What Jesus Did

"Sir," the woman [at Jacob's well] said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"

—John 4:19-20 NLT

Key Thought


Over the long years of religious history, so much conflict has revolved around worship and the place of worship. Even today, so much of the conflict found in Christian groups revolves around the...

 

"Go and get your husband," Jesus told [the woman at Jacob's well]. "I don't have a husband," the woman replied. Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband — for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"

—John 4:16-18 NLT

Key Thought


While the conversation had focused on water and remained a bit confusing to the woman, Jesus now is going to get to the heart of the matter. It's...

 

"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."

—John 4:15 NLT

Key Thought


Even when we aren't sure what to ask, we need to come to Jesus and ask! We're thirsty. We're tired. Our resources are limited. Our strength is on the wane. We realize that we cannot manage alone. So let's ask, trusting God even if we are not sure what we should request; let's just ask for the water that quenches...

 

Jesus replied [to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well], "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

—John 4:10 NLT

Key Thought
But we do know, don't we? We do know who is talking with the woman at the well! We do know that he is the gift of God! So why don't we ask that the Lord Jesus slake our thirst with living water?

Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus, please make me alive to your living water welling...

 

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.

—John 4:7-9 NLT

Key Thought
Asking for a drink doesn't seem like a big deal. In this case, however, it is a huge deal! Jesus is a Jew. Jews considered Samaritans unworthy and unclean cousins. Jews felt that even simple...

 

[Jesus] had to go through Samaria on the way [to Galilee]. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

—John 4:4-6 NLT

Key Thought
Jesus took the "shortcut" between Judea in the south and Galilee in the north. He went through Samaria. He was tired from his journey. He rested by the historic site of Jacob's well...

 

Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them — his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

—John 4:1-3 NLT

Key Thought
Jesus' ministry with his disciples involved baptizing. However, because of John the Baptizer's association with baptism, Jesus carefully avoided conflict and confusion. While he highly regarded John's ministry and John personally, he did not want to be confused...

 

[John the Baptizer said,] "And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment."

—John 3:36 NLT

Key Thought
God sent Jesus to save us. Faith in God's Son is our doorway to life. However, John reminds us that faith is not just what we THINK. True faith always leads us to obedient ACTION. So when we don't believe (when we don't obey), we shut ourselves off from life. Jesus...

 

[John the Baptizer said,] "For [Jesus] is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands."

—John 3:34-35 NLT

Key Thought
Jesus is THE authority! Jesus has the authority over life and death. He has the authority to reveal the truth about God. Jesus has the authority over religion, faith, and spiritual experience. Jesus has the authority over our lives and our destinies. Why? He is...

 

[John the Baptizer said,] "[Jesus] has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true."

—John 3:31-33 NLT

Key Thought
When we truly believe that Jesus has come from God to show us God's love, then an amazing thing...