Day 253 – Jesus’ Ministry Grows

• Did you know that John the Baptist had his own disciples, or followers? What was the basis of their conversations with John in today’s first passage? Do you think they were worried, or confused, about Jesus’ popularity?
• John was clear in his response. He was quick to point out Jesus’ credentials as the promised Messiah, wasn’t he? John 3:31-36 are important theology (teaching) about Jesus. Read them carefully. Focus especially on verse 36. Eternal life is given to those who believe, but God’s wrath is on those who disobey. Our repeated disobedience is what angers God, and the only remedy is belief in the Son.
• You may remember that Jews and Samaritans didn’t get on at all. We read about how this started when we looked at the aftermath of Israel after their exile to Assyria. This gives the story about the Samaritan woman at the well (and later, the parable of the Good Samaritan) extra significance. If you don’t recall the details, here’s a quick reminder! Samaritans originated from Samaria, which is roughly the area of the northern Israel after the split of the nation that we read about in the book of Kings. Animosity between them and the Jews – those who were in the southern area of Judah – began almost immediately. When the Assyrians invaded Israel, they settled throughout Samaria, and intermarried with the people who remained. Today’s Old Testament passage tells us that their ancestors didn’t “fear God” and did great sin, brining in many foreign gods. Hatred grew, fuelled by instances in Ezra and Nehemiah where the Samaritans tried to stop the temple being built, and continued to grow until the time of Jesus, by which time the Jews thought of the Samaritans as “dogs”. For Jesus to speak to a single, Samaritan woman at the well would have shocked people. Jesus was breaking down barriers of racism and sexism.
• Yesterday we read about the Jewish teacher, Nicodemus. Today’s it’s a lowly woman, someone with a uncomfortable past, and who was possibly a prostitute. She may have been an outcast in her community, because she was collecting water at 12:00pm, the hottest time of the day, when the other people wouldn’t have been at the well. It’s a clear example of how Jesus came for everyone (those who thought they were already saved, as well as those who thought that they could never be saved).
• What is “living water”? What’s the difference between that and water from a well?
• Do you think the woman understood Jesus’ words? Would your answers have been like hers, do you think?
• Jesus knew about the woman’s past. What was this woman looking for to satisfy her? Why was this water like “cistern water”? What was Jesus urging her to look for satisfaction in instead?
• What temporary and earthly things are you looking for satisfaction in?
• What do you think Jesus meant with the talk of sowing and reaping and harvest? What was he urging his disciples (and us) to do?

Today’s passages are mostly simple to understand but have profound depth to them about the good things Jesus offers for those who put their trust in Him. It’s also profound because it talks of life-changing trust.

Following Jesus should be life changing! The life of a Christian should be distinct to those who are not. It’s the difference between a life lived for Christ and a life lived for our own personal satisfaction and glory. I wonder what changes happened in the life of the woman we met today as she excitedly started living a life that knew Christ.

Sin is described in this passage as being like dirty water, compared to the fresh streams of life-giving water that Jesus provides. Think about dirty water – it might quench your thirst temporarily, but it’ll leave you feeling pretty ill afterwards! And yet we lust after it with our daily worldly temptations because the promise of the eternal living water seems too distant, or not so physically real. We follow our eyes rather than trusting in Jesus.

Can I urge you, especially as we work through this time in the gospels, to consider the words you’re reading as challenges in your life, rather than as a daily bible study? Read and understand and make notes,for sure – but make your prayers each day about the importance of practical application of Jesus’ teachings. That has far greater worth than any notes or head knowledge!