Blog

Spiritual Food

Posted on by korgrocker

“Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”
John 4:34 NLT

Just a couple of verses before our Scripture today, we read, “But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about”“. The disciples were puzzled, not knowing how Jesus had gained access to bread, meat or some other item of food, because He was in a desolate place, sitting by a well, and talking to a Samaritan woman. So Jesus had to explain what He meant to His disciples, highlighting two sources of spiritual nourishment – doing God’s will and doing His work. As we considered yesterday, there are two kinds of food. One is for feeding our physical bodies so that they remain healthy and nourished. The other is for doing the same for our spirits. Jesus came to this planet as a human being so He needed both kinds of food, just as we do. And just as there are different kinds of physical foods, there are different kinds of spiritual food. Food in all its forms provides a variety of nutrients, and just restricting ourselves to a diet of, for example, burgers and chips, will soon result in malnutrition and the fruit of it will be obesity. In the same way, our spiritual diets consist of many sources of nutrients, all supplied to us from our Heavenly Father. So we pray and read the Bible of course, but there are some practical requirements as well, as Jesus told His disciples. 

Doing God’s will is well documented in the Bible. For example, we read in Psalm 40:8 that it is a source of joy. “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray “may Your will be done”. God’s will is also that we do good; “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15). And there are many other verses that refer to God’s will. The sweet spot in our relationship with God is when we are doing His will. The knowledge of that will sustain us and support us when the going gets tough, when the obstacles before us seem insurmountable, and when everybody tells us we are out of God’s will for our lives, even when we know, through faith, otherwise.

Jesus also said His nourishment came from doing God’s work. We read in Colossians 3:23, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people“.  A common misconception is that doing God’s work is doing good to, or for, other people. So people assume that volunteering in a soup kitchen providing meals for the homeless is doing God’s work. It may well be, but as Paul wrote to the Colossians, whatever we do can be considered doing God’s work, with the caveat that we must be doing it as though God is our employer. Another common misconception is that our salvation can be assured by doing good works. Paul quashed that thought in Ephesians 2:9-10, “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”. The previous verse, Ephesians 2:8, reads, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God“. Our salvation depends on the grace of God alone, and not on what we do, even if our activity is what would be considered “God’s work”. So we are saved for good works, and not by good works.

So, fellow pilgrims, the next time we enjoy a physical meal, perhaps we should also consider a spiritual meal. There is nothing like a balanced diet to keep us fit and healthy.

Dear Father God. You fed Your people with manna in the wilderness, but today You feed us through Your Son, Jesus, and the power of Your Spirit. We are so grateful. Amen.

A Kind of Food

Posted on by korgrocker

“Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.”
John 4:31-33 NLT

The disciples must have returned from their visit to Sychar with a supply of food, and they urged Jesus to eat some of it. But they were confused by Jesus’ response, with their minds still focussed on their bread and anything else they were able to acquire. Physical food was of course very necessary, even to Jesus in those days, so the disciples even wondered if someone else, perhaps even the Samaritan woman, had brought Him food while they were away. So, what was this “food” that Jesus had consumed?

It goes without saying that physical food is necessary to nourish our physical bodies, and spiritual food is necessary for our spiritual bodies. But most people in our societies major on the first, and neglect the second. They end up fat and bloated after overeating all the wrong types of physical foods, but their spirits are shrivelled up and in danger of dying from a lack of spiritual food. The death of their spirits can result in people suffering all kinds of physical and mental disease, with physical remedies being sought to fix a spiritual problem. 

When He was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus replied on one occasion, “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” (Matthew 4:4, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3). So Jesus equated the physical food of bread with the spiritual food of the Word of God. In 1 Peter 2:2 we read, “Like new born babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment”. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:2, “I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready“. 

So the food Jesus received, while the disciples were away in the village of Sychar, was obtained through prayer with His Father in Heaven. He remembered the Scriptures in which He had been grounded in His early years. And He received all the sustenance He needed, and more, in preparation for what was to come when he met the people of Sychar. 

So, fellow pilgrims, how are our spirits today? Shrivelled and almost dead, or bursting with life and vigour? God said through the prophet Isaiah, “”Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food” (Isaiah 55:1-2). That invitation written down all those years ago is still valid today. In fact with our modern technologies, we have access to the Word of God far beyond what anyone could imagine in Isaiah’s day. Let’s not waste the opportunity to feed our spirits, our very souls.

