The Disciples, Pt 3

John 4:1-42, V 27

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

We saw Jesus baptize many on the Judean countryside.

We saw Jesus speaking to Nicodemus at night.

We saw Jesus turn water into wine.

We saw Jesus clear the temple.

We saw all those events, yet none of us saw this coming, we were not prepared. So many questions – but yet we dared not ask the questions burning on our minds

o   Rabbi, do you know who you are speaking with?

o   Rabbi, do you not realize where you are?

o   Rabbi, why have you stopped in such a place to speak to such a person? Least of all, a woman. By a well. At midday, without her husband.

We had many reasons to stop, and many questions to ask- but this was not the time to ask questions. This was a time to watch. To learn. To bear witness to transformation occurring right before our very eyes.

Here are three things that we marveled at-

1.     The breaking away of tradition. From the time Jesus started this 30-mile journey, he broke away from tradition, and took the road that most avoided, even the Sadducees. His reward you ask- showing us that Salivation belongs to all. There is no prescriptive look or location that is off the table. If you are going to walk with Jesus, be prepared to let go of what has always been to get what may have never been. Be prepared for a ride of a lifetime.

2.      A transformed life. There is much to be said about an unmarried, outcast of a woman from an unclean town who has the longest recorded conversation in biblical history, where the Messiah reveals himself, and she drinks of the living water Jesus offered, only for her to go and tell the very people that casted her out. One conversation with Jesus will change your life. 

3.     Watch him to learn from him, to do as he would have done. So many times, in life we proclaim we have no blueprint, or we don’t know what to do. We have all the answers we need in the book; if we would not only read his words and follow in his steps. Go beyond what is comfortable to you, take the less travelled pathway and head straight away to your designed place. When you do this, there is where you will meet him, and his provision, his strength, his peace, and his presence over and over again.

P.S.

My prayer for you and myself is to surrender. Surrender our imagination of all the how’s and ways, and directions of how we think things should go. That we would take the step he has spoken to our hearts and watch him provide. Watch him do the miraculous! And watch our own lives transform from ashes to a rose garden!!!