Living Waters
John 4
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.
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.)
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.[a])
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.”
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. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
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.”
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.”
Today we are reading John 4:1-26 where we see Jesus traveling through Samaria in order to reach Galilee. Now most Jews did not take the direct route from Judea to Galilee because Samaritans (Jews who had mixed with many other nationalities) were considered unclean. Therefore, most Jews went out of their way to avoid going through Samaria. Jesus, however, was not like most Jews.
Jesus was traveling through Samaria around noon, it was hot, and He stopped at a well for water. A woman was drawing water from Jacob’s Well, and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was immediately taken aback because Jews did not mix with Samaritans. Not only did Jesus ask the woman for a drink, he relayed her life’s story to her and then offered her a drink of living water.
There is something wonderful in the term “living water.” Have you ever been around a pool of stagnant water? If not, let me tell you what lurks there.
- The surface of the water is not clear, but instead is covered with a film and in that film are the bodies of insects who, after drinking of the water, die.
- Flies lay nests of eggs in stagnant water
- Bacteria grows in stagnant water
- There is often times an unpleasant odor emanating from stagnant water.
Conversely, living water has these characteristics:
- The surface shimmers with the reflection of the sky, trees, clouds.
- The water runs somewhere, and there is a source of fresh water
- Life grows in these living waters
- The waters are sweet to the smell and to the taste
Jesus told this woman that the place she worshipped did not matter, but the way she worshipped did, indeed, matter. He said she, and indeed all people, are to worship God in spirit and in truth. The Samaritans claimed the God of Joseph as their own, but in actuality worshipped an assortment of gods based upon all of the cultures into which they had married. Jesus made a revelation to this woman that had as yet been unspoken, even to His disciples. He said He was the Messiah upon whom the world had waited.
Do you know how huge this is? First he explains that with physical water, thirst always reappears. But the living water of the Spirit of God is self-replenishing and as long as we dip our cups into that water we will be renewed. The next big thing that happens is that this woman, weighed down by her sins, saw Jesus for who He was, and asked to be given these living waters. Then Jesus admits to being the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus had always spoken in parables to prevent those outside of his realm of followers from knowing His identity lest His time be cut short, but here, in plain language, He admits that He is the Messiah.
Have you partaken of the living waters offered through the Holy Spirit or are you still trying to satisfy yourself with things of the world, things that hold no lasting pleasure, things procured not through the Spirit of the Living God but through your own endeavors? If so, I urge you to dip your cup into the Living Waters. Let Jesus satisfy your needs and your longings that you might, at long last, be saved.
He must become greater; I must become less
He must become greater, I must become less
John 3 22-36
John the Baptist’s Testimony About Jesus
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 Jewi 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 Christj 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.
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 Godk 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.”l
Footnotes:
a 3 Or born from above; also in verse 7
b 6 Or but spirit
c 7 The Greek is plural.
d 13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
e 15 Or believes may have eternal life in him
f 16 Or his only begotten Son
g 18 Or God’s only begotten Son
h 21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 15.
i 25 Some manuscripts and certain Jews
j 28 Or Messiah
k 34 Greek he
l 36 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 30.
Was there ever a more grounded individual than John the Baptist? We might use the phrase, “He was a man who knew his place,” to describe him. John knew he was on this earth to prepare people for the coming of the Lord. He knew he was a man of this earth, and as such, could only receive so much knowledge from heaven. I love vs. 29 that says his joy is in being the friend who attends the bridegroom–not in being the bridegroom, but merely being the attendant–and that joy is now complete.
John continually pointed his followers toward the One to come, and clearly stated that Jesus was the Son of God and that God had placed everything into His hands. John shows none of the human characteristics of jealousy or envy but instead joyfully points to Jesus as the One for whom the people had longed–the Messiah.
Would that we could be so generous in dealing with those among us whose gifts and callings seem to be greater than ours. Would that we could understand that our gifts and callings are from God to suit His purpose, to bring about His holy outcome, and that each gift and calling is important.
John finishes by saying whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Take the faith God has given you, and if it is small faith, ask that it be increased. If you have water-walking faith, ask for a body of water that your faith may be utilized. Pray each day that you would decrease so that Jesus might be increased.
For God so loved the world…
John 3:16-21 (New International Version)
16″For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.[b] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”[c]
Footnotes:
- John 3:16 Or his only begotten Son
- John 3:18 Or God’s only begotten Son
- John 3:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 15.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son must be the most quoted and most memorized scripture in the Bible. For God so loved the world—has there ever been a greater love?
