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"If
You Only Knew..."
As
we observe in Scripture how Jesus interacted with
people, it becomes quickly evident that He treated
each person in a unique way. He observed the unique qualities of the individuals.
He began at the level of the individual and
provided a way for that person to find God (IF
he/she was willing).
There
were at least three reasons why, according to the
Jews, Jesus should not have had any interaction with
one particular woman (see John 4:1-42).
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The
second reason why Jesus, according to the Jews,
should not have been talking with this woman was
because she was a woman.
When Jesus’ disciples came back from
town, "they marveled that He talked with a
woman" (John 4:27).
Why did they marvel?
This just wasn't done among the strict
Jewish leaders!
The strict Jewish Rabbis (teachers) forbade
a Rabbi to greet a woman in public.
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The
third reason why the Jews thought Jesus should not
have been
conversing
with this woman was because of her character.
In the course of their conversation, Jesus
said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come
here" (John 4:16).
The woman answered and said, “I have no
husband.” Jesus
said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no
husband,' for you have had five husbands, and the
one whom you now have is not your husband; in that
you spoke truly” (John 4:18).
Her broken marriages and her live-in
boyfriend sorely revealed her broken heart as well
as her broken reputation.
Yet,
despite these reasons, Jesus spoke to this woman. He spoke to her because He wanted to give her something that
she desperately needed, even though she was unaware of
the nature of the gift.
Observe
carefully Jesus’ words to this woman of a despised
race, slighted gender and immoral character:
"If you knew the gift of God, and who it is
who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have
asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
“If you only knew THE
GIFT of God…”
The woman, at first, had no idea of the
magnitude of the gift that Jesus wanted to give her.
He called it, “
living water.”
This signified life – a new life and eternal
life (John 4:13-14).
This gift of God was made available through
Jesus; He was and is the source of “
living water.”
“If you only knew … WHO
IT IS who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink.’”
This man who dared to speak to this woman was
none other than the glorious Son of God.
Yet, in all His glory and holiness, Jesus cared
about this inglorious and unholy woman who needed
salvation.
And,
He cares about you. He wants to give you the gift that He wanted to give the
Samaritan woman:
Salvation!
Salvation is the gift of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9),
BUT we must accept
God’s gift of salvation on His terms.
We accept this gift by believing in Jesus (Acts
16:31), repenting of our sin (Acts 17:30), confessing
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38).
For
too many, life will simply end without ever knowing
why it began.
IF
they only understood the value of the gift they
forfeit. IF
they only knew the identity of the One whose words
they ignore or reject.
This is the message the world desperately needs
to hear today – and it’s up to us to lovingly tell
them and help them to understand - before it is
eternally too late.
Unfortunately,
many have not accepted His gift.
If they only knew…
Will
you accept His gift on His terms?
God
bless you.
David
A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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