Three Strikes—You’re NOT Out!

Three Strikes—You’re NOT Out!

Stee—rike! We love to hear that when our opponent is up to bat. 

Three strikes and you’re out in the game of baseball. But with Jesus—not so.

Often times we feel we’ve messed up one too many times for Jesus to pick us up and take us back again. Or perhaps we think we’ve just got too many strides against us for Him to even glance our way. 

As recorded in John’s Gospel, 4^th chapter, Jesus encountered such a person beside a well in the region of Samaria. 

Weary from travel, Jesus sat down near the well. Before long, a woman came—alone—to draw water. 

The woman was taken aback when Jesus said, “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7).

First off, she was a woman and He was a Jewish man. Jewish men simply didn’t talk to women in public. On top of that, this woman was a Samaritan which assigned her to a position considered inferior to Jews—a person with whom any upstanding Jew would have no sort of dealings. So that’s two strikes against her right there.

But Jesus asked her to give Him a drink of water. That even meant He would be drinking out of her vessel—that was a big no-no!

So, here’s Jesus addressing, as well as requesting a service of, a person who He should not even acknowledge, according to societal standards.

And that’s not the end of it, He went on to engage in further conversation—unheard of! 

Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10 NKJV).

She didn’t get it. Actually, I don't think I would have either.

She pointed out that the well was deep and He had nothing with which to draw water. Besides, where would He get living water, she inquired.

Jesus explained, “Whoever drinks of this water thirsts again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (vv. 13-14).

The woman then said, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

By now she knew she wanted what Jesus had to give but still didn’t understand His living water. Would you understand? Would I?  

I’d like to interject here that I’m so grateful for the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew exactly what was going on in this woman’s mind and the Holy Spirit was apparently working in her spirit. Very often, believing in Jesus is a process. Jesus was bringing her along and at a point in time, she would know with whom she was talking.

Jesus changed the subject and said, “Go, call your husband, and come here” (v.16). 

She answered, “I have no husband.”

Jesus, of course, already knew that and even knew her life history, which had apparently had a few bumps in the road.

He then said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly” (vv. 17-18).

Strike THREE! This woman apparently had a bad reputation. There are several possible reasons she had gone through five husbands, but because she was at the well alone at midday, it appears the other women in her city would have nothing to do with her. 

Typically, the women of a village or city would go together to get water in the early morning and in the evening. There was safety in numbers and these excursions would serve as social outings, timed to allow them to avoid the heat of midday. 

So there she was—with three strikes against her. 

The two spoke briefly on the subject of worship (a whole other topic).

Then He did it. Jesus bestowed, on this supposed outcast, a great blessing. To her, right then and there, He revealed His identity as the Christ. Their conversation made its way to the topic of the expected Messiah and in verse 26, Jesus said to her, “I who you speak to am He.”

As best I can tell, this Samaritan woman, whose name we don’t even know, was the first person, (other than His disciples), to whom Jesus openly revealed His identity as Messiah—the long awaited One.

WOW! Three strikes against her but she was not out. Instead, Jesus elevated her to a level beyond her wildest imagination. 

What a marvelous occasion for Jesus to disclose some elements of His character. To name a few:

• Jesus values men and women equally.
• Jesus came to rescue people of all stations in life.
•  Jesus is not prejudice regarding race or culture.
• Jesus is willing to step outside culturally accepted traditions and rules to reach people. 
•  Jesus is for the underdog.
• Jesus loves the unlovable. 
•  Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.

 
It’s been said that the ground is level at the foot of the cross of Christ. How very true for this one, known as the woman at the well.

 
SO—ponder this—from what has Jesus lifted you? 
I’m pondering on that myself.

By the way—this is not the end of her story. We’ll continue next time.

Thanks for reading my post today. <> I hope it blessed you in some way. <> Type below if you to have something to say. <> Meanwhile, do have a Jesus-filled day!

©Connie Wohlford 2016

That part of that verse puzzled me.

That part of that verse puzzled me.

                                                   

There are several things in the Bible that puzzle me. But I had light shed on one of those things recently during my personal study time. My quandary was located near the beginning of the nighttime conversation between Jesus and the Jewish leader, Nicodemus. 

The passage goes like this: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:1-5 ESV).

Please re-read verse 5. Do you want to guess what in that verse had puzzled me?

Photo by Frances Gunn from Unsplash

I’ll just tell you. It’s the part about the water. I’ve always had a hard time figuring out just what water Jesus was talking about. Have you ever wondered that yourself? 

I previously knew of two possibilities, but in reading a commentary from Bible Study Fellowship International I learned of a third one. 

