Today’s Reading: John 7; Mark 6:1-6

Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. — John 7:3-5

In some ways it is surprising that the brothers of Jesus did not accept that he was the Messiah, but it also makes sense that it would be harder for them to believe. They had grown up around him, played games with him and worked alongside him in the family business. To them he was just Jesus.

Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” — John 7:6-8

Jesus knew what others were saying about him. He knew that his brothers were mocking him in unbelief and he knew there were many others who hated him; he knew there were some who were even plotting to kill him.

The Jewish leaders were so caught up on where Jesus had come from and from whom he was born that they were missing who Jesus was and from whom he had been sent. They tried to use this information to prove that he was not the Messiah. They knew where Joseph and Mary were from and they knew that Jesus had grown up in Galilee so they assumed he was also born in Galilee. They actually used the argument that Jesus would have been born in Bethlehem, as the prophets foretold, if he was truly the Messiah. They were making accusations without having all the information, something I am afraid I have been guilty of at times.

While Jesus was in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know Him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” – John 7:28-29

Later Jesus left for the festival but stayed out of public view. Many were talking about Jesus: some were asking where he was, some were saying he was a good man and others were calling him a fraud. Halfway through the festival he began teaching in the temple and many were amazed at how much he knew. Others accused him of being possessed by a demon when he made the comment that there were some trying to kill him. Many believed in him saying, “Would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” (John 7:31b)

FORGIVENESS. FREEDOM. MERCY.

Jesus was there because he had mercy on sinners. He was willing to give his life so that we can be forgiven of our unbelief — so that we can experience freedom from our sins. So on the last day of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowd: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’” (John 7:37b-38).

In spite of all the grumbling about him, despite the hateful plots against him, Jesus still extended the gift of life to all those who were willing to come to him. This is what forgiveness looks like; this is what freedom looks like. Let us consider the freedom we experience when we choose forgiveness and mercy. What would our lives look like if we consistently let forgiveness flow and mercy show? What would it sound like to truly let freedom ring?

Jesus said to the people who believed him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32

Father God, open my heart to areas in which I need to allow forgiveness to heal my hurts. Spirit, reveal in me any unforgiveness or hatred toward others. Work in my life in such a way that I experience freedom from my opinions, my attitudes and my agendas. Fill me with your mercy so that forgiveness flows from me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 6:22-71

“Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?” – John 6:30

What a ridiculous comment for the crowd to make just after Jesus had fed the 5000 with only five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus had provided for their physical needs by healing their sick and feeding them in a similar way to how God had provided manna from heaven for their ancestors. But apparently healing the sick and feeding 5000 people with a child’s sack lunch was not enough.

THEY WANTED MORE.

They wanted more and so do we. How often does God provide over and over again for us, yet we sit back and say we have never experienced a miracle or seen God move in a mighty way. God provides for our needs yet we desire more. We look at what others have around us and see what we do not have, rather than focusing on what God has so generously given us.

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

Jesus warned them not to get caught up in the perishable things this world has to offer (the things that do not last), but spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you (John 6:27). But witnessing miraculous signs was not enough for this crowd, they wanted the ability to perform these miracles themselves; they wanted power and glory (John 6:28-29).

At times our focus is on the desire for God to do something great and mighty through us for others to see. But God’s response to us may be the same as it was to the crowd – to first seek Him, consume Him, believe in Him and fully experience life through Him.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” – John 6:47-51

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” – John 6:53-58

GOD WANTS TO GIVE US MORE.

God is saying – I can answer your prayers and provide for your needs here on earth, I am capable of that. I can once again show you my generosity and you can experience the miracle of my provision, but I want to provide you with so much more than what you are asking for. I can heal you of your disease, but you will still die eventually. I am offering you something so much greater; I am offering you eternal life!

Perhaps the miracle is not in the provision but in the satisfaction. We know that God is able to provide – the moment of surprise is when we rest in His care, trusting and believing in Him whether or not He provides as we have asked. The miracle is in our satisfaction with what God has done and will do according to His will. Consume the Bread of Life and you will experience the miracle of satisfaction.

