The Hebrew word for the binding of Isaac is Akedah. This was God’s ultimate test for Abraham. After waiting patiently for 25 years, God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice! Abraham passed the test with flying colors.
God called Abraham by name and told him to take Isaac his only son, whom he loved, and go to Mount Moriah. The name Moriah has a beautiful meaning in Hebrew – it signifies being handpicked by God. Moriah was mentioned only twice in the Bible, and this was the first mention.
With Isaac carrying the wood, Abraham took a journey to Mount Moriah. The wood on Isaac’s back was a foreshadow of the cross behind Jesus’ back.
Genesis 22:9-14
9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now, I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.”
Reflection
The angel of the LORD called out Abraham’s name twice and stopped him from stabbing his son. Scholars believed that this Angel of the Lord was a Christophany of the pre-incarnate Christ.
Abraham passed the test with flying colors. He obeyed the God’s command. God provided a sacrificial ram trapped in the bush, just at the right moment. After sacrificing the ram as a burnt offering, Abraham called the place, Jehovah Jireh, which means, God will provide, in Hebrews.
God promised Abraham posterity as numerous as the stars of the heaven and the sand on the seashore. The whole world will be blessed by Abraham’s ultimate descendant Jesus Christ.
Application
Abraham is a type of God the Father. Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
Ancient Mount Moriah is present day Calvary.
At the same place two thousand years ago, God provided His only Son to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Whoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross 2000 years ago?
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross 2000 years ago to save us from sin. Thank You for salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Thank you for sanctification and eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we commit to You our daily devotion. Holy Spirit, we pray that You will explain, teach, reveal, and give us spiritual insight and understanding, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Setting
Jesus took the shortest route from Judea to Galilee by traveling directly northward stopping in Samaria. This was not the usual route. The Jews bypass Samaria by going through Perea, eastward, northward, and westward into Galilee. Jesus took the road less traveled.
Jesus arrived at Jacob’s well in Sychar at noon, tired, hungry, and thirsty from the long walk. The disciples went into the city to buy food. Jesus, who was fully man and fully God, felt tired, thirsty, and hungry. As a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water, she noticed a stranger, a man, waiting there for her. This was most unusual. Woman came to the well in the morning or evening to draw water, socialize, and gossip. This woman came at 12 noon knowing that no other women would be there.
Woman of Samaria
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “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.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his children and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I don’t get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered, “I have no husband.”Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.”
John 4:7-18
Reflection
Jesus had a divine appointment to seek and save this unnamed Samaritan woman. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she was shocked because Jews and Samaritans were sworn enemies. In the first-centrury world, a woman was not allowed to talk with a man in public. This was forbidden, unacceptable, and even scandalous. Jesus broke the social, cultural, and gender divide in His opening gambit! Jesus, the gift of God, spoke to her! If only she knew! Here was a spiritually thirsty woman who looked for satisfaction in the well of relationship with other men but could not find it. Jesus’ brilliant icebreaker was to ask for water, and He was ready to give her the living water of the Holy Spirit, John 7:37-39.
The woman was shocked. Here was a Jewish rabbi asking her for a drink! Jesus spoke spiritually but she thought physically. She blurted out a rhetorical question, are you greater than Jacob? Jesus responded that drinking water from this well would not satisfy her spiritual thirst.
The woman was caught hook, line, and sinker!. She wanted the living water! When Jesus told her to go home and bring her husband, she was speechless! With omniscient power, Jesus exposed her sin, revealing that she had 5 previous husbands and the present man in her life was not her husband. Jesus exposed her sin to convict her to repentance.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them’. By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified”.
John 7:37-19
Application
Here is an evangelism 101 masterclass. How do you talk to a stranger? How do you break the ice? Ask a simple question. Jesus was thirsty, and the woman came to draw water with a bucket. It was very natural to ask for water. Use this approach. Start a small talk by asking a question with eye contact to build a bridge. Be sincere, friendly, and genuine. You are trying to break into a stranger’s world and he/she may be going through some hard times. Break down social, racial, political, gendered, or religious divides. Jesus did it and so must you and me.
Drinking water will only quench the thirst temporarily. What she, and everyone need is Jesus Christ, the living water of eternal life. Only Jesus can satisfy the thirst of relationship with the God of creation. Blaise Pascal, a Christian physicist, once said that each person has a void in their heart that can only be filled by God the Creator, who is revealed through Jesus Christ. This void can never be filled by anything else in this world.