Dear Father God. You fed Your people physical food in the wilderness and You still feed Your people with spiritual food today. We are so grateful. Amen.

Come and See

Posted on by korgrocker

“The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.”
John 4:28-30 NLT

Something remarkable suddenly happened after the disciples returned from their quest for finding their lunch. The Samaritan woman left her water pot by the well and rushed off in the direction of the village, which was about a kilometre away. Water pots were valuable items so to leave one behind was practically unheard of. And then she ran, we are told in John’s account. No-one ran in that climate, at least in the middle of the day. But it was the message that made an impression on the village of Sychar. Why should anyone have taken any notice of her, particularly in view of her reputation? But because of her message, which must have been totally out of character, those people who were available “came streaming from the village to see” Jesus.

It is a sad reflection on the society in which we live, that if I rushed out into the street where I live and started to shout out a message of what Jesus had done for me, then the most likely outcome would be that the police would be called and I was subsequently cautioned for disturbing the peace! There may even have followed some form of encouragement to go and see a doctor or psychiatrist. But in 1st Century Samaria, there was a significant response to what the woman had to say. People there responded to the message.

So in 21st Century society a different way of communicating excitement about Jesus has to be found. But how do we pilgrims connect with this cynical and sceptical generation? The people around us mostly consider that they are too sophisticated or intelligent to believe in this Jesus. Their minds have been corrupted by science and technology to believe lies. The people have become hardened against hearing the whisper of the Holy Spirit. The people’s consciences don’t work in the way they should anymore. Instead, false religions are springing up to deliver the words that they want to hear rather than the message they need to respond to. False religions that deny the existence of God and replace Him  with their man-made ideologies and idols. But Peter warned believers about this, in 2 Peter 4:3-4, ”For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.“

We pilgrims pray for this generation, and keep on praying. And our prayers reverberate around Heavenly places right to our Father’s throne. We pray for hearts to be softened, and for the Holy Spirit to cut through all the lies and deception that prevail. We lift up our friends and family into God’s presence with our prayers, believing for miracles of conversion, believing that God can change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh once again. “Come and see” is the message we proclaim, because Jesus brought healing and salvation to us believers. But when those around us look at us, what do they see? Is it worth coming for? Are we closet Christians who are hunkered down waiting for the time when we cross the Great Divide into God’s presence? Or have we left our “water pots”, things that are precious and even necessary in this life, to cry out “Come and see”. Only Jesus has anything worth saying in this life, and we pilgrims are the only ones who can encourage those around us to join us in His presence.

Dear Father God. In a generation that is inventing its own religions, we know that there is only one way to You. Please help us reach those who are desperately searching for the truth, but are looking in all the wrong places. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prejudice

Posted on by korgrocker

“Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?””
John 4:27 NLT

The moment ended. The revelation of who Jesus was faded with the return of the disciples, who were presumably carrying a packed lunch both for themselves and for Jesus. The profound declaration of “I Am the Messiah”, written in lights in the heavens, merged into the every day reality of a natural life in Israel two thousand years ago. The prejudices between Jews and Samaritans reared its ugly head and the negative thoughts of the disciples chased away the purity of faith that was emerging from the shadows. Foremost in their minds was the thought that Jews don’t converse with women and particularly never Samaritan women. 

If we pilgrims were asked today if we have any similar prejudices, what would we say? Do we look down on other people? Do we avoid contact with people we think are inferior to us? Do we only mix with our peer groups, neglecting others who might not have had the same opportunities of education that we have had, or vice versa. The Apostle James had some stern words about prejudice within the church. “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favour some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?”“ (James 2:1-4). But I wonder if James was one of the disciples who were prejudiced against the Samaritans that day? He may well have been, but the transforming power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost would have dealt with all of that!

A problem in society today is that people seem to have lost respect for their fellow human beings. For example, for some people or groups, unless others buy into their own particular ideology or world view, then they are in danger of being shunned, cancelled, or even worse. So this is an opportunity for us believers to share the truth that all people are considered equal before God. He has no favourites. Romans 2:11, “For God does not show favouritism”. I heard recently of a church men’s outing where, of the 21 attendees, there were 15 different nationalities and ages ranging from 19 to 80. The owner of the restaurant where they had a meal together was most intrigued. But why should he have been surprised – this is what Christians do.