I have one son by birth and two by marriage. I cannot imagine giving up Jonathan or Kristin or Kevin in order that other people might be saved. I am too selfish. I thank God for our men and women in uniform, but I never wanted that life with its inherent risks for my son or my step-sons. I am too fearful.
But God so loved the world–people born in darkness and who many times choose darkness over light–that He sacrificed His only son so that the world, separated from God by their sins, would at last be reconciled again to their Father who art in Heaven. How can we not believe, worship and adore our Father and Jesus His son when we recognize what they did to purchase our salvation, to redeem us from a lost and dying world?
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me, for dying for me, and for making a place for me in Heaven.
Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? If not, contact me and I will pray with you.
Jesus loves US, this I know.
A new week–ushering in December
It is hard to believe how quickly this year has gone. Thanksgiving saw 26 people here for lunch, and it was all good. Now we get back into our routine of reading through the book of John.
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]”
4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[d] 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[e]
There are several things that are notable in this passage: (1) Nicodemus approached Jesus at night. Why? Because He was a respected leader and id not want anyone to know he was meeting with and seeking the counsel of Jesus. (2) Nicodemus acknowledged the identity of Jesus (3) Jesus explained how we are to received salvation, and (4) Jesus foreshadowed His death by crucifixion.
I have never understood how those who met Jesus face to face could reject Him. It is easier for me to understand how we in the 21st century can reject Jesus–not much easier, but certainly it makes at least a little sense that some people cannot make the leap of faith to believe in one they have not seen. I am thankful to have been blessed with faith that enables me to believe beyond sight, to hear beyond sound. I know in my head and in my heart that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, that He left a throne in Heaven to come to earth to purchase my salvation, and that the plan for reconciliation was drawn before the foundation of the world.
If you would like to invite Jesus into your heart, you may contact me by making a comment on this page or write me at carol.grace.01@comcast.net. I will try to answer any questions and I will pray with you and for you.
Give thanks with a grateful heart…
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.”
For a long time, I had trouble with this verse. After all, there is not one adult person whom I have met who has not gone through a difficult if not nearly impossible life event. Whether death, divorce, illness, or economic loss, we each have dealt with suffering in some shape or size, and to think we must give thanks for everything we have gone through seems inconceivable. But is that really what the scripture says?
No, the Scripture does not say we give thanks for everything, but that we should give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God. It is not God’s will that we suffer–God is our Father and He does not want His children to suffer–period. But we live in a world dominated by sin, so we will suffer–it is inevitable. God’s will is not that we suffer, but that when we suffer we give Him thanks, even in the midst of our trials. God’s will is that we know, understand and believe that He is with us regardless of our circumstances.
Jack Hayford says it this way:
“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you.” What’s the will of God concerning you? That in everything we give thanks. That’s the will of God concerning you. The thing that happened isn’t necessarily, but that you give God praise in the middle of it. Why? Because you feel good? No. But praying without ceasing introduces a song of praise into a situation that’s so tough you find yourself standing facing it with tears. Begin to sing, not because you say, “Well, I guess I need to submit to this because God intended me to have this horrible event in my life.” But by the song, by the praise, we begin to infest the situation with the possibilities of His presence and His power. Rather than resigning the situation unto the best way we can muddle our way through it, or pry our way through it. … “We’ll just do the best that we can.” The best that you can make of it is not going to be very good. The best that He can make of it will be something that will bring the reason the Bible tells us to “in everything give thanks;” not because God foisted or worked this number on you to get even with you or somebody else, but because the Lord says, “Into the poison pollution of this planet, if praise is lifted up there will come the presence of My power. So lift up song because it invites God’s presence. Lift up praise.”
While I cannot find it within me to give thanks for everything, with God as my help and my strength, I can certainly thank Him in everything. And, when I turn my praise into song, I know the melody wafts its way to heaven and into the throne of the King. I am thankful that I can always praise God: I praise Him for being Jehovah-Tsidkenu, my Righteousness; I praise Him for being Adonai, my Lord; I praise God for being El Elyon, the most High God. And I am thankful for life, health, salvation, family, friends, church, my home and for having food on the table every day. I am thankful He has given me a desire to study His Word, the ability to write, and the longing to be in His presence.
As we enter another Thanksgiving season, may we lift our thanks to God, and may we remember to thank our family and friends for all they mean to us.
Seeking Holiness 