1/30/14- Jesus Claims to be 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, the one speaking to you—I am he.” (John 4:25,26)

Thoughts: This is the first time Jesus openly, without hint or poetry claimed to be the Messiah.  He made this claim not to a king, or a priest, but to a Samaritan woman outcast.  She was trying to understand and wondered about Jesus' authority to explain all this.  Jesus needed to speak plainly or lose her ear to listen to him.  It is an amazing claim.  He was claiming to be the One that both the Jews and Samaritans had been waiting on for thousands of years- the Anointed One.  He claimed to be the one who could explain, who could give definitive answers.  Earlier in John Jesus claimed to be the One from heaven who could explain heavenly things.  Even today, when we listen to Jesus' teachings life makes sense.  

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear you speaking to my heart.  Help me to trust the answers you give, and to follow in your way.  

1/29/14- Spirit and Truth

20Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, 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 the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:20-24)

Thoughts: One of Jesus' main and most remembered prophesies was that the Temple would be destroyed (cf. Jn. 2:19; Mt. 24:2).  This is another reference- Jerusalem will lose its importance when it is destroyed within a generation of Jesus saying this (70 A.D.).  In some ways because the Temple was destroyed, the worship to all non-Jews (including this Samaritan woman) would be opened.  As usual, Jesus is concerned less about the exteriors of religion but the heart.  What counts is not where we worship but that our hearts are worshiping God in spirit and in truth. That doesn't mean that we should not have places of worship.  It certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't worship together.  But the idea of one, holy place of worship was going away.  Jesus cared for the soul of this woman, and He wants us to care for her and those like her.  He wants all to come to Him.  He wants us to worship God from our soul- our spirit.  He wants us to worship God not just with our lips, or for show, but in truth.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to worship you in Spirit and in truth.  

(Mt. Gerazim- the Samaritan Mountain)

1/27/14- Jacob and Jesus

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 livestock?”

13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them 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."

Thoughts: The woman was thinking of the physical and temporary.  This is what we tend to think of even in the face of the Son of God Himself.  But there is an eternal reality that for which we long and thirst.  Jesus may have been thinking of Numbers 21 where the Israelites sang a song "Spring up O well."  God provides water in the desert- hope in the hopelessness of life.
      She asked if Jesus was greater than their father Jacob.  Jesus answered comparing his spiritual water to Joseph's physical water.  Which is greater, water in the desert that brings temporary life, or water that gives eternal life?   Jacob wrestled with God, but God overcame and changed his name to Israel- Prince of God.  God bestowed the name Prince to him.  Jesus is making the claim.  Then he backs up that claim. 

Prayer: Lord, you are the Living Water.  May I commit myself fully to you.  

(Jacob wrestling with the angel of God- Rembrandt)