But back to our disciples with Jesus and the Samaritan woman, by Jacob’s well. Jesus knew what they were thinking of course, and the following couple of days spent in the village of Sychar would have been interesting.

Dear Father God. All men and women are equal before You. Thank You for Your love and grace. Amen.


I AM the Messiah

Posted on by korgrocker

“The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!””
John 4:25-26 NLT

Jesus wasted no more time in His conversation with the Samaritan woman. He came right out with a timeless statement, one that has reverberated down the centuries ever since. “I Am the Messiah”, He said. Of course, although we note the first two words, “I Am”, they would have had a special and much greater significance for the Jews. In the burning bush experience, the Lord engaged Moses in a conversation, as we read in Exodus 3. It started with the Lord saying to Moses from the burning bush, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). Moses appeared reluctant to take on the assignment of negotiating with Pharaoh to obtain the release of the Israelites from their slavery and we read in verse 13, “But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?“”. In Exodus 3:14-15 we read, “God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations“. 

God’s name was revered by the Jews to the extent that they would not even say it. It was forbidden for them to say any of God’s names. So when Jesus used the phrase to describe Himself, He immediately brought Himself up against the religious authorities of His day. And then to claim that He was the Messiah as well ….! But the clarity of His statement removed all doubts in the woman’s mind. 

What do we pilgrims think of the Jewish Messiah called Jesus, the One who came to save us from our sins? Of course we have knelt at the foot of His cross, repenting of our sins. We have received His forgiveness, and we continue our lives in the knowledge that the righteousness imputed to us by Jesus makes us acceptable in God’s sight. In Israel two thousand years ago, the coming of the Messiah was expected, but not in the way Jesus came. They were hoping for a Person who would set Israel free. He did, of course, but freedom from sin was not what the people had in mind. Over the centuries, the Israelites had suffered greatly under the jurisdiction and oppression of conquering armies, and longed for the day when they would be a nation in their own right again. 

Jesus, even though He was the expected Messiah, was largely rejected by the people of His day. And that rejection continues even in these present times. People are looking for a “god” who will deal with the issues they are facing. For example, poverty, homelessness, relational breakdowns, illness and disease. And unable to find such a “god”, they sinfully make one for themselves out of their own thoughts and expectations. But they fail to realise that their sin is a much bigger issue than anything they experience in their natural lives. And there is the “I AM” waiting with open arms to welcome them into His presence. That is not to say, however, that God won’t help people with their needs. He is a wonderful God who keeps on giving, time after time. But, sadly, most people today have the same sinful attitudes that the Israelites had, rejecting the One who can save them from the consequences of their rebellion and sin. But we pilgrims echo the words of Jesus, communicate His Good News, and extend His offer of salvation to those around us. “I Am the Messiah” – only four words but probably the most important message anyone will ever hear. Words that will start them on a journey to eternal life.

Dear Father God. You are the great I AM. There is none like You. Amen.

Spirit and Truth

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.””
John 4:21-24 NLT

So we have a situation where the Jews maintained that the place to worship God was in Jerusalem, and the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim. One more source of conflict fuelling the animosity between them. But Jesus cut through all of that with the statement that “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth”, and not just in a geographical location. He elevated the whole basis of worship to a new level based on the relationship between the worshipper and God.

When Jesus came to Planet Earth, He levelled the ground giving all people everywhere the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him. His substitutionary death at Calvary fulfilled what he said to Nicodemus in John 3:16-17, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him”. Later in John 14:6, we read, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”. And Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:18, “Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us”. 

Worship is that relational experience between God and man where our hearts are passionately responding to our Heavenly Father. We praise Him, with grateful hearts, proclaiming all that He has done for us. We prostrate ourselves before Him, connecting spirit to Spirit, overwhelmed in our love of Jesus. But the “truth” bit means that we must know our God, and not just an image of what we think He might be in our minds. Knowing God takes a lifetime. Reading the Word. Praying. Developing a relationship with Him day by day. Many people develop a distorted picture of God based on their experiences with their own natural fathers. So some view God as a stern policeman with a big stick ready to beat them when they step out of line. Others view Him as a Father Christmas figure, just there to hand out gifts when they need them. But a truthful view of God can only be found in the Bible, through prayer to Him, and from the teachings of trusted pastors, teachers and apostles.

