We are looking at John 4, today, picking up at verse 15 where Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman now located at Jacob's well. Here Jesus makes the point of those who become One with Him will have the living waters of life flowing from within them, as contrasted by those who push chapter and verse of their favorite Bible. This usually being the KJV, with its many flows and misquotes, beside the use of a language little known or understood today, useless one knows both ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. It might also do well to say, that as we will see herein many do so from an external standpoint only.
John 4:23-24 of 15-26 "The woman saith unto him, "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw." Jesus saith unto her, 'Go, call thy husband, and come hither.' The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said unto her, '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 saidst thou truly.' The woman saith unto him, "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' The woman saith unto him, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things." Jesus saith unto her, 'I that speak unto thee am he.'" (KJV)
John 4:23-24 of 15-26 "The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." Jesus said to her, 'Go, call your husband, and come here.' The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, 'You are right in saying, "I have no husband;" for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.' The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. For the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.' The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.'" (ESV)
John 4:15-26 "(Again she did not understand!) "Sir, then this is what I want! It will save me trouble to return here again and again to bail out water for my thirst!" Jesus said to her, (you are missing the point! I am not talking about a thirst that water can quench!) Picture yourself back at home, you have discussed this with your husband, and before long you (you - singular) will be right back here, drawing water again from the same old well!' The woman answered, "But I have no husband!" Jesus responded with, 'This is an honest answer and confirms my point! Marriage does not define you. You could have failed five times and this time you're not sure about committing yourself to the guy you're living with!' She was shocked! "Sir! Now I know, you are a Prophet! I'm also religious! Our fathers worshiped here in this mountain; yet you Jews insist that everyone should worship in Jerusalem! (Maybe feeling a bit vulnerable about her domestic life she tries to change the subject to again emphasize the religious tension between the Jews and Samaritans.) Jesus said to her, 'Believe me lady, the moment everyone was waiting for has come! From now on worship is no longer about a geographic holy mountain - or a sacred city in Israel experience! (It is not whether you are a Jew in Jerusalem or a Gentile in Japan! The days of prophetic pictures are over!) You have been worshiping in ignorance all along while the Jews continue to anticipate the Messiah in their devotions, knowing that the promise pointing to the Savior of the world would be emerging from within. (The Samaritans were a mixed race and only received the five books of Moses while they rejected the Prophets. 2Kings 17:28-34) The end of an era has arrived - the future is here! Whatever prophetic values were expressed in external devotional forms and rituals are now eclipsed in true spirit worship from within, [1] face to face with the Father - acknowledging our genesis in Him - this is His delight! The Father's desire in the [2] worshiper more than the worship! (The word often translated worship, [1] proskuneo, from pros, face to face and kuneo, which I would like to believe to be a derivative of koinia, joint-participation; rather than kuon which means dog. I know, some tried to connect the idea of a dog licking its master's hand, which then became a possibility of kissing. I prefer a divine face to face koinonia encounter to define true worship! Although, I do believe that dogs, often referred to as man's best friend because of the very nature of their devotion and loyalty to their master, has its Greek root connected - koinonia is a friendship word to begin with and in it is therefore possible to see its etymological link. This is the only reference to the noun [2] proskunetes, worship, in the NT.) GOD is Spirit and not a holy mountain or a scared city with man-made shrines! Return to your Source - the Father is our true foundation and fountainhead!' (You are not defined by your physical birth, your domestic life, your history, your culture or your religion!) The woman then said, "I know the Messiah is coming, the one who is called the Christ and when he arrives he will declare everything to us from heaven's perspective!" Jesus responded to her, 'So here I am, speaking to you! I am the One you are longing for!'" -The Mirror
The LORD willing we will continue this tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment