-in my mind there is no coincidence that once the Pharasies began to question the baptisms that were taking place, Jesus heeded out. My guess is that there began to be a lot of pressure being applied to new belivers -- by moving on for a moment allowed Jesus and his disciples to avoid conflict that could harm and confuse newly baptized souls.
----in no way do I believe Jesus was escaping to avoid a difficult situation but rather protecting and nurturing individuals that had been newly transformed in the image of Christ
So Jesus and his Disciples set out on a journey that was organized by a RESPONSE of prtoection and safeguarding.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14 NIV)
-Jesus sets out on this journey that was spurred by this response and doing so has given him some sense of discomfort and exhaustion -- if we think about the distance traveled, it is essentially moving from the southern part of Israel to the border of Lebanon. That is an incredible distance that while could have been traveled along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea was probably more through the desert to cut time off of the travel.
--so because of the pain, discomfort, and exhaustion of their travels, Jesus and his followers stop off for a break in Samaria for water. This is where Jesus meets the "Woman at the Well."
Even though his response to leave Judea would clearly bring uncomfortable travel He was faithful and because of His faithfulness, God showed up with, OPPORTUNITY.
Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (John 4:28-30 NIV)
-Now we see where the opportunity that was presented because of faithful response has motivated this Samaritain woman towards TESTIMONY of the truths of Jesus. Her Jesus story is beginning right before our eyes.
The Good News of Jesus has given her a reckless abandon that is normally uncharacteristic for this woman. Her public announcements are something that would have caught everyone off guard in-turn most likely giving her testimony even more credibility. Jesus uses the humble and broken.
(The other Samaritans) said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42 NIV)
-the woman's faithful testimony begins what soon becomes TRANSFORMATION of the Samaritan people to see Jesus as their Messiah.
RESPOSE leads to OPPORTUNITY which inspires TESTIMONY that cultivates TRANSFORMATION.
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There is another story in John 4 concerning the Disciples that I will dig into in the future. (John 4:27-38)
The Good News of Jesus has given her a reckless abandon that is normally uncharacteristic for this woman. Her public announcements are something that would have caught everyone off guard in-turn most likely giving her testimony even more credibility. Jesus uses the humble and broken.
(The other Samaritans) said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42 NIV)
-the woman's faithful testimony begins what soon becomes TRANSFORMATION of the Samaritan people to see Jesus as their Messiah.
RESPOSE leads to OPPORTUNITY which inspires TESTIMONY that cultivates TRANSFORMATION.
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There is another story in John 4 concerning the Disciples that I will dig into in the future. (John 4:27-38)