Note that our worship of God is independent of our circumstances. Some Christians I know find that in difficult times they cannot worship God, as though in some way they are blaming Him for their troubles. Such believers would do well to read the book of Habakkuk, which ends, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Nothing was going to stop that man from worshipping God because he saw beyond the circumstances in his trust of his Father in Heaven.

We pilgrims worship God at every opportunity in “spirit and truth”. There is no other way.

Father God. Once again we fall on our knees before You in worship. You are the King of kings and the Lord of all lords. Amen.

Places of Worship

Posted on by korgrocker

““Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.”
John 4:19-22 NLT

There is something within human beings that makes them want to worship. This is something God has wired within us. The need to worship is in our DNA. Sadly, in our secular society, this God-given gift is distorted and focused on the wrong things. So we have the Saturday afternoon worship of a football team. Hobbies can become the focus of our worship. Some nations encourage the worship of their leaders. A common line in romance fiction is “he worships the ground she walks on”. Even the gender and sex ideologies common today can become worshipped by their activists. But none of these objects of worships – call them “idols” – will ever replace the deep inner desire to worship our Creator God. 

The countryside in the UK is dotted around with mostly elderly but generally lovely “places of worship”. Our parish churches are a legacy from past times when people were more faithful and knew the proper focus of their worship. But more and more of our churches are closing down as people turn their backs on God. Most people now consider that we are living in a post-Christian age, whatever that means, and these places of worship are becoming nothing more than mausoleums, or turned into carpet warehouses or night clubs. Some, such as a church near me, are being allowed to crumble and collapse through neglect. Two more have been converted to houses, with one in the bizarre position of having a graveyard instead of a garden. No problems with noisy neighbours though.

But Jesus, in His conversation with the Samaritan woman, floated the idea that worship is to become independent of the traditional venues so valued by the Jews and Samaritans. And we see the abandonment of elderly and difficult to heat buildings today, with Christians in the UK meeting in industrial units, in schools and leisure centres, and, of course, in people’s homes. We’re perhaps returning to the early Church model as described in Acts 5:42 and elsewhere, ”And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”“

God is everywhere, and not just behind a table in an old musty building, even if the table is covered with an ornate cloth embroidered with gold lace. Stained glass windows may look very impressive but they matter little to the God who looks into our hearts. So we pilgrims worship God and God alone. There is nothing else that can be allowed to take His place. We read what Jesus said to the devil in Luke 4:8, “Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Instead of worshipping in a temple or church somewhere, we must perhaps rather consider the temple within us. ”Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? …” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

God does not need the worship of us pilgrims. He never has done and never will. But He has created us in His image to worship Him, because it does something within our spirits. The communion spirit to Spirit comes alive in our worship. There is no better place to be than worshipping in God’s presence.

Father God. We worship You today, because You are worthy. Amen.

Salvation Comes Through the Jews

Posted on by korgrocker

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.“
John 4:19-22 NLT

‭Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “salvation comes through the Jews“. Of course, what Jesus said was totally true and accurate. The Old Testament was all about God’s plan for the salvation of mankind and it focused on one Person, the Messiah. Isaiah 53 sets out a graphic prophecy of the coming Messiah, and about Him we read, “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins“. The Messiah, Jesus, finally came with a lineage that stretched all the way back to Abraham, as we read in Matthew 1. Jesus was, and still is, a Jew. He still is, because He is alive today.

But to many today, the thought, the reality, the truth, that through the Messiah and His crucifixion at Calvary, God finally completed His plan for the salvation of mankind, is a problem. Jesus, the Son of God, said in John 14:6, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me“. The reality is that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus. Only He can save us from the punishment we deserve for our sins. And He was, and is, a Jew.

As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, the devil has been stoking up anti-Semitism on a scale never seen for many years. Most people correlate being a Jew and being an Israelite as one and the same thing, and Jews everywhere in the world have found that persecution has increased. But God promised to protect His people. We read in Deuteronomy 33:29, “How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!” In spite of many times of unfaithfulness, God has remained faithful to His people, because He made a covenant with them. And in many ways the Hebrew Scriptures read like a love story between God and His people.

The enemies of Israel walk a dangerous path, and if we want to know what will happen to them we only have to read the book of Revelation. Of course, this does not justify actions taken by the Israelites, as they too will have to stand before God one day and give an account for all that they have done in this life.

