Daily Devotionals & book resources

John 3.27-42

Tolstoy in his novel War and Peace wrote that a battle can turn in a “Hurrah”. The Hurrah represents a changed contrasting attitude compared to the disposition of all around. It stands for a different vision of what is before them. It is grasping the positive when all around is negative. Suddenly the world seems different and the “Hurrah” enthuses, encourages and conveys a new sense of reality.  Belief in Jesus can be that “Hurrah” as we see in the Samaritan woman when the penny drops and she realizes that the man before her is the Messiah she and all her people have been waiting for. She believed him when he said, ‘I who speak to you am he’. ^{John 4.26}

Jesus’ disciples returned from town with food just as he made that confession to the woman. It reads as if they barged in breaking the intimate profound moment oblivious to the significance of the event that had taken place and not caring. ‘No one said, “What do you seek?” or “Why are you talking with her?”’ ^{John 4.27} Their preoccupation was with the mundane and the everyday. Food was their dominant thought. ‘Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”’ ^{John 4.31}

The woman though had just had her view of the world changed by her encounter with Jesus. She was a convert in the first flush of excitement. The mundane, such as collecting water, had fallen away and she was bursting to share her new-found faith and introduce others to Jesus.  What a contrast with the disciples. ‘The woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”’ Counter culturally we have in essence the woman being the evangelist. She was doing what all can do and so frequently do not do. She was inviting people to discover Jesus for themselves.

Jesus and the woman now shared the same vision inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was a vision of a harvest of people for salvation. Is it too strong a term to say that Jesus rebuked his disciples when he said, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about’? He was referring to the Spirit of God empowering him to preach the gospel. This was his calling and purpose. The disciples like the woman at the beginning of her encounter were preoccupied with the everyday and literal understanding of his words.

You can feel Jesus frustration coming through the words, ‘Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together.’ ^{john 4,36,37} He was drawing on the imagery in Amos 9.13 which also describes the abundance of the new age. Men and woman from the Samaritan town responded to the woman’s invitation to come and see Jesus. Their salvation was Jesus’ total priority and he stayed two days teaching. As a result, many believed. They believed because they encountered Jesus for themselves and the Holy Spirit spoke into their hearts. ‘They said to the woman. “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the World.”’ ^{John 4.42}

Are we preoccupied with the everyday or do we share Jesus’ vision for the gospel?

As a church have we stopped inviting people to meet Jesus?

Do we think that we are not sufficient in some way to invite people to meet Jesus?

Where does reaching people with the gospel rate in our priorities as a church?

Lord I lift your name of high – Maranatha singers

John 4.1 -26

What stops someone from feeling able to trust in Jesus? There are many potential barriers some of which are intellectual regarding questions about the historical or scientific evidence. Some questions are philosophical perhaps regarding suffering, justice or whether there can be only one true religion. However, for many the barriers that prevent the act of trusting in Jesus are not so much about these wider questions, they are ones concerning personal identity, culturally and emotionally. It is in this highly personal area that the account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman is highly relevant. Before moving on I want to say there are highly coherent responses to scientific, historical and philosophical questions and if anybody would like a steer towards where to read, listen or view these, please get in touch via my personal e mail or facebook page. (See below)

Jesus left Judea where his disciples had been baptizing because his presence was attracting more attention from the Pharisees than he wished at that time. It was still early in his ministry and there was much more to be done before his death on the cross. He returned to Galilee, taking the shorter route north and therefore passed through Samaria. Many Jews would have gone around Samaria, up the east side of the River Jordon, because they would not have wanted to mix with the Samaritans who they considered, “half-caste, religiously barbaric heretics”. (Josh Moody, John 1-12 For You.) The Jewish view of Samaritans, who lived in part of what was the Northern Kingdom of Israel prior to the Assyrian conquest, were people who were mixed race due to Assyrian deportation and settlement policies. Their religion whilst sharing the Pentateuch, although it partially differed in content, also mixed in pagan worship practices. The Samaritans had a different centre of worship to Jerusalem, Mount Gerizim, where Moses pronounced the law’s blessings. It was on this mountain that the Samaritans had erected a temple but in 128/7 BC John Hyrcanus, a Jewish High Priest, destroyed it. There were then deep historical and cultural divides between the Jews and the Samaritans although they were immediate neighbours.

Jesus and his disciples arrived at Sychar, half way through Samaria and close to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. It was midday, Jesus was hot and tired and his disciples went on into town for food while Jesus settled down by the famous “Jacob’s well” just outside town. A Samaritan woman arrived on her own to fetch water and Jesus asked for a drink. ^{John 4.7} The woman was shocked because she was immediately aware that the cultural and gender barriers that existed between her a Samaritan woman and Jesus a male Jew would normally prevent any form of communication. ^{John 4.9} Jesus completely ignored these factors and spoke directly to her heart and need. He used water as a metaphor for the Spirit and spiritual life. He loved her and wanted her to have life that was the best it could possibly be. He used the term “living water” to describe eternal spiritual life. ^{John 4.10}  There then followed a conversation at cross purposes, the woman speaking literally and misunderstanding Jesus. She refers back to her cultural heritage and speaks of Jacob supplying them with water from the well and how it was revered as Jacob and all his family had used it.  At this point the barriers between Jesus and the woman were historical, cultural, gender based and simple lack of understanding. There was little hope of this discussion making progress. Jesus then tries to clarify what he meant but initially that did not work and the woman still took him literally although she thought it would be wonderful to have water that satisfied one’s thirst once and for all time.