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:68-69

ARE WE SATISFIED WITH WHO JESUS IS?

Some would not allow themselves to be satisfied with who Jesus was and what Jesus asked of them. For the disciples, Jesus was enough. They were satisfied that he truly was the bread of life and they were determined to follow Him in pursuit of the answers instead of walking away when they didn’t fully understand. Jesus was enough.

So what about us? Will we be satisfied with all Jesus has to offer us or will we turn away and desert Jesus? Will we be satisfied with who Jesus is and who He is calling the church to be? What miracle will God perform in our hearts today? Let’s choose to rest in God’s provision and find satisfaction with who He is and what He wants to do in our lives.

Today’s Reading: John 6:1-21

Jesus went away to a remote area to grieve the death of John the Baptist but the crowds followed him. He had compassion on them and healed their sick but it was getting late and the people were getting hungry. They were quite a distance from the villages, so the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the crowds away so that they could begin their walk back to where they could buy food.

This is your chance, Jesus! It’s getting late and the crowd is getting hungry. This is the perfect opportunity for us to lose this crowd and have some alone time. But instead Jesus turned to Philip and asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, but Andrew is the one who spoke up in faith that there was a boy who had five loaves of bread and two fish.

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. — John 6:10-13

Instead of sending the people away, Jesus invited them to sit down and allow him to supply their needs. He broke bread and they ate as much as they wanted. The great love of our Savior was displayed that day. At a time when both tradition and human reasoning gave him permission to pull inward and enter a time of grieving, Jesus had compassion on others and thought more of their needs than his own. What a great example for us today. But now that the needs of the crowds had been met, Jesus set another great example for us — he separated himself from the people in order to spend some time alone with his Father.

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted his disciples get into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once, “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called out to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over to the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” – Matthew 14:22-31

Jesus took time to be alone with God but did not turn away from the needs of others. I strongly believe in taking time to grieve; I strongly believe in spending time alone in God’s presence. God calls us to this. But He also calls us to walk away from that time filled with Him in such a way that we are ready to care more about others than we do about ourselves. This is not always easy to do.

Lord, thank you for the compassion you daily show your people. You are a God who supplies our needs and meets us at our time of crisis with the words, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!” Only you know what lies before us this week. As we fill ourselves with Your presence, please go with us. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of others around us. May we focus on you and in doing so see others, rather than focusing on our own needs. In your power, may we experience the kind of faith that has us walking on water – believing that you will supply our needs so that we can turn our eyes off our own situation and see the opportunities around us. Amen.

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed. – Matthew 14:34-36

Today’s Reading: John 5

When the time was right, Jesus returned to Jerusalem and boldly taught the crowds and healed the sick, even on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders harassed Jesus and this is how he responded:

“My Father is always working, and so am I.” — John 5:17

God is always working — He is always paying attention, always responding to our needs. Jesus, too, is always working — always representing us before His Father. Nothing going on in your life is unknown to God. He is aware of how you are feeling and what you are thinking. It is not in His nature to ignore you, for He cares deeply for you. You have His attention because you have the attention of Jesus.

“Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” — John 5:19b

Jesus was able to heal the sick, raise the dead, and restore sight to the blind because he was capable of doing what God can do. Jesus didn’t have to ask God to work through him, for God had already given him the power over death and disease. If it was Jesus’ desire to give someone life, he could do it. And the Father had given Jesus authority to judge. To honor the Son is to honor the Father, and to honor the Father is to honor the Son.

When we listen to the message of Jesus and believe in God, we immediately begin experiencing eternal life — we “have already passed from death to life” (John 5:24b).

“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” — John 5:25-30

Jesus gave the religious leaders every opportunity to believe in who he was and who had sent him. He explained his relationship with God the Father, and he demonstrated the power God had given him. In addition to this, God had sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. They had heard John the Baptist preach and foretell the coming of the Messiah, yet they rejected both the messenger and the message.

