John 4
As a follow up to my post yesterday, other remarkable aspects of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well include the timing of the encounter and the reaction of the townspeople in v27-42.
MacArthur indicates the divine timing of the encounter writing: "[h]ad the disciples arrived earlier, they would have interrupted and destroyed the conversation; and if they arrived any later, she would have gone and they would not have heard His declaration of messiahship. This feature subtly reveals Jesus' diving control over the situation that was occurring."
We must also remember that each time someone comes to faith it is the hand of God - a miracle (see Ephesians 2:8). I think about my own testimony and the story of my mom coming to faith at 81 years old even though she was Jewish her entire life up until that point (watch this video starting at 6:00 and ending at 12:43). As such we have the miracle of faith of the Samaritan woman at the well and the townspeople.
One would think that everyone would have such a reaction to Jesus. Yet this is not the case. Of course the Jewish elders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, etc. and many others' hearts were hardened as were the townspeople in the region of Gadarenes where Jesus heals a man (or two men depending on the account you are reading - see also Matthew 8, Mark 5, Luke 8) from his demons - in this story all accounts indicate that the people of the region "pleaded" with Jesus to leave. The only exception here is noted in Mark where he indicates that "the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed" (Mark 5:20).
ALL believers have a story to tell that is a miracle - what is YOURS?
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has performed many miracles in my life with of course the most important being faith itself! Thank You Jesus! I am undeserving of such a gift. I worry, and my sin goes on and on...PLEASE forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.
They said to the woman,
“We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard
for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the
world.” v42
As a follow up to my post yesterday, other remarkable aspects of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well include the timing of the encounter and the reaction of the townspeople in v27-42.
MacArthur indicates the divine timing of the encounter writing: "[h]ad the disciples arrived earlier, they would have interrupted and destroyed the conversation; and if they arrived any later, she would have gone and they would not have heard His declaration of messiahship. This feature subtly reveals Jesus' diving control over the situation that was occurring."
We must also remember that each time someone comes to faith it is the hand of God - a miracle (see Ephesians 2:8). I think about my own testimony and the story of my mom coming to faith at 81 years old even though she was Jewish her entire life up until that point (watch this video starting at 6:00 and ending at 12:43). As such we have the miracle of faith of the Samaritan woman at the well and the townspeople.
"Many...believed in Him because of the woman's testimony" (v39)...."[a]nd because of His words many more became believers." (v41)
One would think that everyone would have such a reaction to Jesus. Yet this is not the case. Of course the Jewish elders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, etc. and many others' hearts were hardened as were the townspeople in the region of Gadarenes where Jesus heals a man (or two men depending on the account you are reading - see also Matthew 8, Mark 5, Luke 8) from his demons - in this story all accounts indicate that the people of the region "pleaded" with Jesus to leave. The only exception here is noted in Mark where he indicates that "the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed" (Mark 5:20).
ALL believers have a story to tell that is a miracle - what is YOURS?
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has performed many miracles in my life with of course the most important being faith itself! Thank You Jesus! I am undeserving of such a gift. I worry, and my sin goes on and on...PLEASE forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.
