John 4

John 4 is an interesting chapter in that Jesus pretty much manages to offend just about everyone.
Cultural and social morals have nothing to do with God's work.
A point not appreciated during his lifetime, nor today.
Nor in those of his followers whom to reach the lost must bear the wrath of the "religious" ie: pretend Christians.
Even Christians can choke here as well.
Everyone knows better than God it seems.

Samaria was populated by Jews born "on the wrong side of the tracks", so to speak.
Their ancestors were left behind by the Babylonians during the evacuation from Judea and Israel.
They were uneducated and therefore of no social or economic status.
And this has changed little with time as we advance to Jesus' day!

The town is a place called, Sychar.
Meaning "drunken".

First WHOOPS, good Jews avoided Samaria.
Jesus purposely went there.

Next WHOOPS, a Rabbi would never be found in the presence of a woman!
Jesus sat, waited for her and talked with this one!

He declared himself to her - and she believed!
This was SACRELEDGE to the Jew!
Plus women were not considered worthy of having valid opinions!

He was to stay two days here, and many came to belief because of this woman's spreading the tale of what happened - and Jesus' teaching while there.

Some points seem to stand out here:
- You have to choose to listen to Jesus
- You will have to overcome prejudice, tradition, cultural bias to witness to those in need
- God will change you in the process to be effective
- You must see the need of those without God
- You may sow, while another reaps
- And visa-versa, another sows and you may reap
- It is all of God, you are just allowed to participate in His work.
- Expect condemnation
- (and know that you will be blessed accordingly ...)


Jesus' Second Miracle
Jesus and his troop of Deciples now traveled to Cana.
This was where He had changed the water into wine earlier.

Now an official in Capernaum heard Jesus was now in Cana.
As his son was dying, with a fever, he went to Jesus.
Hoping to persuade Jesus to come with him to heal his son.

Jewsus rebukes the faithlessness of this generation,
Tells the fater to go home,
As the son would now live!

And, he and his household now all believed in Jesus ......

But, really, how few come to God without direct intervention by God?
Jesus said that number would be, none .....