2/5/11 John 4:27-34 Seeing Beyond the Physical

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?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.  31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” ³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

(Annibale Carracci 1593  Milan)

Thoughts: The woman had tried to steer Jesus away from the spiritual and back to the physical- water' drawing cup; Jews vs. Samaritans; Mt. Gerazim.  Jesus had pushed her spiritual button.  Now, the disciples come back wanting Jesus to not talk to the woman, and to eat something.  But his food was spiritual.  The woman was telling everyone about Jesus.  When our eyes are open to see beyond what our eyes can see physically, then we should tell others what we experienced.  I once was blind but now I see.

Prayer: Lord, May my food be to do your will this day.

John Calvin Abridged: The disciples' affront was because of their Master's honor.  Yet they forget that they themselves were not people of note deserving to be with the Savior.  The woman left her pitcher in a hurry to run off to tell others about Christ.  Jesus ate later, and allows us to eat and drink. But his point (in saying "My food is to do the will of Him..."), is one of focus and pointing out the importance of doing God's will even above eating. 

2/4/11- John 4:25-26 Believing in the One with the Answers

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

(Woman at the Well- Alonso Cano 1601-1667)

Thoughts: Her image of the Messiah was right.  She was longing for the Messiah to come to answer the questions.  Jesus was explaining that both Mt. Gerazim (where the Samaritan Temple was) and Mt. Moriah (where the Jewish Temple was) would be gone.  But such an unbelievable thought was hard to understand.  That the Messiah was standing there before her at the well was an unbelievable thought as well.  Yet, the next thing we see were the disciples returning, and the woman telling others that this might be the Messiah (the Christ).  Believers do not have all the answers, but we do know who does.  We should long for Christ to come and answer us.  In our day, many have questions and give up- fueled by their past and immorality.  Here was a woman with a darkly checkered past, but who did not give up on God- or believing He had the answer.

Prayer: Lord, may I find grace to believe that you have the answers for my need.  May my sin not blind me to faith in you.

John Calvin Abridged:  Christ had said a big change was coming.  Perhaps the woman was thinking the Messiah would restore all things when He came. Her statement implies three things 1) The Law was not perfect (and did not answer all questions); 2) She expects the Messiah to interpret the Father; and 3) The Messiah's teaching is perfect and we need nothing else.  We would do well to imitate this woman who was content to listen to the Messiah's teaching- not adding anything else to it.