‘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.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty again and have to keep coming here to draw water”.’ ^John4.13-15 Jesus then jumped over the barrier of culture, religion, gender and comprehension by showing deep insight into her life revealing her disgrace and sin while at the same time offering her the spiritual ‘water of life’. There could not be a greater act of love and respect for a woman who her own people considered did not deserve respect. Jesus had divine insight into her life and heart by exposing her relationship outside of marriage and five previous husbands. Culturally, at that time, it was unacceptable to have had more than three husbands even if there were acceptable reasons for multiple husbands such as widowhood. The implication is though that her multiple husbands were for more unacceptable reasons than that. It was the turning point for the woman. Jesus had made contact with her heart and revealed himself as the Messiah. He moved her thinking from understanding that religion is based on place and culture to spiritual connection and truth. She was looking forward to the Messiah coming who would reveal truth and Jesus revealed himself to her as that Messiah. Instead of a body of ideas her faith was now placed in the person of Christ.

When we reflect on our own spiritual journey can we identify a time when culture and religious practices were replaced by encountering the person of Jesus? Can we also identify a time when our understanding was changed by the Holy Spirit convincing us that the “water of life” is Jesus himself? Can we think of a time when the Spirit of Christ showed us up to ourselves how we really are without excuses?

Jesus’ conversation with the woman was a private conversation, she was not publicly humiliated or made a fool of. He respected her dignity and valued her highly. He was patient in his explanations. He was spiritually insightful. It would be great if as Christians we prayed for these qualities as we meet people cross culturally. When we speak of cross cultural work we often mean across global cultures, however as disciples of Christ we belong to another culture, the kingdom of God. May we have the attitude and discernment to communicate with those around us, cross culturally.

There is power in the name of Jesus – Noel Richards

John 3.36

When John writes, ‘whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life’ ^John3.36 he raises several questions in the modern reader’s mind. Is the reason for obedience just the reward we will receive? How is it possible to know what it is I am meant to do? How am I meant to get the strength to continue to be obedient. I want to be free and isn’t obedience the opposite to freedom? To understand this phrase it is necessary to place it in the context of the developing account in John’s gospel as well as in the wider biblical writings.

Christian obedience to Jesus is a response to both authority and love. John opened his gospel with a declaration that Jesus as the Word of God is eternal, the creator of all and the revelation of God that brings light to our lives. ^{John 1.1-5} His authority is from that he is the awesome God but more than that, he is intimately concerned with us. However, Jesus’ relationship with us is not simply as the all powerful God who made all things and will judge us, he is the one who was lifted up to die for us because of his very great love for us. ^{John 3.15-16} Obedience then is a love response to very great love, love that is almost beyond our comprehension and indeed would be if it were not for God enabling us to understand.

Love for Jesus means we want to be with him and be like him. ‘Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.’ ^{1 John 3.24} Obedience becomes a pleasure, ‘For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.’ ^{1 John 5.3}

To grasp what obedience is we are helped by the word of God and the Spirit of God both of these are received through Jesus. Immediately prior to John 3.36 we read, ‘For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.’ ^John3.34 It is the combined words of God and his Spirit that brings us both understanding of God’s will and the capacity to be obedient.

Our understanding of freedom depends upon our world view. The biblical view of freedom is freedom from the slavery of sin. This freedom from the slavery of sin is also expressed in love for others especially love for fellow disciples of Christ. ‘Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.’ ^{1 John 2.9,10} Love and obedience for Jesus then overflows into love for others around us.

How has God been speaking to you about his love for you?

Is there any next step of obedience that the Spirit has made you aware of?

Be the Centre – Michael Frye

John 3.36 & Deuteronomy 27.9,10

Independence of mind and self-determinism is so ingrained in our society that an instruction to obey can be seen as wrong, offensive and detracting from our rights. It feels like being forced to do things against our will. There have rightly been strong reactions against enforced controls on people’s lives typified in the anti-slavery movements and a rejection that crimes committed under the orders of military commanders are excusable. Many women have seen a promise to obey in a marriage service as inappropriate and unequal. How then do you react to John’s words, ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him’? ^{John 3.36} These words fit into a whole biblical theme of obedience to God and are also a repeated theme in John’s writings. They can be a stumbling block to faith and spiritual growth and they can also be misinterpreted and cause Christians stress and anxiety. On the other hand fully grasped and understood they can be a pathway to freedom, joy and peace.

