Tuesday, January 02, 2007

AN AMAZING WOMAN!

READ JOHN 4:39-54

39) Amazing isn't it? Here was a scorned, sinful woman who shared the truth of Jesus with the people of her village. ("Men" in v.28 is the Greek word "anthropos" which designates a "human being" regardless of sex, so she was speaking to all the villagers, male and female) She was changed on the inside, she openly confessed her sins, told who Jesus was and she shared even in the face of possible opposition. (Does this not sound like the spiritual food that Jesus spoke of to the disciples, obedience and responsibility in v. 34?) God continues this wonderful story by opening up the ears of the people and many listened to her and believed. Although we are not privy to her name, she is forever stamped in Biblical history along with other women of faith, like Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, and Esther of the Old Testament and Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary Magdalene, Phoebe, Priscilla, Junias, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Euodia, Syntyche, and the daughters of Philip of the New Testament.

40-42) THEY BELIEVED: The Greek Word for believe here is "pisteuo" and means to "exercise faith in, put one's trust in." Look at what they said in v.42, they believed Him to be the Savior of the world. Nicodemus saw Jesus as a good teacher sent from God, Jesus showed him that he must be born again and believe the Word. The Pharisees and many of the Jews saw Him as an imposter demanding to know from where He got His authoity to do what He did. (Many will not believe) The Disciples, at this time, were unsure of exactly who Jesus was, but yet were attracted to Him and were willing to follow Him. (They were willing to believe, but were a bit skeptical) The Samaritans got it right they believed Jesus as the Savior of the world. These outcasts, who a good Jew would not even walk on the same side of the street with, believed that Jesus was the Messiah not just for the Jews, but for all peoples.

43-45) In these verses Jesus enters Galilee, for He was not honored in Judea. The Galileans received Him, but there reception was with the wrong attitude. They were looking for more signs and wonders. John is teaching us in this chapter that belief in the Word takes precedent over signs and wonders and John uses an example from an event that took place in Galilee.

46-54) Jesus meets with a Royal Official from Capernaum who has a dying son. This official asks for healing. Connect this event with the women at the well. The woman at the well came to faith by believing Jesus' word and so did the people of her village, but the Galilians received Him because of His signs and wonders alone, which can not change the heart. The Royal official received the word from Jesus that his son was healed and he went home to witness the sign and wonder of his son's healing. The message here is that signs and wonders are proof that the Word, which came first, is true.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WE CAN BELIEVE YOUR WORD AND IT IS A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATH! AMEN

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