“John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.” — John 5:35-38

The religious leaders loved the Scriptures. They studied them for hours every day, believing that the words on the page would qualify them for eternal life. They were caught in the routine of reading the scriptures and the pride in their thorough knowledge of each verse, yet they were missing the introduction of the Messiah Himself. The only way to eternal life was standing in front of them and they were arguing with him rather than worshipping him.

Jesus loves it when we study the Bible. He even places a hunger in our hearts for the promises found in His word. But we must be careful that we don’t miss the messenger because we are too busy building knowledge. He desires for our study to lead us into a tighter relationship with him. May Jesus come to life for each of us this morning as we study his Word. May he be more real to us today than he was yesterday!

Today’s Reading: Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus touched so many lives as massive crowds formed around him in each town he visited. Yet with all the needs pressing in around him, his focus remained on his investment in the lives of twelve.

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. – Mark 3:13-19

The twelve Jesus appointed are often referred to as the twelve disciples or the apostles. According to the NLT Study Bible I am using, disciples were students and followers while apostles were specially commissioned representatives. I would argue that today we are all both disciples and apostles.

TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST IS TO BE A STUDENT OR A FOLLOWER.

God has called us all to be students of the Word, to sit at His feet regularly and learn from Him. We spend time reading the Bible and we walk away with new understanding. His word is living and active, and we cannot help but be changed by studying the Scriptures. We have so much to learn and we have a great teacher who loves His students.

We also learn by listening to other students of the Word or disciples. What a great investment of our time to read a book written by another follower of Christ or to listen to the teachings of a great preacher! We listen and call on the Spirit to discern the truth of the message, allowing our hearts to grow and be transformed through the words God has given those He has called. When I question something I am reading, God’s word is the foundation of truth that I go back to each time.

Even pastors and preachers benefit from spending time listening to others and reading. This helps us find the humility God calls all of us to. We have not already arrived. We do not know all there is to know. We desperately need to keep learning in order to increase our understanding of God’s ways.

TO BE AN APOSTLE IS TO BE SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED TO REPRESENT JESUS & FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.

So we are all disciples but I would argue that we are also all apostles. If the definition of apostle is a person who is specially commissioned to represent something or someone then that is absolutely what we are. God has chosen every one of us for a specific purpose today. He has a plan and we have a choice. We can walk into that plan with the willingness to represent Jesus and fulfill His purpose for our day or we can focus on our own desires and plans.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:35-38

Lord, this morning I pray that you would open up my heart and show me your purpose today. Confirm in my heart what you have called me to do. Remind me WHO I have been specially commissioned to represent. God, I open up my life with a willingness today to be used by you, whether in small ways or large. Today is about you and your plan. Teach me. Show me. Use me. Guide me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 4:43-54

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. – Luke 4:14-15

Many of the Galileans had seen Jesus in Jerusalem, so news of his arrival spread quickly across the region. Jesus began to preach the same message of repentance that John the Baptist had been preaching in Judea. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined” (Matthew 4:15-16).

John goes on to tell us in detail about the second miracle Jesus performed in Galilee:

As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die…

Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” Then the father realized that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea. – John 4:46-54

GOD’S TIMING IS A BEAUTIFUL THING!

It is often in the timing of an event or miracle in our lives where our faith is strengthened the most. The miracle itself is incredible, but it is the timing of God’s movement that confirms that it is God Himself at work.

I see two elements of timing in this account of John’s:
1.) Jesus arrived in Galilee just as the government official’s son became very sick, and
2.) the boy was healed at the very time when Jesus had said the words, “Your son will live.”

For most of my life, I have heard the saints in the church say, “God is always on time. He’s never late and He’s never early.” I have found that to be true in my own life, but I must admit it is not always easy to patiently wait for God’s timing. It is in these moments of waiting that our faith grows.

IT IS IN THE WAITING THAT GOD HAS OUR ATTENTION AND IT IS IN HIS PERFECT TIMING THAT WE LEARN TO TRUST IN HIM.

I am learning right now how to trust in God in new ways. He is stretching me and I know I am only at the beginning of all He is about to teach me. I am not sure what is ahead but I am sure that I can trust Him. His timing is perfect and so I plan to give Him my attention as I wait on Him.

