Questions Jesus Raised: "Four months until harvest?"

Sunday I'll be preaching on John 4:1-42. Here are some things to think about from that message:

The Bible says that Jesus "had to go through Samaria." We don't know why this was. Most Jews avoided this route, going far out of their way, down several thousand feet of elevation on the dangerous road to Jericho, crossing Jordan, going up the east bank until opposite Galilee, then recrossing into Jewish territory again. All to avoid people they disliked! Possible reasons Jesus "had" to go through Samaria--
>>>He was in a hurry to get to Galilee and didn't want to take the time for the longer route. I think this unlikely, since He took the time to spend some days at Sychar before going on to Galilee.
>>>He knew supernaturally that he had a 'divine appointment' at Jacob's well. This is certainly a possibility.
>>>He was guided by God's Spirit, and followed the Spirit's leading. To me, this is the most 'useful' interpretation. Seldom do we everyday Christians have spiritual precognition of events toward which God is leading us. But all of us need to be sensitive to the pulling (and sometimes pushing!) of God's Spirit in certain directions.

Notice Jesus was physically tired, and He opened conversation with the woman by asking for a drink. Have you thought about the contrast between His humanity and His sovereignty?

Jon Clore shared with me some thoughts he heard from Pastor Johnny Hunt of Woodstock on buckets of water. Bro. Johnny was talking about having a bucket of hot water, and how if you add just a glassful of lukewarm or cold water, suddently the bucket's water isn't hot anymore. Remember Christ's taste in water? (See Revelation 3:16) Hot or cold is infinitely preferable to lukewarm...and I'm afraid most Christians today are pretty lukewarm.

Ever considered the possibility that the "spring of living water" can be a hot spring?

Sunday one of the things we'll consider together is the question, "What are you doing with your spring?" Some scriptures to look at are Jeremiah 2:13, Judges 10:13, Psalm 36:9, Isaiah 55:2, and Galatians 1:6-7.

In his encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus uses his prophetic insight ("go call your husband"/"you have had 5 husbands, and now are living with someone not your husband"). The woman, like many folks without a personal relationship with God, tries to deflect the conversation into side issues and unsolvable religious disputes, but Jesus reveals Himself as the true object for worship, "I AM."

When the disciples return, they are confused by Jesus' behavior and His lack of hunger. In contrast, the woman now has a certainty...she must share the news about the Messiah she has encountered. But wisely (or more likely, inspired by the Spirit) she simply asks, "Could this be the Messiah?" Witnesses must always allow people to make up their own minds, and come to their own encounter with Christ.

The end of this passage is a wonderful discourse on food and harvests. Jesus asks His disciples, "Don't you say, 'There are still four months, then comes the harvest?'" But He commands, "Open your eyes!" In their day, a harvest of souls was "white unto harvest" right then and there! Is it different in our day?

Matthew 9:36-38 is the prayer we need to pray over our own harvest of souls. "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest."

See you Sunday!