THE WOMAN AT THE WELL

[43]
Read: John 4:1–42

     And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." John 4:39 NKJV

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     This story is one of the most beloved illustrations of grace in the New Testament. The setting is in Samaria where the prevailing religion was a mixture of idolatry with a smattering of Jewish influence. The Samaritan woman knew about a promised Messiah, but she lived a sinful life and Jesus kindly confronted her with her sin.
     In a conversation about "living water" she came to realize that this was the Messiah she had heard about. She said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." (4:25-26)

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     Sometimes we think that people mixed up in cultish religions are unreachable with the gospel. In fact, they may be searching for the truth just as the woman at the well. She …went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (4:28-29 NIV)

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     Lord, help me to share my faith with people regardless of how impossible it seems, trusting in the work of Your Spirit in their hearts.

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     Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."   John 4:42 NKJV

WHO IS WITHOUT SIN?

THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN

Read: John 8:1–11

"Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" John 8:4–5 NKJV

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Once again they were trying to trick Jesus–this time in regard to the law of Moses. If he contradicted the law, they could arrest Him for blasphemy. But Jesus would not be taken by trickery. He stooped down and wrote something in the sand. Then he said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (8:7b) The men left one by one and they were alone. He said to her, "Woman, has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (8:10–11)

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A posse of supposedly religious men trying to find an excuse for murder, and a humiliated woman who calls Jesus, "Lord" is a striking contrast – Jesus came to save sinners. Those men were sinners for whom he came, but pride and power prevented them from receiving the Son of God. Lord, help us to remember that no one is too sinful to be saved by Your matchless grace.

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Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12 NKJV

THE ROOSTER CROWED

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PETER DENIES JESUS

Read Mark 14: 66–72

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Mark 14:70-71 NIV

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Just a short time before this, Peter had declared to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." (Luke 22:33) Peter had stood up valiantly in the garden by starting a sword fight. But then Jesus healed the soldier's ear, and submitted himself to arrest. Jesus said to them, "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." (John 18:8–9; quoting John 17:12)

Jesus knew all about what Peter would do. He knew that Satan wanted to "sift him like wheat", but Satan could not defeat Peter, because Jesus had said, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail." (Luke 22:32 NKJV)

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Lord, The moment the rooster crowed had to be the darkest day of Peter's life, but the story told through the years has brought comfort and encouragement to all of us who, like Peter, have experienced failure.

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…Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:72 NIV