Today’s Reading: John 4:27-42

Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him. — John 4:27-30

Jesus made it clear early in his ministry that he had come to bring salvation to everyone. By his actions, he showed that this woman had value — this woman who was unmarried, this woman who could be stoned for her actions, this woman who was of a race hated by the Jews. This woman did not stick around to hear what the disciples had to say; she could probably see their opinion on their faces. Instead, she ran to the village she avoided; she got the attention of those whose attention had brought her pain. This woman had met the Messiah and her first response was to share the presence of Jesus with others.

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”
But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”
“Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.
Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” — John 4:31-34

The disciples saw the day as routine — it was a travel day. They would walk through Samaria, grab some food, and be on their way. The well would provide them with the water they needed to refill their skins, and they would enjoy a moment to rest their legs and prepare for the remainder of the journey. They were unaware that Jesus had other plans. They were caught in the mundane, while Jesus was operating from the eternal.

“You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” — John 4:35-38

Wake up and look around! There are people all around us who are lost, and we are about to make a difference in their lives. I sent you into town to buy food that someone else had grown. They planted the seed and harvested the crops. Pay attention, for we are about to see a great harvest of souls!

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.” — John 4:39-42

I wonder how long it took the disciples to start expecting the unexpected. Life with Jesus brought spontaneous moments of teaching, healing, and preaching. The number of people who were beginning to believe that Jesus was the Messiah was growing, and life was getting very interesting for the disciples! No schedules or preset agendas. Every day was an adventure and the disciples were learning each day how to care about the needs of others, putting prejudices and conveniences aside.

What will today look like? I have a business luncheon for work, and then I plan to drive south to help my daughter move into her new home. On the way, I plan to stop and see my youngest at her college. The day is far from routine, but I could easily put blinders on and miss opportunities to be used by God in the lives of others. It would be easy to dismiss God-anointed moments if I am not intentionally responding to the Spirit’s promptings.

Thank you, God, for the reminder this morning to wake up and look around. Someone else’s salvation may be dependent on my availability. May I not get so caught up in the mundane that I miss the opportunity to operate with the eternal in mind. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 4:13-26

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

“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 4:13-15

Can you hear the desperation in her voice? Can you sense her longing for a different life — to find the satisfaction she had been seeking her whole life? Can you hear the years of pain and rejection reflected in her desire to never have to come to the well again?

It was noon. Women usually came to the well early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the heat of the sun, but this woman had walked to the well at noon to avoid the stares and whispers of the other women. She was desperate for relief from the self-righteousness of others. She longed to come and go unnoticed. Yet on this day, the Savior of the World made it clear to her that she was indeed seen!

“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

“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

And there she was. The sins of her past revealed by a stranger. But it was not condemnation that she saw in Jesus’ eyes, but love. It was not accusations she heard in Jesus’ voice, but compassion. Everything in her life was about to change because she had met the Giver of Life Himself. She had met the Messiah.

The Samaritan woman was simply living out her routine of daily coming to the well and Jesus met her there. Her life was never the same. God had a plan for her life; she was on a JOURNEY OF GRACE – a journey that would take her a long way from the sinful life she had known for so long; a new life in which she would never thirst again.

“Sir,” the woman 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?”

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But 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. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” — John 4:19-26

If you are thinking you are not worthy, remember that Jesus chose to reveal his identity to a woman who was rejected by her community. The man who was without sin strategically positioned himself in the life of a woman who was steeped in a life of sin in order to offer her living water. In their conversation at the well, Jesus called the woman to worship God in spirit and in truth — with her heart and her head. That day he gave her the experience of both feeling loved and knowing she is loved.

So before you argue with God that your past is too messy to be used by Him, remember that He used the Samaritan woman to bring her entire village to a point of faith, and God would love to use you. And before you discount the value of the woman who has gone from one relationship to another, remember that Jesus shows her the same grace that he has shown you. And it’s possible that God is calling you to offer a very thirsty woman the living water that she was created for.