What wells are you drinking from? Are you drinking from the material wells of the world? None of these wells can satisfy the longings of your heart. Only the well of Jesus Christ can give you true inner and lasting satisfaction. Will you turn to Him?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, the waters of worldly pursuit make us thirst for more. We need a drink from You to satisfy us for eternity. Fill us with Living Water, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, and Spirit of Life. You came to seek and save those that are lost. You went out of Your way to save a lowly, unnamed, despised, and immoral woman of Samaria. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, loving-kindness, and faithfulness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You have done for us in our lives. We acknowledge that You are the creator of the universe and God of the Bible. Thank You for speaking to us through the inspired, infallible, and inerrant words of the Holy Scripture, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Setting
A centurion is a Roman soldier who had 100 soldiers under his command. In the first-century world, masters treat their servants like a piece of furniture. They were not obligated to treat their servants with kindness. However, this centurion was very kind to his servant when he was on the verge of dying. Even though he was a Gentile, he loved the Jews and helped them build a synagogue. He sent Jewish elders to beg Jesus to come to his house and heal his servant.
Luke 7:6-10
6 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
Luke 7:6-10
Commentary
As Jesus was approaching the centurion’s house, the centurion had a sudden change of heart. He realized that he was not worthy to receive Jesus into his home. He sent his friends to Jesus asking him not to come to his house but to pray for healing from a distance.
His faith was incredible and amazing. He recognized Jesus’ authority. He knew that His word was as good as His presence. He believed that Jesus could cure his servant from a distance.
Jesus was amazed at the faith of the centurion. Even the Jews did not have such great faith. The centurion’s friends returned to the centurion’s house to find the servant recovered! Jesus was omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He healed the centurion’s servant through a private miracle from a distance. The public was not privy to the miracle. Only Jesus, the apostles, the centurion, his family, and his friends knew about the miracle.
Application
Faith moves mountains. Even a mustard seed faith is enough to start a miracle. How big is your faith? Do you pray with faith? Jesus will mountains for you if you pray with faith according to His will.
Faith is to know that you will get what you hoped for even when your physical eyes cannot see it coming.
You cannot please God if you do not have faith, Hebrews 11:6.
Faith is your third pair of eyes. Walk by faith with your spiritual eyes, 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen
Hebrews 11:1
Without faith, it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:16
for we walk by faith, not by sight
2 Corinthians 5:7
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the lesson on faith. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight. Open our spiritual eyes of faith to see into the spiritual dimension. Increase our faith. Help us with our unbelief, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
When Jesus taught the people, Pharisees and teachers of the laws came from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem to spy on Him. Four men carried their paralytic friend on a stretcher to Jesus. Mark informed us that there were four men, Mark 2:3. When they could not come near to Jesus, they went up the roof, broke the tiles, lowered the stretcher from the ceiling, and presented the man to Jesus.
And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mark 2;3
Luke 5:20-26
20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’ 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
Luke 5:20-26
Commentary
The four friends of the paralyzed man had tremendous faith, determination, perseverance, and persistence. The massive crowd did not hinder their effort. They overcame the crowd by thinking out of the box. Acknowledging the faith of his friends, Jesus told the paralyzed man that He forgave him of his sins. The scribes and teachers of the law thought in their hearts that Jesus was a blasphemer. With omniscient power, Jesus knew what they were thinking and said that He had the power to forgive sins because He was the Christ, the Son of Man. He told the paralyzed man to take up his mat and walk and he walked! Jesus had authority over nature, sin, sicknesses, evil spirits, and death. The man got up, left the room, and walked home glorifying God all the way! The people were afraid, astonished, and amazed at the miraculous healing.
Application
The man’s friends had faith. Nothing could stop them from bringing the paralyzed man to Jesus. Do you have faith in Jesus? Do you believe that He can do all things, even the impossible things?
Jesus can forgive sins because He is God. Jesus is fully man and fully God. He is the second person of the Trinity.
Jesus is omniscient. He knows everything about you and me. Nothing is hidden from Him, Hebrews 4:13. He knows your thoughts, and He knows your past, present, and future. He even knows the number of hairs on your head, Matthew 10:30.
Jesus is the Son of Man, which means that He is the Messiah (Christ), Jesus is the fulfillment of the Son of Man described in Daniel l7:13.
Jesus spoke the word and the man was healed instantly.
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There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account
Hebrews 4:13
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:30
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him
Daniel 7:13
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the Messiah, the Son of Man. Thank You that You came to seek and save those who are lost. Thank You for justification and salvation by grace through faith in Christ, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
After the calling of Peter, John, James, Andrew, and the miraculous catch of fish in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus went His way, bumped into a leprous man, and miraculously healed him.