Jesus was just about to walk through Samaria on the way back to Galilee, passing Mount Ebal and it was close to there he met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. It was on Mount Ebal that Moses addressed the people of Israel just before they enter the promised land with these words, ‘You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today’^{. Deuteronomy 27.9,10} He then went on to clarify what obedience to God was by issuing a series of curses or forbidden things, followed by blessings for obedience. Obedience then is about rejecting sin and living in a God pleasing way. What then is sinful? No lists in scripture are comprehensive, but what they do is expose the depth and range of sin. Moses’ list ^{Deuteronomy 27.15-26} first of all identifies idolatry, that is anything we place in our hearts where God should be. It includes a whole range of behaviours destructive to family life: not respecting parents, having sexual relations with close relatives and animals, maliciousness, injustice to the poor, weak and foreigners, crimes against neighbours and corruption. The blessing in addition to occupying the promised land and prospering is that they will be God’s people, ^{Deuteronomy 28.9} and the name of the Lord will be known throughout the world. ^{Deuteronomy 29.10}  Here we see the missionary dimension of obedience to God. The lives of the people of God are intended to reveal God to others.

God’s material blessings in the Old Testament are symbolic of the spiritual blessing in the New Testament. The promised land of the Old Testament becomes the promised land of eternal life in the New Testament. Does this mean that obedience is the means of salvation and eternal life? It does not, but obedience is the evidence and outcome of faith. Condemnation by God is not something that God decides after having weighed up how obedient one has been. It is the state all are in unless one believes in Jesus. It is a very hard message to hear, that one has naturally separated oneself from God and it takes the positive action of faith in Christ to change that.

Does it also mean that if we stumble and fail in obedience then we come under God’s wrath again? No, it does not and John addresses this in his first letter to the churches. We all stumble and fail, but we are called to be honest with God about our struggles. The Christian life is about our ongoing relationship with God. It is highly personal and intimate as in a marriage or with parents in a family. These are John’s words, ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.’ ^{1 John 1.8-10}

Does our obedience to Jesus reveal the character of God to others?

John 3.22-36

Once the Passover was over and Jesus had finished his conversation with Nicodemus, he and his disciples moved out of Jerusalem into the surrounding Judean countryside. His group were close to John the Witness (Baptist) and both parties were baptizing people. They were located beside a plentiful water supply. In Jesus’ case his disciples were doing the baptizing. A Jew and we do not know anything more about him than that, challenged John over his practice of baptizing, we can only presume it was because it did not conform to normal Jewish purification rites. This sparked off questions to John from his own disciples because people were now going to Jesus for baptism. In John’s answer to his disciples he came up with a cornerstone of all appropriate Christian ministry, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’ ^{John 3.30}

John’s heart towards Jesus exemplifies the perfect attitude for Christian ministry. John was delighted that people’s focus was now on Jesus. For a more detailed understanding of humility in Christian ministry read 2 Corinthians 4, but this short passage contains bright insightful gems. I was once in a church where a potential split was occurring because another church of the same denomination was starting up and some of the members were wanting to transfer as the new church was more charismatic in character. Our minister spoke to the church and said he welcomed a thriving charismatic church starting in the same area and expressed the hope that both churches would continue to lead people to Christ and grow in all ways. This indeed did happen, but for me it was an example of a Christian leader putting Christ and his ‘bride’ before his own ministry and God blessed the community with two thriving churches.

John corrected his own disciples with positive teaching because he clearly understood who Jesus was and that his own ministry was to prepare and point people towards Jesus. ‘You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ ^{John 3.28} The day after John had baptized Jesus two of his disciples, Andrew and probably John the gospel writer had left John to follow Jesus. This had now become the dominant pattern of behaviour and John was glad. John recognized that his ministry was a gift from God and that he had been able to fulfil it. ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.’ ^John3.27

John used the analogy of a bride, a groom and a best man. The bride is what we now call the church or Jesus’ disciples, the groom is Jesus and his role is the best man. As he sees the two wed it is for him a matter of great rejoicing. ‘The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.’ ^John3.29 Witnessing the union of Jesus with his people is the pinnacle of Christian ministry.

John then moves on to the best man speech where he extolls the virtues of the groom. Because Jesus is from heaven itself he alone is able to speak from firsthand knowledge of heavenly things. ‘He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.’ ^{John 3.32} Sadly there are many who do not understand or reject his words but there will be those who receive both his teaching and Jesus for themselves. Where people do accept and act upon his teaching Jesus assures them of his truth through the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. ^{John 3.33} The seal seems to work both ways. The believer affirms the truth of God but God secures their faith with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere in John’s gospel Jesus says, ‘Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.’ ^{John 6.27} Paul writes, ‘And who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.’ ^{2 Corinthians 1.22} The seal of the Holy Spirit acts like the evidence of the signed marriage certificate or the gift of the ring that signifies the contract and bond that holds together Jesus and his bride the church.

All these things are in the gift of the Father through the Son. ^{John 3.34,35} John draws a clear distinction between those who believe in Jesus (the Son) and those who do not. ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.’ ^{John 3.36} By implication this emphasizes again the importance of Christian ministry that points to Jesus and why he must increase and the minister must decrease.

How do we approach our own ministry?

Do we rejoice each time a person commits their life to Christ?

You must increase youtube – Matt Redman