Give Me a Drink/Part Three

 

Give Me Drink/Part Three

The “Red-Letter Words” of Jesus

Day 41

So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there, Jesus therefore being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” John 4:5-7 (NKJV)

Why didn’t Jesus get his own drink? I believe the answer to that question is found in the practical and the spiritual.

The above verses show us that, in the practical sense, Jesus was human. His physical limitations caused Him to be tired and thirsty. He needed water but had no way to get it on His own. Jacob’s Well, approximately one hundred feet deep, didn’t have a bucket or clay pot to lower by a rope into the well. The woman had the container needed to draw the water.

The word “drink” here is a present tense, imperative verb. Imperative signifies a command; although, it doesn’t mean the command was given harshly. It would’ve been out of character for Jesus to demand what He wanted from her. He simply stated his desire for water.

There’s also a spiritual aspect to the story when Jesus said, “Give Me a drink.” Jesus recognized a soul ripe for harvest. He desired to start a conversation with the Samaritan woman so He could offer her what her spirit longed for – living water (or spiritual life). He started with a practical need to draw her to the deeper matters of the soul (which we’ll look at in the next couple of devotions).

In this chapter of John, we see two examples of evangelism: 1) Jesus persistently found those who were lost and needed salvation, including this woman at the well. 2) Once she understood Jesus offered her spiritual life, her first reaction was to share the good news with the residents of Sychar. The entire town believed Jesus was the Messiah because of her testimony.

In the practical aspect of my day, is my spiritual antenna tuned to those who are lost and thirsting for God? Is yours?

Father, just like with the Samaritan woman, Jesus’ desire has always been to seek and save the lost. That’s why He hung with the outcasts and the dregs of society. He revealed to them their thirst for the heavenly things of His Father. Thank you for seeking me out and saving me too. In turn, may I seek those who are desperate for more than what this world has to offer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/john4

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/john4

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/john4

Jesus Needed to Go Through Samaria

Jesus Needed to Go Through Samaria

The “Red-Letter Words” of Jesus

Day 38

Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples). He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.   John 4:1-8 (NKJV)

There’s so much packed between the first verse of John 4 and when He said to the Samaritan woman, “Give Me a drink.” Let’s unpack some of these items before we delve into the interaction between Jesus and this woman.

 1..       He had to leave Judea.

            The Pharisees, although tolerant of John the Baptist, didn’t like his water baptisms and messages of repentance. Many of their faithful followers changed their allegiance to John. They were even more unhappy with Jesus who had a larger following than John. Verses 1-3 give indication Jesus left Judea because of the Pharisees. He didn’t run away in fear of them but out of concern that He would be arrested and crucified before His time.

 2.        The Holy Spirit led Him.

On His way to Galilee, Jesus went the shortest and most direct route He could take - through Samaria. Due to strong animosity between the Jews and Samaritans, many Jewish travelers went out of their way to not go through Samaria. Although Samaritans were somewhat distant relatives, the Jews felt they erred in their religious practices since they didn’t worship God at the temple in Jerusalem.

            Not Jesus.

 

“But He needed to go through Samaria” gives indication God sent Him on a specific mission. To fulfill the mission, it was imperative He go through Samaria. The Spirit compelled Him to go to the well outside of Sychar to meet with a lost and hurting woman. A Samaritan who had value in the eyes of God.

 3.        Jesus faced human limitations.

He walked quite a distance that morning. His feet hurt and He thirsted for water. Jesus completely understands our physical struggles because He experienced them too. He chose to live within the realms of the natural law as a human so He could die for us. And yet, He is God. (It would take volumes to explain what our finite minds struggle to grasp here.) Suffice to say, Jesus is both God and human.

 

Father, thank You for the encouragement we receive in the above verses. You loved the woman of Samaria long before she ever heard about Jesus. You set her up for a great encounter with the Messiah. We have value in Your eyes as well. Your love for us is unconditional. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for drawing us to Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/john/3

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/john/3

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/john/3

Jesus: Human and Divine

 

Jesus:  Human and Divine

The “Red-Letter Words” of Jesus

Day Thirty

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.  John 3:12-13 (NKJV)

Nicodemus struggled to understand heavenly things via his human nature (vs. 12). He couldn’t comprehend godly truths with a natural mind. Hence, the reason he needed a spiritual rebirth.

Jesus had a dual nature. Verse thirteen gives us some insight into His dual nature. Jesus’ preferred title for Himself, “The Son of Man,” gives reference to His human nature. And “…who is in heaven” gives reference to Jesus’ divine nature.

I admit the above scriptures confused me when I first started studying them. How could Jesus be in two places (earth and heaven) at the same time? It’s a head scratcher of a question, for sure.

Let’s look at John 1:51 to help us understand Jesus’ statement. “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Jesus’ body was limited by the laws of His humanness. That’s why He couldn’t perform miracles until the Holy Spirit, like a dove, lit on Him. However, His spirit, not limited by the laws of nature, knew no bounds. Heaven was wide open to Him. He had connection in the spiritual realm allowing Him readily access to His Father and home.

In John 3:13, Jesus explained to Nicodemus that heaven was His eternal home (long before His Bethlehem birth). Who better to teach spiritual truths than someone who had come from there? It’s true Enoch and Elijah ascended to heaven, but they never returned to earth. Jesus, being the only one who descended from there, understood its ways and glory.

Jesus makes it clear heaven is open to us today. Through rebirth our spiritual eyes can be awakened to its activities, warfare, and dynamics. He gives us first-hand knowledge of its funtionality and splendor. The Holy Spirit helps us to comprehend those heavenly things which were previously hidden to Nicodemus and us.

“But as it is written:  ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-10  (NKJV)

 

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/john/3.htm

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/john/3.htm

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/john/3.htm

http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/john/3.htm