Luke 5:12-16
12 While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” 14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
Luke 5:12-16
Reflections
Jesus left Galilee, came to another town, and met a man with leprosy. The leprous man fell forward prostrate on the ground and begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus touched him and immediately healed him. The leprous man sought Jesus’ will, asked Him, “if You want”and Jesus replied, “I want” .
Leprosy is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium lepra. Today, it is curable by taking antibiotics. In the first-century world, leprosy was a dreadful, contagious, fatal, and incurable disease. Leprous people were ostracised by society and confined to leper colonies. This was a living death sentence. Lepers must not come near or touch anyone. When they see anyone from a distance, they must shout, unclean, unclean. They were social outcasts. No one dared to touch the leprous man for fear of contracting leprosy. But Jesus touched him and healed him. Jesus touched him with love, compassion, acceptance, and friendship. The power of His touch healed the man instantly. The ministry of touch is very important in any relationship.
Jesus commanded the man not to tell anyone but to present himself to the priest for cleansing and offering sacrifice according to Leviticus 14:2-4 and following. But he could not keep quiet and told his testimony wherever he went. Words spread fast and everyone came to Jesus for healing. Jesus went into the desert alone by Himself and prayed. Luke gave us a glimpse into Jesus’ humanity. He needed to pray and be recharged before He could minister effectively.
Application
Jesus told the man to present himself to the priest to testify to him that he was cured of leprosy. If God had cured you of some ailment, show yourself to others as a testimony to them.
The leprous man told his testimony wherever he went. Did you tell your testimony where ever you go?
The leprous man asked Jesus to heal him according to His will. Did you pray according to God’s will?
Jesus touched the leprous man. Have you touched someone physically or through acts of kindness.? The ministry of touch is so important in a personal relationship. Give someone a hug when it is appropriate.
After healing the man, Jesus retreated into the mountain alone to pray. If Jesus needed to spend time alone with His Father in prayer, how much more that you and I needed to spend time with Him in prayer?
This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out of the camp. The priest shall examine him. Behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.
Leviticus 14:2-4
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to spend time alone with You in prayer to seek Your will and to listen to You. Help us to touch someone with love and compassion today. Help us to share our testimony with others so that they will come to know You as their Lord and Savior, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we pray that You will enable us to log in to Your channel, frequency, and wavelength. Help us to fine-tune our spiritual antennas to receive divine signals from You. Help us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Setting
By this time, Jesus’ popularity was at an all-time high. People were coming from everywhere to listen to Him. He was surrounded by a massive crowd in the Lake of Gennesaret or the Sea of Galilee. There were two boats, one belonging to Simon Peter, and the other to James and John. Jesus alighted Simon Peter’s boat and told him to move deeper into the water. He sat down and taught the people in the floating pulpit of the boat.
Luke 5:4-9
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word, I will let down the net.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
Luke 5:4-9
Reflections
After teaching the people, Jesus commanded Peter to go into deeper water and throw in the nets. Simon Peter reluctantly threw in the net because he did not expect any result. He had been throwing the nets one whole night to no avail. To his surprise, the net was so full of fish and so heavy that the net was going to break. This miracle is unique to Luke.
Simon Peter signaled to his partners James and John in the other boat for assistance. They came alongside and collected the fish into the two boats. The fishes were so heavy that the two boats began to sink. Amazed at such a great miraculous catch, Peter knelt in front of Jesus and confessed that he was a sinful man.
Even James and John, the sons of Zebedee were astonished. Jesus told them not to be afraid. From now on Jesus would make them fishers of the souls of men. When the boats reached land, they left everything and followed Jesus. Here, Jesus chose four fishermen from Galilee as His apostles, Peter and his brother Andrew, James, and his brother John.
Application
When Peter was fishing by his own self-effort throughout whole night, he could not catch any fish at all. When Peter followed the direction of Jesus, the catch was so great that they filled up 2 boats! The catch was so bountiful and beyond his wildest imagination. Convicted of his sins, Peter fell prostrate before Jesus, and worshiped Him.
You will not be successful when you share the gospel with your self-effort. You will be successful if you listen carefully to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and follow God’s instructions. You need to pray before you make a move and listen very carefully. Evangelism must be done according to God’s will and direction. You need to do evangelism Jesus’ way. He is the way, the truth, and the life, John 14:6.. No one can come to the Father except through Him.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
John 14:6
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us fishers of men. Help us to equip ourselves with the tools and skills of personal evangelism. Help us to share the Gospel with non-believers. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight. Help to do things according to your ways and not be our own self-effort, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today, you can the archaelogical ruins of the church of Pergamon in western Turkey as a tourist. You can see the seat of satan in the ruins of the church of Pergamon. If you visit the Berlin, be sure to visit the Pergamon museum. This museum showcased many archaelogical finds from the church of Pergamon which flew all the way from Turkey in the 1900s I was fortunate to visit this museum 30 years ago.
