Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (Part 2)

Monday, December 23, 2013      Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (Part 2)

John  4: 16-26

At the time of the Gospel of John, the phrase ‘living water’ was a common way of referring to running water, as in a stream or river. Such water was considered to be pure and fresh as compared to standing water in a pond or well. Jesus was telling the woman that worshipping God in truth and spirit was not about on which mountain (church) you worshipped. It meant turning away from her present life, which was symbolized as stagnant water, and receiving God’s new life, which Jesus symbolized as living water.

Isn’t it interesting that two millennia later, people still grossly misunderstand Jesus’ simple teaching to the Samaritan woman. So many people love their local church or denomination (or non-denomination) more than they love the Kingdom of God. For these people, truth and spirit has been reduced to the doctrine and teaching of their local church. There are also many other people who think worshipping God in truth and spirit can be accomplished apart from God’s chosen means to build his Kingdom, which is through the local church. These people shun the local church in favor of their own spiritual experience.

Each group has the potential of an authentic encounter with God. Each group has the potential of being deaf to Jesus when he says, “I Am the Messiah!” (John 4:26). Recently, our Sunday school class had a thoroughly engaging discussion on grace. However, as exhilarating as the class was, I was lukewarm about attending the worship service that followed. I had looked at the Order of Worship, the hymns and scriptures, and wasn’t anticipating much. I thought my time could be better spent at home in front of the fireplace with a mug of hot coffee and a good book. My wife thought better, and we stayed for worship. An hour or so later I realized the service was a Word from God which I much needed. I left the sanctuary thanking God for the opportunity to worship the Father in spirit and in truth. I thanked God that I had heard Jesus say, “I Am the Messiah!”

“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” (John 4:23-24).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.