So what should we pilgrims do about the Jews, God’s chosen people? We pray. Psalm 122:6, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper“. And we keep praying in the certainty that we are in the will of God for His people. And we give thanks for the Jewish Son of God, who died for the sins of the world at Calvary so that many will be counted righteous.

Dear Father God. We thank You for Your plan of salvation delivered through Your people, the Jews, and through Jesus Your Son. We pray for Your people and for peace not only in Jerusalem, but in Palestine as well. We pray for the innocent people caught up in the conflict and pray that these days will be cut short. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Change the Subject

Posted on by korgrocker

““I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?””
John 4:17-20 NLT

The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman turned from talking about water to a prophetic word of knowledge from Jesus about the woman’s marital experiences. To have five failed marriage behind her and now a less formal relationship with number six, was remarkable and presumably uncomfortable and embarrassing for the woman. So she hurriedly moved the conversation on again, this time to introduce what was probably a contentious situation between the Jews and Samaritans over worship and where it could legitimately take place. 

The Jews of course focused their worship on the Temple in Jerusalem, but there was also much history behind Mount Gerizim. We read in Deuteronomy 27 how Moses instructed half of the Israelite tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim, with the other half standing on the other mountain across the valley, Mount Ebal. We read in Deuteronomy 27:11-13, “That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people: “When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people. And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse”. Gerizim became known as the Mount of Blessing, and the Samaritans built a temple there.

So the Jews and Samaritans sadly found something else to argue about, and the Samaritan woman used the conflict  to try and regain the initiative in the conversation with Jesus. She wasn’t sure what was coming in the debate about husbands so finding safer territory about something less personal became important. This is a technique found in conversations in society today, and publicly many politicians have honed this diversionary tactic to perfection. So often a question is asked and the answer seems to be totally unrelated and unexpected. Attempts to refocus the question generally fail.

So how do we pilgrims converse with others, particularly in a society which is becoming less tolerant of “free speech” and wishes to promote ideologies at variance with Biblical beliefs? Two words regularly crop up in Scriptures – honesty and integrity. Using evasive methods to avoid answering questions brings us, perhaps, to Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight“. Once again, in a world of change, with a society becoming more and more secular, with the rejection of God and His Book, the Bible, it is good to delve into the Scriptures that have stood the test of time and are as true today as when they were written. So we pilgrims pursue honesty and integrity, speaking truths on every occasion. There is no other way.

Dear Father God. Your Son Jesus said He was “the way, the truth and the life”. So there is no better way than to follow Him all the days of our lives. Amen.

Get Your Husband

Posted on by korgrocker

““Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!””
John 4:16-18 NLT

The woman at the well seemed to have a problem with men. To be in the sixth relationship is going some, even by modern standards. The fact that she came to draw water on her own probably indicated that the other women in the village wanted nothing to do with her. For all we know, she had a local reputation for being a bit of a marriage wrecker. But how did Jesus know about her private life? It wouldn’t have been posted on the local Facebook page, or mentioned in a flyer pinned to the wall above the well. We can try and make sense of why she was so active in husband recycling, and presumably psychiatrists would have a selection of answers to her problem, but none of this matters very much. What does matter is that Jesus grabbed her attention and lifted her thoughts out of the drudgery of drawing water and forced her to consider her situation.

Jesus, of course, was in constant communication with His Father. We read in John 5:19-20, “So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished“. So communicating with His father through the power of the Spirit, Jesus would have known who the woman at the well really was. He saw right into her very soul and put His finger on the main issue driving, and destroying, her life. And by doing so He laid the foundation for a revival that was soon to happen in that Samaritan village. An uncomfortable and embarrassing experience for the woman led to her life, and the lives of others, being transformed.

We pilgrims also have access to situations where, through the Holy Spirit, a prophetic word, a word of knowledge, can expose the truth and transform the life of a sinner. We have a “still small voice” within us that we need to listen carefully to. It needs practice to hear it, but the Holy Spirit within us constantly speaks. A question we must often ask is, “What do You want me to know about this person, or say to them, Lord?” We pray for that insight that will unlock an otherwise lifeless conversation. And at the start of a day we pray for divine encounters, or opportunities to share the Good News with those around us, with people trapped in hopeless situations like the woman at the well. 

Dear Father God. We pray today for a fresh infilling of Your Spirit, revitalising us and equipping us for the day ahead. In Jesus’ name. Amen.