One of the most intriguing stories in the Gospel of John, is his account of Jesus' planned trip to Samaria.
Here is how John pens this account:
John 4:3-4
3 He (Jesus) left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And He must needs go through Samaria.
KJV
This need of Jesus was apparently a divine mandate from His Father. He only said what He heard His Father say, and He only did what He saw His Father doing. What an intimate relation Jesus had with God the Father as well as a productive way to live one's life to the fullest.
We know the mission of Jesus was to save those who were lost. Therefore, He went to find sinners where they were and engaged them in conversation that was calculated to lead them to salvation and eternal life.
It was here in Samaria at Jacob's well that Jesus met the woman He came to save at the well. He broke down all barriers of communication and leaped over the racial prejudice of His day, and showed love, compassion and mercy to this woman deep in the bondage of sin.
It is so easy to misjudge this woman and think the worst thing about her life of sexual promiscuity. Russell Board in his book, 40 Day with Jesus, has this to say about her personal background that is more tempered and gracious as well as more accurate:
" . . . it is also likely that she was a victim of abuse: cast aside by a series of men who rejected her, for whatever reason."
We need to be very careful when dealing with half truths, we could very easily have the wrong half.
Jesus was able to deal with all of her hurts and failures, and loved her with a love that speaks to the heart and soul of a person.
This woman received the living water that Jesus offered that never runs dry. He awakened her yearning to meet the Messiah and she perceives that He just might be the Messiah. She believed that when He came He would reveal all things, and Jesus had just done that for her whole life, and loved and understood her completely.
It is noteworthy that Jesus reveals to this woman something He had not revealed to His disciples. Here is what He said, "I that speak unto thee am He" (John 4:26, KJV).
She had to tell somebody. She dropped her water pot, and I am not sure she ever gave Jesus a drink of water to quench His thirst after a long day's journey.
But who would she tell? She did not want to go to the women who had looked down on her as trash. She deliberately avoided them. She chose to come to the well to draw water in the heat of the noon day sun to keep from having to deal with them. So, she decided to tell the men she knew.
She knew that you can always tell a man, but you can't tell him much. So, instead of directly went to the men.
At this point I want John to tell the story for your to hear and receive from God.
John 4:28-30
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.
KJV.
When you were first saved do you remember who you told first? Who else did you include in your personal testimony?
We have a Gospel so wonderful that we know how it transformed our lives, and we believe it will do the same for others.
Do you have that feeling today . . . I've gotta tell somebody?
I trust you will tell somebody today about Jesus!
Here is how John pens this account:
John 4:3-4
3 He (Jesus) left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And He must needs go through Samaria.
KJV
This need of Jesus was apparently a divine mandate from His Father. He only said what He heard His Father say, and He only did what He saw His Father doing. What an intimate relation Jesus had with God the Father as well as a productive way to live one's life to the fullest.
We know the mission of Jesus was to save those who were lost. Therefore, He went to find sinners where they were and engaged them in conversation that was calculated to lead them to salvation and eternal life.
It was here in Samaria at Jacob's well that Jesus met the woman He came to save at the well. He broke down all barriers of communication and leaped over the racial prejudice of His day, and showed love, compassion and mercy to this woman deep in the bondage of sin.
It is so easy to misjudge this woman and think the worst thing about her life of sexual promiscuity. Russell Board in his book, 40 Day with Jesus, has this to say about her personal background that is more tempered and gracious as well as more accurate:
" . . . it is also likely that she was a victim of abuse: cast aside by a series of men who rejected her, for whatever reason."
We need to be very careful when dealing with half truths, we could very easily have the wrong half.
Jesus was able to deal with all of her hurts and failures, and loved her with a love that speaks to the heart and soul of a person.
This woman received the living water that Jesus offered that never runs dry. He awakened her yearning to meet the Messiah and she perceives that He just might be the Messiah. She believed that when He came He would reveal all things, and Jesus had just done that for her whole life, and loved and understood her completely.
It is noteworthy that Jesus reveals to this woman something He had not revealed to His disciples. Here is what He said, "I that speak unto thee am He" (John 4:26, KJV).
She had to tell somebody. She dropped her water pot, and I am not sure she ever gave Jesus a drink of water to quench His thirst after a long day's journey.
But who would she tell? She did not want to go to the women who had looked down on her as trash. She deliberately avoided them. She chose to come to the well to draw water in the heat of the noon day sun to keep from having to deal with them. So, she decided to tell the men she knew.
She knew that you can always tell a man, but you can't tell him much. So, instead of directly went to the men.
At this point I want John to tell the story for your to hear and receive from God.
John 4:28-30
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.
KJV.
When you were first saved do you remember who you told first? Who else did you include in your personal testimony?
We have a Gospel so wonderful that we know how it transformed our lives, and we believe it will do the same for others.
Do you have that feeling today . . . I've gotta tell somebody?
I trust you will tell somebody today about Jesus!