Good Tuesday morning! So, what tales of love grown cold met you on your favorite news outlet this morning? Mine was the news that a firefighter had shot a cell-phone video of a girl's fatal accident and shared it around the station. Later, someone sent the video to the parents. It doesn't get much colder than that. The video was too graphic to show on the news show; which from what I have seen means that there is no way the parents should have to see such a thing. Where does something like this stop? How far will people go before we can say that is as bad as it can get? Actually, we know the answer to that - Jesus will first catch us up to Heaven, and then He will start the tribulation that ends this earth as we know it. When that will start no man knows, but from stories such as that one, I can't help but think that we will see Jesus at any moment.
On a morning like this, does our verse have any good news for us?
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to; you would ask me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10
Well, yes, it certainly does. We have read and heard about this gift before in our Bible studies, but you know from this verse that this poor woman is going to have a hard time understanding Jesus at first. I find it loving that God would first show us a very educated and intelligent man in Nicodemus who fails to understand Jesus, and then in the next chapter shows us a very street-wise, or wise in the way of the world, and intelligent woman whose name we never get who also fails to understand Jesus at the first. Jesus said some things that just went right by folks at the time. And when we didn't believe in him, those sayings did the same to us. The Good News of God's gift to humankind was so startling, and so different from the Law, that people just couldn't get it right away.
Jesus could have completed his journey to the cross in Jerusalem before coming to meet this woman. The Pharisees were already plotting to kill him, the Romans were in place, and crucifixions had been used by the Romans for some time. Jesus could have gathered the 12 disciples, including the betrayer, and set off to finish his mission about 3 years earlier than he did. Except that so many people who would come to believe in Jesus, including the disciples, needed more time to hear him and understand the Good News. Even John the gospel writer admits later that much of what Jesus said they didn't get until Jesus rose again and the Holy Spirit came upon them. John didn't even write his gospel for about 60 years after Jesus had ascended to Heaven.
Some of those who hear the Good News will get it right away, but many of us, myself included, will not understand right away. Jesus tells the woman, "If only you knew..." He says much the same thing to those of us who take time to 'get it', but notice that even after she figures out who Jesus is, she will still have to ask. No one has salvation forced on them, but at the time we suddenly or gradually realize who is offering the living water of salvation, we will ask and Jesus will give.
Have a wonderful Tuesday in Christ!
Bucky
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