Jesus tenderly guides a wayward women (and us!) to Quench Your Thirst and Satisfy Your Hunger. John 4:1-45
John the Baptist models humility as he points to the greatness of Jesus.
“ After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.””
Jesus confronts our darkness in order to delivery us from it. But we hate the light so He has some difficult work to accomplish. Other Scriptures referenced: 1John 1:5-10, Ephesians 5:11
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
Jesus offers us a case study in zeal, a zeal that includes a love for us. Scripture references include: Isaiah 59:16-20, Malachi 2:17-3:5, 1Corinthians 5:7-8, Romans 12:11, 1John 1:8-10
“After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”
As Jesus enters onto the pages of John’s Gospel, he comes bearing the fullness of God. That fullness is full of Grace and Truth. And from His Fullness we all receive Grace in place of Grace already Given. See also Colossians 1:19
The first of seven carefully curated signs goes down at a wedding party in Cana. Jesus intervenes to reverse the scourge of Shame.
John the Baptist announces the appearance of the Messiah, the lamb of God, JESUS! Come and see. Follow Him. And you will see even greater things.
Often we recognize that in seeing Jesus (God the Son), we get a glimpse of the nature and character of God the Father. However, John 1 affirms that all the fullness of God is in Jesus. Thus as Jesus walks about this earth through this Gospel, He is fully God. The God of Exodus 15:1-4, Isaiah 6:1-7, Psalm 145:3, Isaiah 40:28, Deuteronomy 33:26-27, Psalm 139:1-5, 13-19, Exodus 20:18-29, Deuteronomy 7:21, Job 26:7-14, Psalm 147:4-5, Jeremiah 10:12-13, Zephaniah 3:17.
As Jesus enters onto the pages of John’s Gospel, he comes bearing the fullness of God. That fullness is full of Grace and Truth. And from His Fullness we all receive Grace in place of Grace already Given. See also Colossians 1:19
In the beginning was the Word (LOGOS) and the Word (LOGOS) was with God and the Word (LOGOS) was God.
