| Consequences Of Sin And Forgiveness: Lesson 12: The Savior Breaks Down Walls 1/10/2014 by turtle30c John 4:20-42 KJV (20) Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (21) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (22) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (25) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (26) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (27) And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? (28) The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, (29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (30) Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. (31) In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. (32) But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. (33) Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? (34) Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (35) Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (36) And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (37) And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. (38) I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (39) And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. (40) So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. (41) And many more believed because of his own word; (42) And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. A Samaritan woman from a land consider to be outcast of Israel. Samaria being part Jewish and part Gentile. Meaning they broken from tradition of a people because of war in their country and probably also because of the invasion some of the Jews would have been taken as a bride. These people that intermarried with this group of people were idolaters, because of this it made this line of Jews unholy to the Jewish tribe, because of their un holiness they were ignored by the Jewish people. Because of their un holiness they were not to be consider believers. In fact they were consider to be adulteress of God. Yet in the story we see Jesus talking to this woman about who He is and who and how people would worship God in Spirit and in truth, instead of in one location. Temple would be destroy about 70 or 90 A.D. after Christ death and resurrection. Samaritan woman recognizes the Jesus to be the Savior of the world, because she new he would be able to tell her all things about herself, which He did, including telling her about how many husbands she had. This woman had never meet Jesus, yet here she was excited to know who Jesus was and went and told her town people who believed He was and is the Savior to come. Why is this story important, people argued where they could worship God. This was and still is an issue today. Some say you have to be church and others say you can worship anywhere. Church is a place others can be found that are of faith. It is a congregating place for believers as well as non believers desiring to learn about God. What the issue is about where to worship God is not in a particular place but in the heart, by the Spirit, directing and guiding in worship. Through prayer through mediation, through song, through message and so forth. But it does not mean you have to be in a particular location to do so. Gentiles if they came to Jerusalem to worship could not enter certain areas of the temple because of holiness. This division between people had to stop. God sent His Son to be a Savior of the world to teach the people about who His Father really was. Without church are we reminded to worship God, or is worship only one day a week or perhaps three and the rest of the week is worship of self and others. When is the last time you considered worshipping God without being in the house of God. God is not a perspecter of persons, He does not segregate his people. If our government preaches segregation there is a problem. If our government divides us we need to wake up and say what is wrong. If our governmental ambassadors teach hate we have to consider where is the trouble coming from. God is a God of love and not god of division. He desires to draw all to Him. Our habits concerning the worship of God must begin individually. The need of Jesus to take away division. After all He healed both Jews and Gentiles. Those clean and those unclean. People of government, people of all nationalities that came to Him. He care not if they were hungry because He feed them both physical and spiritual food. Jesus got in trouble on more then one occasion associating with sinners. Are we not to talk to the people of the world about a loving God. Of course, and that what Jesus did. This woman was not outcast from God, but a part of the family of God. Jesus brings all people to God. It breaks down barriers between people when the knowledge of what is really taught. Dear Heavenly Father thank you for sending Jesus to us that all might know you. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com _ |
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