Revelation 2:12-17
12 “To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things: 13 “I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise. 16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it
Revelation 2:12-17
Commentary
Destination
The destination of the third letter was to the church of Pergamon. Ancient Pergamon was a rich and powerful Greek city in Mysia, Asia Minor, which is in modern-day Turkey. Pergamon was a demonic stronghold, home to the seat of Satan’s throne.
Jesus’ Title
Jesus called Himself, “He who has the sharp two-edged sword”. The two-edged sword is the word of God and sword of the Spirit. Hebrews 4:12.
Commendation
Christ commended them for their loyalty and faithfulness. They they did not deny His name, in the face of persecution, when one of their members, Antipas was martyred.
Censure
Christ censured them because some of them followed the doctrine of Balaam and Nicholas. The doctrine of Balaam is embracing pagan worship and committing sexual immorality. The doctrine of Nicolas is Gnosticism. Nicolas was a first-century Christian of Acts 6:5, who had apostasized and promoted Gnosticism.
Warning
If they do not repent, Christ will wage war against them with the two edged sword of His mouth.
A promise of reward
To those who overcome, hear, and obey His word, He will give them the hidden manna, and a white stone with a new secret name written on it.
The hidden manna is Jesus Christ, who is also called, the living manna, the bread of life, the bread of God, and the bread from heaven. He is the food that sustained our spiritual health.
The white stone is a symbol of Christ’s righteousness imputed to believers. Christ will give believer a white stone with a new secret name that only the recipient knows.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch
Acts 6:5
Application
Do not compromise your faith by partipating in pagan worship and sexual imorality.
Do not follow the teachings of false teachers and cult. Beware of the prosperity doctrine and the word of faith movement. There are plenty of false teachers today peddling false doctrines and leading believers astray. It is a good practice to check the credentials of any preachers before listening to them and countercheck what they say with the Bible.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for this timely message to remind us that there are false teachers in our society today. We pray for biblical education and literacy ad a tool to discern false doctrines. Help us to know the truth and be set free from deception, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jesus ministered to a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. He offered her living water and told her to bring her husband. When she said she had no husband, Jesus exposed her life of sin. She had previous 5 husbands and was now living with a man out of wedlock. She was shocked by this revelation. Here was a man who knew everything about her.
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. 22 You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.” 27 At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why do you speak with her?” 28 So the woman left her water pot, went away into the city, and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?”
John 4:19-29
Reflection
The woman called Jesus a prophet. The Samaritans worshiped God on Mount Gerizim while the Jews worship God on Mount Zion. She wanted to know where was the right place to worship God. Jesus replied, it was not the where but the who. God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. The Samaritans got it wrong. Their theology was wrong. Their Samaritans Bible was incomplete, inaccurate, and adulterated. They only accept the first 5 books of the Bible and they changed the words extensively. Salvation was for the Jews first and then only to the Gentiles, Romans 1:16.
God is spirit and truth. A true worshiper worship God in spirit and truth, with correct doctrine and theology. Jesus revealed His Messianic identity to her i.e. I AM. When the disciples came back, they were shocked to see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman.
She left the bucket at the well with the joy of living water (Holy Spirit) bubbling within her. She went to town with her testimony. She invited them to come and see Jesus who knew everything about her. Could this be the Messiah?, she asked. The town people followed her back to the well.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek
Romans 1:16,
I AM who I AM
Exodus 3:4
Application
Jesus knows everything about you and me. You cannot hide anything from His omnicient power. If you sinned, you must confess, repent, and come clean, 1 John 1:9.
Have you ever told anyone what the Lord has done for you in your life? Share out your testimony. Your testimony is very powerful and life saving. No one can dispute your testimony.
God is spirit and truth. You must worship God in spirit and truth. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. Speaking of Himself as truth, Jesus said that you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Jesus is I AM, YHWH, the pre-existing, self-existing, eternal, and only true God.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
1 John 1:9
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray that You will open our hearts to hear, feel, touch, and understand what You are saying to us. We asked for the presence of the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, comfort, convict, rebuke, and train us in righteousness. You came to seek and save the lost, the weak, the poor, the rejected, and the marginalized. May we never walk away from You unchanged after every encounter with You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we commit to You our daily devotion. Holy Spirit we pray that You will explain, teach, reveal, and give us spiritual insight and understanding, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Setting
Jesus took the shortest route from Judea to Galilee by traveling directly northward stopping in Samaria. This was not the usual route. The Jews bypass Samaria by going through Perea, eastward, northward, and westward into Galilee. Jesus took the road less travelled.
