Jesus, not another like him, number fifteen.
Maybe your world is quite insulated, your life rather cocooned. If so, you may not be aware that there are so many people, young and old, troubled and wondering what in the world is going on?! Several personal conversations in the last week, altogether separate from the worldwide events, reminded me once again that so many people are running on empty. It is true - they/we are looking for some thing or some one to make us feel better and to fulfill us.
In the last 14 Morning Briefings, we have seen so much of who Jesus was while on earth:
Extreme Jesus-40 days fasting in the wilderness,
humble Jesus baptized by John the Baptist and claimed by the Father and Spirit; one compelling Jesus called the disciples who dropped what they were doing and followed him, miracle-working Jesus turned ordinary water into fine wine, angry Jesus drove out the moneychangers from the Temple, and straightforward Jesus announced to Nicodemus that he had to be born again. The gospel writer and disciple John described how the faith of the government official moved empathetic Jesus to heal his son, though Jesus was miles away from him - and you and I prayed for dear Rachelle to be similarly healed of a murderous cancer. John also described how Jesus knew and loved the Samaritan woman...
“A real encounter with Jesus” - did you read it? if not: https://conta.cc/3JAehhB
We left her standing near the well, talking to a most unusual man. She is fully aware that He knows all about her - that she has had ‘five husbands and the man she now has is not her husband’ - yet has not spurned her. She thinks to herself, ‘If He knows this about me, it is not just His words that are great ... it is not just His manner that is arresting or even His willingness to engage me in conversation. No, his knowledge of me, the authority and kindness with which he speaks, his offer of living water can mean only one thing--He is the One I have waited all of my life to see—this is my Messiah!’ What a revelation.
“I am He,” Jesus tells her, “the One speaking to you.”
She knows it is so, and turns to run back to her village, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?”
Friends, I love this story because Jesus went out of his way to go and meet this woman in Samaria. If you read the passage in John 4, perhaps you took note that Jesus was actually at the well waiting for her when she came. He broke all the rules, talked to her and showed her a better way of life because of his love. That great love compelled her to run and tell others... it made them stop what they were doing and come check out Jesus.
Come they did and they believed. John wrote, ‘many Samaritans from town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.”’ Therefore, when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of what He said. And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”
What an illustration of the love of our Heavenly Father! After all, Jesus did not say or do anything unless prompted by the Father.1,2 All of this was designed by the heart of God. Think of it, in one evening, her relationships with her neighbors were changed forever; they saw the change in her and loved her because she introduced them to Jesus.
Ah . . . do you see it? Do you see the heart of God?
God specializes in healing relationships and restoring broken lives;
oh, he is good indeed!
So excited by her discovery at the well, the woman invites the people from town to come and meet Jesus . . . one of the most effective means of sharing your faith is simply to tell people what your relationship with Jesus means in your life.
This woman reminds me of so many people around us these days,
looking for some thing or some one,
looking for answers,
looking for hope,
looking for purpose,
looking for fulfillment somewhere,
sometimes just about anywhere.
Thankfully, the solution is still the same. His name is Jesus, and he is still the source of living water. People you know - on your job, at school or in your neighborhood - are waiting to find the love of Jesus. You have the chance to tell them how he has met you where you are, loved you, set you straight, given you an endless bright future, and given you another chance... and another. Will you tell them?
If you are wondering if people need you to tell them, watch this incredible, powerful interview recorded yesterday with Jack Hibbs - Really good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ymFNkorLk4
A song? O sure, The Commission - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APATH3ea-D0
Jesus, not another like him.
Christine
1 - John 3.34
2 – John 5.19