July 1, 2020 -- John 4:25-26 -- Jesus The Messiah

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 told her, “I who speak to you am he.”

John 4:25-26 ESV

What a powerful conversation has taken place. When you have a few minutes, read it through—John 4:1-26. Jesus showed this Samaritan woman her sins (she’d had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband). Having called out her sins, showing her the urgent thirst for meaning in her life and the false ways in which she was trying to satisfy them, He taught her how people should worship. Not on Mt. Gerazim, as the Samaritans taught. Nor should worship be in the form of offerings on the Temple Mount—but the Father is seeking worshipers who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Now she is intrigued. The Father’s anointed prophet is not just for Jewish people, nor Samaritans, but for all, for any who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

You can see the thirst of the woman exposed. Jesus had taught in this passage: those who turn to Him will find their thirst exposed. They will realize all the ways in which they’d been chasing love in all the wrong places. This thirst has been addressed by living water. No more do seekers have to try to fill the longing of their hearts with sex, with relationships, with food, with booze, with drugs, with anything other than the Living God revealed in Jesus. Eagerly the woman asked about the identity of the Messiah, God’s anointed and promised prophet this Living Water. She wanted to meet Him, Who will reveal all things.

Jesus makes the staggering declaration: I AM He! Jesus made Himself equal with God. He stated He is the anticipated Messiah, the Prophet who would perfectly reveal God. He is our soul’s desire. He is the one Who can answer the cries of our heart. He is Living Water that wells up in us again and again, ever and always. He is the One Who is The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

How can I drink deeply of this Living Water? How can you? Read the Bible. Pursue this claim to its conclusion. Ask the Spirit (Who leads us in all truth) to make Jesus known to you. Find a Christian whose walk with God you admire and study the bible together. Get your questions answered. Believe in Jesus and live out this great faith.

A dear friend gave me a small book called: Divine Service Book For The Armed Forces. It was distributed by the Canadian Government (!)—issued under the authority of the Minister of National Defence in 1950—and given to all in the Army. As this is Canada Day, it made sense to use this lovely resource. (There are some definitions included at the end of the prayer).

Be mindful, O Lord, of thy people bowed before thee, and of those who are absent through age, sickness, or infirmity. Care for the infants, guide the young, support the aged, encourage the fainthearted, collect the scattered, and bring the wandering to thy fold. Travel with the voyagers, defend the widows, shield the orphans, deliver the captives, heal the sick. Succour all who are in tribulation, necessity, or distress. Remember for good all those that love us, and those that hate us, and those that have desired us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. And those whom we have forgotten, do thou, O Lord, remember. For thou art the Helper of the helpless, the Saviour of the lost, the Refuge of the wandered, the Healer of the sick. Thou, who knowest each man’s need, and hast heard his prayer, grant unto each according to thy merciful loving kindness and thy eternal love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thy and Thee are old English, formal ways of addressing God: thy = Your; thee = You; thou = You when speaking directly to

Fainthearted: timid, lacking courage,

Fold—a safe place for sheep, an illustration to help us understand God as our protection, safe place

Succour: give assistance, support, aid

Thou art— You are

who knowest—who knows, who is aware of

hast heard—have heard

grant—give, supply