[:en]Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom which fell into the hands of the Assyrians. Foreigners were brought into the land to help keep peace. (2 Kings 17:24) Inetermarriage between those foreigners and the remaining Jews resulted in a mixed race called the Samaritans. The Jews in the Southern Kingdom considered them impure because they had betrayed their people and nation. They avoided to travel through Samaria but Jesus took that route towards Galilee.
Tired from the journey, Jesus sat at the Jacob’s well where He met a Samaritan woman who went there to draw water. She was known to be living in sin with five former husbands and the recent one whom she was living with, was not her husband. Jesus spoke to her that He can give her the living water that will never thirst. That living water is the living Word, spiritual food that we need to satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst.
When the woman asked Jesus to give her the living water, Jesus revealed to him His knowledge about her private life. She immediately changed the topic to “place of worship”. But Jesus directed the conversation from the location of worship to the attitude of worship. He said true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Samaritan woman knew the passage about the coming of Messiah, so Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah.
Do you worship God in truth and Spirit? Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah?
Jesus said: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work” (v. 34). The “food” refers to spiritual nourishment which includes Bible study, prayer and attending church services. We are to take the “food” and share it with others to complete God’s work on earth. Jesus is telling us that the time is ripe for harvest, so that we must look around and find people ready to hear God’s Word.
Do you remember to feed God’s word to your soul everyday? Do you have constant communication to God through prayer? Are you in fellowship with believers in church services?
The Samaritan woman shared her experience with others and many believed in Christ because of her testimony. They also heard what Jesus said and believed and He is the Savior of the world.
Have you shared your experience of God and testimony to others? Have you ever lead anyone to Christ?
A royal official had a son sick and close to death at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee, he went and begged Him to come and heal his son. Jesus replied: “You may go. Your son will live” (v. 50),. The man took Jesus at His word and departed. His son was healed at the moment when Jesus hath said.
We must emulate the faith of the royal official. He believed enough to ask Jesus’ help by walking 20 miles to meet Jesus. Then he acted on what Jesus said and returned home. As a result, the whole household believe in Jesus.
How is your faith in God? Do you believe He can do impossible things” Do you act on His promises?
Summary lesson:
- Let us nourish our spiritual life with God’s Word.
- Let us worship God in spirit and in truth
- Let us share God to others and be a living testimony to the unbelievers
- Let us have total faith in God, believing that He is all powerful and nothing is impossible for Him.
- Let us act on His promises and lead our family and friends to Christ.
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