Today’s Reading: John 4:5-12

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 4:5-6

Let’s take a moment to consider the significance of this location. When Joseph received word that his father was nearing death, he went to visit him, bringing along his two sons — Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob placed his hands on his two grandsons and declared they would have all of the privileges of his sons. When his inheritance was divided among his boys, Ephraim and Manasseh would be included, even though their mother was Egyptian and their other grandfather was the priest of a false god.

These children had been a blessing to Joseph at a rough time in his life. After being rejected by his brothers and sold as a slave, God had brought joy into Joseph’s life. After being falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph was set free and placed in a position of great authority and privilege in Egypt.

During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” — Genesis 41:50-52

And now here Joseph was, reunited with his father and introducing him to his sons. God had restored Joseph’s relationship with his family. His troubles were forgotten, and he was now enjoying the land that had once brought him so much grief. Jacob embraced his grandsons, placed his hands on their heads, and bestowed upon them this blessing:

“May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham
and my father, Isaac, walked—
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life, to this very day,
the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—
may he bless these boys.
May they preserve my name
and the names of Abraham and Isaac.
And may their descendants multiply greatly
throughout the earth.” — Genesis 48:15-16

Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons with the richest land of the inheritance — part of which would eventually become Samaria. As Jesus was passing through this land generations later, he sat beside the well known as Jacob’s well. John tells us that Jesus was weary from the travel and his disciples had gone into the village to get him some food. But Jesus had plans to do so much more than rest.

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “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.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” — John 4:6,9-12

And there you have it — the wounds of discrimination were laid bare and the woman of the well was defending the value of her people. The “elephant in the room” was exposed and the dividing line of racism was drawn. You are a Jew; I am a Samaritan. Why are you talking to me?

So what do we do when generations of prejudice have created a boundary we are expected not to cross? We do what Jesus did. We erase the lines and begin the process of racial reconciliation. We do not have to live out the arguments of those who have gone before us, but we can become an instrument of peace across neighborhoods and across our nation. We can sit at the well and begin a conversation.

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” — Galatians 5:14

Today’s Reading: John 4:1-4

Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. — John 3:22

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.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. — John 4:1-4

It was time to leave Judea. In their gospel stories, Matthew and Mark tell us that John the Baptist had been arrested. Jesus knew it was not yet time for him to go head to head with the Pharisees, so he strategically led his disciples out of the Judean countryside back towards Galilee, where his ministry had begun.

On their way to Galilee, Jesus and his disciples had two options — they could take the long route around Samaria like many of the Jews did, or they could choose the short route through Samaria. Most Jews had strong feelings of prejudice against the Samaritan people because their ancestors had intermarried with the Assyrians. The northern kingdom’s capital of Samaria had fallen to the Assyrians, and most of the Jews had been led into captivity. Those Jews who remained in Samaria formed alliances with the foreigners by intermarrying with them. When the Jews returned from captivity, they rejected this new mixed race.

YOU ARE ON THE FASTEST ROUTE.

My husband and I do a lot of traveling with both of our jobs, and we have found Google Maps to be very helpful. This last weekend there was a multiple car pile up on the interstate, as well as a long stretch of construction. Google Maps alerted us to the upcoming delay and chose a different route for us, telling us we were now on the fastest route back to Kansas City.

The disciples may have thought they were simply taking a shortcut through Samaria, but Jesus had intentionally chosen this path in order to impact a woman and her entire village. Jesus did not see the color of their skin as a problem, nor did he judge them by the history of the generations before them. He saw them as sinners in need of a Savior, and he deliberately chose to show them the difference he could make in their lives. He did this by having one conversation with one woman who had experienced rejection over and over again.

Friends, it’s time for us to cross racial boundaries; it’s time for us to stop avoiding people who are different than we are. We must stop judging people by the actions of others and start seeing them through the eyes of Jesus. It is time for us to strategically position ourselves in the lives of other people so that God can use us however He wants to. Sometimes that means leaving where we are to go where He sends us; sometimes it means starting a conversation with someone who does not want to be talked to. Every time it means showing love to others; it means seeing beyond our differences and doing good for the sake of others. Let’s allow God to reroute us today.

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” — Acts 10:34-43