Jesus arrived at Jacob’s well in Sychar at noon, tired, hungry, and thirsty from the long walk,. The disciples went into the city to buy food. Jesus, who was fully man and fully God felt tired, thirsty, and hungry. A Samaritan woman came to draw water. This was most unusual. Woman came to the well in the morning or evening to draw water, socialise, and gossip. This woman came at 12 noon knowing that no other women would be there.
John 4:7-18
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “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.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his children and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I don’t get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered, “I have no husband.”Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.”
John 4:7-18
Reflection
Jesus had a divine appointment to seek and save this unnamed Samaritan woman. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she was shocked because Jews and Samaritans were sworn enemies. In the first-century world, a woman was not allowed to talk with a man in public. This was forbidden, unacceptable, and even scandalous. Jesus broke the social, cultural, and gender divide in His opening gambit! Jesus, the gift of God, spoke to her! If only she knew! Here was a spiritually thirsty woman who looked for satisfaction in the well of relationship with other men but could not find it. Jesus’ brilliant ice breaker was to ask for water and He was ready to give her the living water of the Holy Spirit, John 7:37-39.
The woman was shocked. Here was a Jewish rabbi asking her for a drink! Jesus spoke spiritually but she thought physically. She blurted out a rhetorical question, are you greater than Jacob? Jesus responded that drinking water from this well would not satisfy her spiritual thirst.
The woman was caught, hook, line, and sinker!. She wanted the living water! When Jesus told her to go home and bring her husband, she could not answer. With omniscient power, Jesus exposed her sin revealing that she had 5 previous husbands and the present man in her life was not her husband. Jesus exposed her sin to convict her to repentance.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them’. By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified
John 7: 37-39,
Application
Here is evangelism 101 masterclass. How do you talk with a stranger? How do you break the ice? Ask a simple question. Jesus was thirsty and the woman came to draw water with a bucket. It was very natural to ask for water. Use this approach. Start a small talk by asking a question with eye contact to build a bridge. Be sincere, friendly, and genuine. You are trying to break into a stranger’s world and he/she may be going through some hard times. Break down social, racial, political, gender, or religious divide. Jesus did it and so must you and me.
Drinking water will only quench the thirst temporarily. What she, and everyone need is Jesus Christ, the living water of eternal life. Only Jesus can satisfy the thirst of relationship with the God of creation. Physicist Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ”.
What wells are you drinking from? Are you drinking from the material wells of the world? None of these wells can satisfy the longings of your heart. Only the well of Jesus Christ can give you true inner and lasting satisfaction. Will you turn to Him?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, the waters of worldly pursuit makes us thirst for more. We need a drink from You to satisfy us for eternity. Fill us with Living Water, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, and Spirit of Life. You came to seek and save those that are lost. You went out of Your way to save to a lowly, unnamed, despised, and immoral woman of Samaria. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, loving-kindness, and faithfulness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, open our spiritual eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to understand, and hearts to apply and obey the truth of Your words. Help us engage in Your word for the transformation of hearts and renewal of minds, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Love is not a spiritual gift but it is the first fruit of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Commentary
1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter.
The Greek word for love is agape, which means selfless, sacrificial love, and unconditional love. Agape is the highest form of love.
Without love, speaking in tongues is noisy and irritating. Without love, prophesy, words of knowledge, faith, selfless giving, and even martyrdom are valueless in God’s eyes.
Paul spelled out the 17 characteristics of what love is, what love is not, and what love does and does not do. Love is patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not abusive, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not rejoice in evil and injustice, rejoices in truth, never gives up, always trusts, always hopes, always persevere, never fails. Even, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will fail but not love.
On this side of eternity, we do not have full revelation, perfect vision, and comprehensive knowledge. Our speech, understanding, and thoughts are only partial at best. We are works in progress being sanctified by the Holy Spirit into spiritual maturity.
Comparing the three virtues of love, faith, and hope, the greatest of these is love.
Application
Love is the first and greatest fruit of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23. Love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:8. Love is the greatest commandment, horizontal love to others, and vertical love to God, Matthew 22:23.
Do you love the Lord with all your hearts, souls, and minds? Do you love your neighbour as yourself?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Matthew 22:23
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us to love. Help us to obey Your commandment to love You with all our hearts, souls, and minds and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Help us to love others just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
