eternal Life! John 4:31-35
Notice what John the Baptist, the herald and forerunner of Jesus said about Jesus!
31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Here's what John the Baptist said about Jesus:
Jesus is above all.
Jesus came from heaven
Jesus testifies about what He has seen and heard
No one accepts His testimony
The man who accepts Jesus testimony certifies (acknowledges) that God is truthful
Jesus speaks the words of God for God gives the spirit without limit
Jesus is loved by the Father and the Father has put everything in Jesus hands
Believing in Jesus gives that person eternal life.
Rejection of Jesus brings death because the wrath of God remains on him
What John says about man.
The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth,
And he speaks as one from the earth
Men choose to accept or reject Jesus
Those who accept Him certifies(acknowledged, declared once and for all, and is himself assured) that God is truthful and that man has eternal life
Those who reject Jesus will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.
Fred's Commentary:
John's purpose for coming to earth was to prepare the way for the Messiah. It was important for Him to know that Jesus was the Messiah because he knew his days on earth were short. In this passage, we see that John clearly understood that Jesus was God (not just a man), that Jesus words were from God and those who believed in Him would have eternal life. John also clearly saw that the person who rejected Jesus life saving message were doomed to remain in the state of condemnation that they were born in.
Let's pray:
Father I thank you for sending, Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, God himself to preach the Gospel of the Good News of the Kingdom of God that I could be saved. Help me to declare this good news to others so that they too might have eternal life. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Now Click to the left and enjoy the video!
31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Here's what John the Baptist said about Jesus:
Jesus is above all.
Jesus came from heaven
Jesus testifies about what He has seen and heard
No one accepts His testimony
The man who accepts Jesus testimony certifies (acknowledges) that God is truthful
Jesus speaks the words of God for God gives the spirit without limit
Jesus is loved by the Father and the Father has put everything in Jesus hands
Believing in Jesus gives that person eternal life.
Rejection of Jesus brings death because the wrath of God remains on him
What John says about man.
The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth,
And he speaks as one from the earth
Men choose to accept or reject Jesus
Those who accept Him certifies(acknowledged, declared once and for all, and is himself assured) that God is truthful and that man has eternal life
Those who reject Jesus will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.
Fred's Commentary:
John's purpose for coming to earth was to prepare the way for the Messiah. It was important for Him to know that Jesus was the Messiah because he knew his days on earth were short. In this passage, we see that John clearly understood that Jesus was God (not just a man), that Jesus words were from God and those who believed in Him would have eternal life. John also clearly saw that the person who rejected Jesus life saving message were doomed to remain in the state of condemnation that they were born in.
Let's pray:
Father I thank you for sending, Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, God himself to preach the Gospel of the Good News of the Kingdom of God that I could be saved. Help me to declare this good news to others so that they too might have eternal life. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Now Click to the left and enjoy the video!
Monday, August 9, 2010
John the Baptist was Comfortable in His Own Skin: Are You?
It is remarkable to me how comfortable John the Baptist was in his own skin. He was not at all intimidated by the success of Jesus, even though Jesus success meant the demise of his own ministry.
Read John 4:22-30 below
22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.
Fred's Reflections:
By this time in John the Baptist's ministry, Jesus had already come on the scene and John the Baptist was near the end of his mission. One of the signs of this for John was the fact that Jesus must increase while he must decrease. Already, Jesus was beginning to Baptize people, something that John had been famous for. In fact one of John's disciples reported to him, "He(Jesus) is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." John's amazing response is instructive for us: He was not at all intimidated that Jesus was "stealing his thunder" and getting more attention. He could respond like this because John was very comfortable in his own role, gifts and calling. He said "a man can receive only what is given Him from heaven." He knew what he was called to do. He knew that Jesus would increase and that He would eventually decrease and leave the scene. He was comfortable in his own skin. He was confident of his own role and in his own calling. Jesus success in no way diminished John's purpose and calling. In fact, Jesus success actually confirmed his message and calling.
For us, the question becomes, do we know who we are in Christ. Do we know our gifts ans what we are called to do? Do we know our role in the body of Christ? If not, it is essential that we put down deep roots in Christ by spending time in the presence of the Lord: in prayer, in scripture, in meditation and by communing with His people in church and walking in obedience to what the Lord says. This will set us up to begin to know our role, calling and purpose in the body of Christ.
For those of us who have a clear sense of our calling, gifting and purpose, it is essential that we walk humbly before the Lord, being sensitive and obedient to Him,and honoring the gifts and callings of our brothers and sisters in Christ. The success of our brother or sister in no way diminishes our calling and purpose in the Lord. If it does, we might be struggling with insecurity, uncertainty of our calling or jealousy. It is important to know that the Lord needs all the gifts in the body to get his work done.
Application Questions:
Are you growing in your relationship with the Lord?
Do you have a sense of your role, gifts, calling and strengths within the body of Christ?
Do you feel intimidated by the gifts or success of others?
Do you love the body of Christ and appreciate the fact that the Lord needs all the gifts, including yours?
Closing Prayer: Lord help each of us to grow deep roots in you, your word and your church and help us to move out into the gifts and calling you have for us. In Jesus Name! Amen!
Read John 4:22-30 below
22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.
Fred's Reflections:
By this time in John the Baptist's ministry, Jesus had already come on the scene and John the Baptist was near the end of his mission. One of the signs of this for John was the fact that Jesus must increase while he must decrease. Already, Jesus was beginning to Baptize people, something that John had been famous for. In fact one of John's disciples reported to him, "He(Jesus) is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." John's amazing response is instructive for us: He was not at all intimidated that Jesus was "stealing his thunder" and getting more attention. He could respond like this because John was very comfortable in his own role, gifts and calling. He said "a man can receive only what is given Him from heaven." He knew what he was called to do. He knew that Jesus would increase and that He would eventually decrease and leave the scene. He was comfortable in his own skin. He was confident of his own role and in his own calling. Jesus success in no way diminished John's purpose and calling. In fact, Jesus success actually confirmed his message and calling.
For us, the question becomes, do we know who we are in Christ. Do we know our gifts ans what we are called to do? Do we know our role in the body of Christ? If not, it is essential that we put down deep roots in Christ by spending time in the presence of the Lord: in prayer, in scripture, in meditation and by communing with His people in church and walking in obedience to what the Lord says. This will set us up to begin to know our role, calling and purpose in the body of Christ.
For those of us who have a clear sense of our calling, gifting and purpose, it is essential that we walk humbly before the Lord, being sensitive and obedient to Him,and honoring the gifts and callings of our brothers and sisters in Christ. The success of our brother or sister in no way diminishes our calling and purpose in the Lord. If it does, we might be struggling with insecurity, uncertainty of our calling or jealousy. It is important to know that the Lord needs all the gifts in the body to get his work done.
Application Questions:
Are you growing in your relationship with the Lord?
Do you have a sense of your role, gifts, calling and strengths within the body of Christ?
Do you feel intimidated by the gifts or success of others?
Do you love the body of Christ and appreciate the fact that the Lord needs all the gifts, including yours?
Closing Prayer: Lord help each of us to grow deep roots in you, your word and your church and help us to move out into the gifts and calling you have for us. In Jesus Name! Amen!
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