Daily Dose of the Word of God: John 4: 1-10

Kelly Day, Director of Coffee Break Bible Study

Transcript

Kelly Day  0:07  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. It's Tuesday, January 27th. Today's reading is from John 4, 1 through 10, with a spotlight on Jesus and the apostle John is our guide.

Kelly Day 0:22  

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.  Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.  When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)  The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Kelly Day  1:33  

Here is Jesus, once again, getting into trouble from the Pharisees for being too good at his job (making disciples). So instead of having tensions escalate, Jesus decides to leave and go back to Galilee for a bit. Along the way, he goes through Samaria. Most Jews would have gone the long way around Samaria, but here it says Jesus had to go. I'm not sure, but I think Jesus had to because he wanted this meeting and conversation to take place. The Samaritan woman (who was out at an odd time of day) was shocked that he, a Jew, would even talk to her. Jesus didn't care about the cultural norms. He didn't care about traditions or about choosing sides. He cared about people. Jesus came to save the lost. I think Jesus knew this particular woman would be at this well, at this time and her heart would be open to his message. Jesus could have stayed in Judea and argued with the Pharisees, but he had something else more important to do - make disciples of all people. Jesus thought and acted out of the box. He loved the unexpected and didn't waste too much time arguing with the difficult. Will you follow in his unexpected footsteps today?

Kelly Day  3:02  

Let's pray. Dear Lord our God, you are perfect, loving and act in ways we don't always expect. I confess that I often let my own selfish thoughts, news feeds and opinions of others get in the way of following you fully. I pray that your Holy Spirit will guide our hearts to wanting your ways. That we may see and love the Samaritans in our own lives and tell them the truth of your saving grace. May we not walk around these people you've placed before us. Thank you for your love and compassion on each one of us. In christ's name alone, amen.