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Proverbs 12:9-18
9 Better is
the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself
but lacks bread.
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of
the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with
bread, But he who follows frivolity is
devoid of understanding.
12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous
yields fruit.
13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of
his lips, But the righteous
will come through trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit
of his mouth, And the
recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is known at once, But a prudent
man covers shame.
17 He who
speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of
a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes
health.
Father God, give us the words to speak as Jesus spoke to
the Samaritan woman, to bring our loved ones home to you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Gospel of John 4:1-12 NKJV
This
week the lesson starts out with Jesus knowing that the Pharisees anger was
rising and it is time to leave the area. In His journey to Galilee Jesus
engages in a conversation with a Samaritan woman that was seeking something
other than physical life.
1
Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus
made and baptized more disciples than John
Therefore,
when the Lord knew; Some
say that Jesus knew this figure of the number being baptized by someone coming
and telling Him. Jesus is all knowing and therefore by His omniscience He knew
how many had been baptized, he didn’t need to have someone counting and
reporting the figure to Him.
That
the Pharisees had heard; The
term Pharisees here refers to members of the Sanhedrin or those in authority. They
claimed the authority to regulate the rites and ceremonies of religion, and
therefore they believed they had a right to inquire into the conduct of both
John and Jesus. If you remember chapter 1 verse 25 the Pharisees sent someone
to inquire of John, and who gave him the authority to introduce baptism into
the religion of the Jewish people.
That
Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John; This phrase should have been worded
that Jesus disciples baptized more that John, because as we will see in the
next verse that Jesus didn’t baptize any, it was the disciples doing the baptizing.
If you will note not just baptizing was taking place but disciples were being
made also. The Holy Spirit was touching the hearts of men and they followed
Jesus in such a manner they would be going out and spreading the Gospel.
2 (though
Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),
Jesus
performed no Baptisms Himself. His Disciples attended to that duty. The baptism
by Jesus disciples was the same as that of John, a “Baptism of Repentance”
which greatly authenticated John’s Ministry, and, as well, this new rite of
Water Baptism.
3 He left
Judea and departed again to Galilee.
Already opposition was
rising against Jesus, from the Pharisees. They resented Jesus' popularity as
well as his message, which challenged much of their teachings. Because Jesus
was just beginning his ministry, it wasn't the time to confront these leaders
openly; so he left Jerusalem and traveled north to Galilee where there was much
less control by the Pharisees.
4 But He
needed to go through Samaria.
The Israel of Jesus’ day
was somewhat divided into some five sections. Judaea, which included Jerusalem,
was at the southern extremity. Samaria bordered Judaea on the north and Galilee
on the south. In other words, Samaria was in between these two areas. Northeast
of Galilee was Paneas, which bordered Decapolis to its south, the area of the
ten cities. Both of these, Paneas and Decapolis, were east of the Jordan River.
Another district called
“Perea,” was east of the Jordan, and extended up into the Decapolis area, also
bordering parts of Judaea and Samaria on the west. It also extended south to
approximately midpoint of the Dead Sea.
The Jews did not consider
the Samaritans to be true Israelites, but rather a mixture of Gentiles and
Jews, which was unacceptable. Consequently, there was a tremendous animosity
between these people, with the greater amount seeming to be on the part of the
Jews.
The origin of the
Samaritans came about after the defeat of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the
Assyrians (II Kings Chapter 17). With these Gentiles taking many Jews captive at that
time, and with many Jews having fled after this defeat, the Assyrians populated
the area with people from Babylon, and other places (II
Kings 17:24). These
gradually intermixed with the Jews who were already there, and others who later
came back, and were called “Samaritans.” This happened about 700 years before
Christ.
About 332 B.C. the
Governor of Samaria under the Persians, went over, it is stated, to the side of
Alexander the Great who gave him permission to build a Temple on Mt. Gerizim
like the one built by Ezra in Jerusalem.
He built it for his
son-in-law and made him High Priest. The Samaritans then established rival
worship in Jerusalem and accepted the Pentateuch as their Bible.
The great controversy
between the Jews and Samaritans, who the Jews considered to be half-breeds, was
whether to worship on Gerizim or Moriah, where the Jewish Temple stood in
Jerusalem.
As stated, the rivalry was
great, with most Jews so despising the Samaritans, that when travelling between
Judaea and Galilee, would take the eastern route on the other side of the
Jordan, even though it extended the journey some three days. However, Jesus, as
stated, ministered to the Samaritans, treating them the same as the Jews.
Consequently, He would go through this area at this time, because it was the
Will of His Heavenly Father. As such, one of the greatest conversions ever,
would be brought about. (JSM)
Jesus was directed by the
Spirit to go through Samaria because someone needed Him. Maybe the Samaritan
woman couldn’t travel to Jesus, but was seeking Him and therefore Jesus went to
her. It doesn’t matter what type of sinful lifestyle we live, if we seek His
face He will come.
5 So He
came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that
Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
So
He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar; Some say this
is the ancient city of Shechem, while others claim it is a different town
altogether. Whatever it was called, it was near Jacob’s Well.
Near
the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; This area was rich in Bible history as
we can see with this phrase.
The Patriarch Jacob purchased
this area from the children of Hamor. For this piece of land, he paid “a hundred pieces of money,” whatever
that amount was we don’t really know Genesis 33:19, and in
Genesis 48:17-22, it
is recorded Jacob giving this plot “to his son Joseph.”
6 Now
Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It
was about the sixth hour.
Now
Jacob's well was there; This
well is still present today which is amazing considering it was dug some 6,000
years ago. It is about 100 feet deep and 9 feet in diameter. Some of it is cut
through solid rock of limestone. It has little water in it, and it is covered
with a large stone, which has a hole in the center large enough to admit a man.
