To fully glorify God
John 4: 5-14
A little over a year ago, we talked about the same word, but every time I think about this encounter with Jesus, more meaning comes to my mind, and I want to share it with you.
Today’s topic for reflection is to fully glorify God!
Brothers, this passage tells of an encounter with Jesus. Only in ten verses did Jesus pass on his message to a woman. A very deep message about the difference between thirst for body and thirst for thirst. However, I always try to understand more of every conversation with Jesus. I think that all interactions of the Master on earth have a broad meaning.
I invite you to read with me slowly every verse of this passage.
Verse 5:
Here it says, “He has come,” that is, Jesus has gone to this place. It was no coincidence that this meeting took place. God planned this and sent his son to speak with this woman. Also note in verse 8 that God has set the stage for this meeting because a private conversation with the Samaritan was needed and then left alone by his disciples.
God is responsible for everything! Thank God!
Verse 6
Jesus was “… tired of the journey …”. The tired child of God! Yes, this verse reminds us that He has become flesh to dwell among us and to prove to us that man can overcome the world! I can win the world and you too! Sometimes we get tired from our walk. In these times we can and should count on the help of our brothers in Christ. We can be humble and ask for help, asking for “… some water”.
Verse 7:
This is exactly what Jesus tells us in verse 7, with his modest gesture that he is dependent on a woman (remember that at that time the woman was considered inferior).
Brothers, Jesus Christ, the Son of God asking for a glass of water! I will make a clip here. In some recent books that seek to teach about human relationships, there is the word “empathy.” This word is used to define the psychological ability to feel what another person would feel when he or she was in the same situation. It is to understand feelings and emotions and to experience what the other person feels.
These current books teach that if you want to pay attention to someone, you first have to make them feel good, appreciate them, and even have to be dependent on them in some way.
Aside from the scroll, we see in verse 7 that Jesus has been using this “modern” technique for over two thousand years!
Verse 9:
We’ve already talked about verse 8, so let’s take a look at 9. Jesus breaks cultural barriers. He shows us here that we should not limit ourselves to the man-built walls. The gospel is for everyone, thank God! Otherwise we would not know our creator!
Brothers, until now we can see the perfection of God’s plans. The preparation of the environment, the mission of Jesus, the way he approaches us and draws our attention. We can already feel God’s love for us because we are the Samaritans who wanted to redeem Jesus!
Think about it and think about the individual way Christ presented himself to you. Remember that moment, the moment you heard, “I love you, son, give me some of your attention.”
It is reassuring for us to remember that Jesus came to us even though we did not seek Him. He chose you and walked over to you and tired of the walk he talked to you!
You are a child of God!
Let us now come to the spiritual message of this encounter with Jesus.
Verse 10:
“If only you knew what God can give …” Brothers, this phrase is for me the summary of our journey, our sanctification through Jesus Christ. This phrase also invites me to understand and pity those who have not yet been called by Jesus and therefore live in the world. I will explain it.
Jesus subtly encourages the Samaritan to think, saying, “If only you knew …” This is also an invitation to reflect: do we know what God can give us? And if we confirm to ourselves that Christians, many of whom have been studying the word of God for some time, still do not know exactly what God can give us, what will we say about the “unnamed”? Every day God speaks to us through His Word. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we receive comfort from God. At first, we immediately received comfort, as if God wanted to prove to us his ability to satisfy our desires. A problem is solved, a job is won, a disease is cured. Our lives are blessed, and step by step God shapes us and shows his love for us.
It is a slow process and it happens again and again as we read the Bible and attend worship and meetings.
Then God gives the process a quick start: “If only you knew who asked for water, you would ask and he would give you the water of life.” Then we get into a fight. More pray praise? Help the brothers? Water of life? I prefer my beer for happy hour!
Verse 11:
“You have no bucket from which you can draw water …” This is our carnal nature that still wants to survive. Our mind seeks a rational sense of the wonders of God. At this time, brothers, we are the most vulnerable. We begin to enjoy the peace of Jesus, but we are still trying to understand God’s plans. At this point, we must be careful that our inability to understand the kingdom of heaven does not prevent us from believing in it! It does not matter if Jesus has a bucket or not, He is God and ready!
Verse 12:
“Our ancestor Jacob gave us this well.” Lord God, my past is not bad. I enjoy going to parties, having fun with a few sips of wine. The carnival … etc. The Samaritan tries to convince Jesus that this is very important because in the past, he served Jacob and his animals. She is right, the well was important because it was used by God to keep alive his children, who were the origin of Israel, the chosen people. It just does not know that God could have used any other well or even a rock (as in the desert). To deify something of the past is useless for our salvation.
How many of us have stuck with idols of the past. I’ve even heard a pastor say, “If it was not this car, then …” We have to understand that “if it were not that car” would be different because God’s plan is always fulfilled!
Verse 13:
“Those who drink of this water become thirsty again …” Jesus draws attention to the woman. This water is for the body, it is volatile. The desires of the body are fleeting. If we are obliged to fulfill these wishes, we will have more and more wishes. Anyone who works for money never has enough. The glutton is always hungry. The drug addict always wants more and larger doses. What lives in remembrance ends in depression because it lives in the past and does not create new memories.
Verse 14:
“… but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty.” If we try to set aside the desires of the flesh to feed on the Word of God, we will be content.
It’s not easy Often we can not even satisfy the wish, but the wish is still there. But brothers, I invite you to another reflection. Search for yourself, think for a moment about something in the world that you desire, but that you can successfully overcome. And look for something that you no longer want. If you find it, write it down, why this is already a victory for Jesus in your life!
And you need a book for these notes, because “… the water that I give you becomes a source of water that gives eternal life.” You brother and sister and I (God willing) will be a source of sustenance. spiritual for other brothers who fully glorify God through Jesus Christ our Teacher and Savior!
God, thanks again for your word, Father. May we experience your kingdom ever more on earth, thank the Lord for everything, and spread the gospel of Jesus through words and deeds. Amen!
Verse 14:
“… but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty.” If we try to set aside the desires of the flesh to feed on the Word of God, we will be content.
It’s not easy Often we can not even satisfy the wish, but the wish is still there. But brothers, I invite you to another reflection. Search for yourself, think for a moment about something in the world that you desire, but that you can successfully overcome. And look for something that you no longer want. If you find it, write it down, why this is already a victory for Jesus in your life!
And you need a book for these notes, because “… the water that I give you becomes a source of water that gives eternal life.” You brother and sister and I (God willing) will be a source of sustenance. spiritual for other brothers who fully glorify God through Jesus Christ our Teacher and Savior!
God, thanks again for your word, Father. May we experience your kingdom ever more on earth, thank the Lord for everything, and spread the gospel of Jesus through words and deeds. Amen!