The three options are:

1- Some say it’s the water we come through when we’re physically born by natural means. But, to me, that has never made sense because Jesus would be saying that in order to be saved, we must be physically born. Uh-----I just don’t think that’s it because we’re all physically born and there’s water (amniotic fluid) involved. [Side note: Back in the olden days when I gave birth, that was called the bag of waters.]

2- Then there’s water baptism. This would mean that Jesus is saying that water baptism is a requirement for a person to enter the Kingdom of God. We know that’s not the case. If someone gets saved, but then dies before they can get baptized this would mean they would be condemned to Hell. NOT SO! God commands water baptism as the outward sign of the inward reality of believing and receiving Christ.

3- So thirdly, The Bible often analogizes water with the Word of God. It’s frequently a picture of God’s Word cleansing and giving life. 

When talking to His disciples, Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you” (John 15:3 NKJV).

Speaking of Himself and His love for the church, Jesus said, “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,” (Ephesians 5:26 NKJV).

Speaking to followers of Jesus, Peter said, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).

Therefore, I’m saying that the truth of God’s Word has got to wash over us, bringing us to Spiritual rebirth. According to John 3:6, flesh gives birth to flesh and Spirit gives birth to spirit. This new birth is a spiritual work that only God can do. We simply must believe in Jesus and receive Him into our hearts. Basically, we’re saying, “Yes,” to God. In doing so, we open our hands and receive His offer of Salvation/Eternal Life.

When we do this, we really do become a new person, as though we were literally born-again. We’ve turned a page and all things are made new—we have a new mindset, a new worldview, a new sense of love, peace and joy. We see the Kingdom of God and have a great sense of gratitude that God the Father, through His Son, Jesus, has rescued us and brought us into His own family.

We are indeed “born of water and the Spirit.”

If, at this moment, you are not born-again but wish to be, please do this:

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, just as the Bible says, and decide to receive Him into your heart. Simply tell Him and invite Him in. You can pray this prayer: Lord God, I believe that Jesus is your only Son, just as the Bible says. I now invite Him into my heart and receive Him as my personal Savior. Thank you, Lord, for giving me Eternal Life. In Jesus name I pray—Amen.

If you’ve just prayed that prayer, please take these next steps: Tell someone who is a follower of Jesus; begin to read God’s Word—the Bible, every day; and hook up with a good Bible believing church fellowship. Ask God to help you find the right church and the right friends to hang out with. May God richly bless you in your new life in Him!

I’m curious to know if anyone else has ever wondered about the water Jesus spoke of in John 3:5. Am I the only one?

Your comments are welcome.

©Connie Wohlford 2016

Darkness Will Not—CANNOT Comprehend His Light

Darkness Will Not—CANNOT                     

                 Comprehend His Light

Do you ever feel like there’s lots of darkness in our world?

It often seems like we’re surrounded by darkness and sometimes that it’s closing in. Doesn’t it?

Notice, I said “seems like.” Seems like is not the reality for those of us who are in Christ. Yes, there’s a lot of darkness out there. But we don’t have to let it penetrate. Let’s never forget the encouraging words of the apostle, John.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing that was made was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5 NKJV).

We who are in Christ have Christ in us. Therefore, His light is in us and cannot be overpowered by darkness. (Read those two sentences again.)

Look at the word used here in the New King James Version in verse 5—comprehend. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Other translations use such words as overcome and understand. 

According to Strong’s (#2638), comprehend, katalambano (kat-al-am-ban-oh), has three interpretations:

1- To seize, lay hold of, overcome. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness could not gain control of it.”

2- To perceive, attain, lay hold of with the mind; to apprehend with mental or moral effort. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness is unreceptive and does not understand it.” [WOW! We could camp out there for a while because lost people cannot understand why we think the way we think and do the things we do.]

3- To quench, extinguish, snuff out the light by stifling it. With this, verse 5 could read, “The darkness will never be able to eliminate it.”*

SO—

“Light and darkness essentially are antagonistic. The Christian’s joy is in knowing that light is not only greater than darkness but will also outlast the darkness.”*

Therefore—

As we are very aware of the many facets of darkness, both near and far, we must guard against allowing it to penetrate us. And we have the means by which to do so.

We have the full armor of God—it’s our responsibility to wear it and wield it.

We have the Holy Spirit—each of us has the responsibility of giving Him full access to our spirit and soul.

I’d like to close with these words from Isaiah:

Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.

 

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, ...

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  –Isaiah 8:22; 9:1a, 2-7

In the midst of widespread darkness, let us not forget that we once walked in darkness but we have seen a great Light—for unto us a Child is born. He is the Light which no darkness can comprehend in any sense of the word. Hallelujah! –Amen.

Your comments are welcome.

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Word Wealth, p 1573

©Connie Wohlford 2016