It is in a valley at the foot of Mount Gerizim.
With the large stone covering it some say
Jesus sat on the well, which was probably true.
Jesus
therefore, being wearied from His
journey, sat thus by the well; This
statement tells us of Jesus humanity and that He experienced aches and pains
just like we do. Even though He was God He still experienced everything we do,
which I find comforting because I know that He is in tune with my humanity,
trials, and tribulations.
It
was about the sixth hour;
The sixth hour indicating about twelve o’clock noon. This was the common time
of the Jewish meal, and this was the reason why his disciples were gone away to
buy food as verse 8 states.
7 A woman
of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give
Me a drink."
A
woman of Samaria came to draw water; Here
we begin the great story about the Samaritan woman that is converted to
Christianity. This would be the greatest moment in her life.
This woman was a
Samaritan, a member of the hated mixed race referred to by the Jews as a half
breed, and was known to be living in sin. No respectable Jewish man would talk
to a woman under such circumstances, but Jesus did. The Good News is for every
person, no matter what his or her race, social position, or past sins. We must
be prepared to share the Gospel at any time and in any place. Jesus crossed all
barriers to share the Good News, and we are to do the same.
Jesus
said to her, "Give Me a drink”;
This had to of startled the woman, a Jew speaking to her and also asking a
favor of her. This was all orchestrated by the Holy Spirit; a divine
appointment because it was customary to draw water in the morning and evening,
but here is Jesus and this woman all alone to carry on a conversation about
salvation.
The flood-gates of Grace
lifted themselves up to bless the misery which love pitied. Man’s heart,
withered with self-righteousness, cannot understand this. Thus sinners respond
to the Grace which Pharisees proudly refuse; for Grace flows in the deep
channels dug by the misery of sin (Williams).
8 For His
disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
Have you ever thought
about how all the detail of this conversation got recorded in the Word of God?
This verse states, “His disciples had gone away”. So who was there to make a
mental note of what was happening? Some Expositors feel that John the Beloved,
in fact, had remained behind with Jesus. It was John’s custom not to mention
himself, in relating these experiences, even though he was present. Considering
the detail to which he outlined this extremely interesting episode, gives
credence to the thought that he was present.
9 Then the
woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a
drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with
Samaritans.
Then
the woman of Samaria said to Him; Here
we have two hearts at opposite ends of the spectrum; His, of holiness and hers of
sin. This encounter of holiness and sinfulness resulted in the Salvation of the
Sinner. With Divine skill Jesus leads this defiled woman by five steps into the
Kingdom of God. These steps were: Contact (vs. 7);
Interest (vs. 10); Conscience (vs. 16); Holiness (vs.
24); Revelation (vs. 26). Please
remember these steps as we proceed.
How
is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?; How did this woman know Jesus was a
Jew? No doubt by His speech, dress, and appearance which was different from the
Samaritans.
For
Jews have no dealings with Samaritans; As mentioned previously there was great animosity between
the Jews and Samaritans, but here Jesus is showing us love thy neighbor. World
leaders and society today promote racism, bias, and prejudice, a human
characteristic at its finest that is still with us some 2,000 years later,
which can only be cured by Jesus. That’s the reason Paul said, Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ
Jesus”.
10 Jesus
answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of
God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked
Him, and He would have given you living water."
Jesus
answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of
God; This gift
that Jesus speaks of here is that free gift of Grace that God has for anyone
that repents of their sinful lifestyle and accepts Jesus as their gift of
eternal life. John
3:16 For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His
indescribable gift!
And who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,'; Here Jesus is starting to introduce
Himself as the Messiah in a roundabout way as to not scare away the woman.
You would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water; The Jews used the expression “living
water” to denote springs, fountains, or running streams, in opposition to dead
and stagnant water. Jesus is speaking of eternal life through Salvation; of
quenching a spiritual thirst. John
4:14 but whoever drinks of
the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall
give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting
life."
11 The woman
said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.
Where then do You get that living water?
Jesus completed step one
on making contact (verse 9 above) and now He is on step two of peaking this woman’s
curiosity with this living water for spiritual life and not physical life. It
appears there is no means to obtain water from the well unless a person brings
a rope with them and Jesus had no rope. So now this woman is intrigued and
wants to know where she can find this living water. Her heart was yearning for
something but didn’t know what.
12 Are You
greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself,
as well as his sons and his livestock?"
The question, “Art Thou
greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the Well …?”, proclaims several
things, she is a descendant of Ephraim, son of Joseph, and actually of Jacob
himself who dug the Well. She still claims to be a Jew by her use of the
pronoun, “our,” she lays claim to the Patriarchs exactly as the Jews. The Jews
would disregard this claim, but Jesus knew it was true.
This phrase, “And drank
thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”, pulls her back to material
and even carnal things, in linking salvation with heritage. Their worship of
God was based on a false premise, and therefore unacceptable. Just as millions
of Protestants and Catholics attempt to link God with a church building, or a
particular religious denomination, or doctrine, or a statue, or a person such
as the Pope, etc., when, in reality, there is no connection. Only faith in
Jesus affords salvation.
Colossians
1:16 For
by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans
3:23 for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans
6:23 For
the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say
to you,
unless one
is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you
believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord Jesus I know I am a
sinner. I confess my sins to you; I am
sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful
lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my
Savior.” I believe this and have faith
you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my
heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”
(John 3:16,17; Romans
3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians
2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10)
(Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph.
5:3-7)
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