Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 33
(1) Gospel Rally 2019
On 15 September 2019, God willing, we shall have a Gospel Rally during our Lord’s Day 3 pm Service.
The theme of our Gospel Rally is “Finding True Peace” (Romans 5:1). In a world plagued with uncertainties and instability, many cries for that elusive peace in the heart and their lives. True peace comes only through faith in Jesus Christ – Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Let us pray for God’s blessing as we seek to invite our unsaved friends, colleagues and loved ones to listen to the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
May the Lord strengthen us to do His bidding as He commanded His disciples in Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(2) Jesus’ Encounter with the Woman in Samaria (John 4:3-42)
In the history of mankind, there is no greater communicator for God than our Lord Himself. Jesus is the final revelation of God and there is no further. Jesus is the only Saviour of the world (v42).
He was divinely sent by God the Father with the mission to bring reconciliation between sinful men and the living and true God. His life personified perfect righteousness because Jesus is fully God. Yet He is fully man leaving us the perfect example. How did Jesus interact with people?
Jesus proactively (v4) sought out the woman living in this particular town in Samaria called Sychar as he journeyed from Judea in the south to Galilee in the north. Let’s study the interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus initiated the conversation by humbling Himself to ask a drink from this woman in Samaria for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
In fact, historically, there were bitter enemies. The Jew would not stoop low to ask a drink from the Samaritan even though he may be thirsty. Jesus reached out to the unlovable and outcast proactively. He does not despise them but was able to see this “outcast” as a precious soul needing the gospel. So must we!
Jesus’ act of condescension startled the woman bringing forth a curious response from her. His first words caught her attention – GIVE ME TO DRINK (v7).
He was thirsty. It was noontime when Jesus requested water from the Samaritan at the well. In the Near Eastern community, the well was frequently the social centre. This condescension on the part of our Lord demonstrated a spirit of meekness (Matt. 11:29). The meek man is contrasted with the proud man. He does not speak as a superior to an inferior. Jesus is not puffed up nor puts Himself above the other person and talks down to her. Therefore, by a surprise element, laying aside cultural, social prejudices (v7) secured the attention of Samaritan woman (v9) to share with her the truth concerning her need for everlasting life.
Jesus was teaching by example of His condescension to help the woman to see her need for spiritual life and to help her humble herself to receive the living water that Jesus will give to her, just as Jesus humbled Himself to ask the woman for water. Jesus asking for water on hindsight was to help the Samaritan woman realize in a role-reversal to humble her to receive living water that Jesus will give to her.
Having caught the attention of His listener, our Lord proceeded to show her a spiritual benefit. He opens up the storehouse of God’s promises by stating a promise of God close to the heart of the audience. He utilized the illustration of “living water” (v10) that will quench her thirst forever alluding to everlasting life to arouse her interest to seek to know more of the truth. Jesus secured an opening to continue his conversation with the woman by stating a spiritual benefit – this living water that quenches thirst forever. She responded in the affirmative – “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” (v11). The woman has had five husbands. Jesus knew her problem and Jesus addressed it – “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that sadist thou truly.” (v17b-18).
Yet we see in our Lord’s gracious response. He did not condemn her by a sharp rebuke – Jesus said “Thou has well said.” (v17b). Jesus was gentle to the sinner. Jesus was leading the sinner to be reconciled with God by pointing out her sin which she cannot deny.
The realization that we cannot go on living in sin was conveyed to the woman. God knows and God sees our sins. We cannot hide from Him. And our Lord was the instrument of the Father to help this woman with her sin problem. She realizes that there is nowhere to hide and she admitted to our Lord what He said was true – “Sir, I perceive thou art a prophet.” (v19). Jesus’ admonition was accepted by the woman. What rejoicing to see the sinner repenting and be reconciled with God. She was arrested with the realization of her sinfulness and her need for the Saviour!
The woman has a legitimate concern if she were to believe. Where will she worship? The Jews worship in Jerusalem. Tradition has it that for the Samaritans, “our fathers worship in this mountain” (v20a). Our Lord gave the “biblical” solution to her question – “God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (c.f. v23). God is a Spiritual Being, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Being. He is more than the confines of the Temple in Jerusalem or the mountain in Samaria.
The woman who is converted testified to others in Samaria her new-found faith – “Come, see a man, which me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (v29) – She testified with great excitement. The disciples were surprised that Jesus talked with this unworthy woman. This was Jesus’ mission – to save the lost. Jesus says to us, “… look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal.” (John 4:35b-36a). Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee