John 4
This woman at Jacob's well concludes this about the man with whom she's been conversing:
19: "Sir, you must be a prophet."
"I'll give you that much," she seems to be saying. So I have a question for you, prophet:
20: "Why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship?"
She trys to move from being on the defensive to the offensive by insinuating that Jesus and his kind were a tad legalistic about their religion. Since you're obviously more than any run-of-the-mill guy, explain that knotty problem, sir.
Jesus, with divine authority, spoke again with his charactertic frankness:
22: "You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship ..."
As our 2 year old granddaughter loudly exclaimed when the nurse stuck a needle in her leg, "OW-W-W!"
The Lord continued,
"We Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews."
Talk about one bitter pill after another. Jesus not only spoke truth lovingly, but he knew the appropriate time to reveal less palatable truths.
Sometimes we fail to get around to truth, even after speaking and speaking and speaking. Is it that we don't know what truth is, or don't love enough to learn about it and boldly speak it?
23: The time is coming - indeed it's here now - when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way."
Gracious Lord Jesus! He did not say, "We true Jewish worshipers," but included whosoever will. The woman seemed to warm to the conversation with that comment -
25: "I know the Messiah is coming - the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everthing to us."
Light Bulb Moment is on its way!!
Jesus isn't finished with this wayward child.
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