John 4:35-36 (Ready)

You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! (John 4:35-36) Read: Judges 1:1 –…

John 4:31-34 (What Is Your Cause?)

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. (John…

John 4:28-30 (From the Well to the Town)

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him. (John 4:29-30) Read: Joshua 19:49 – 21:45, 1 Chronicles 6:54 – 81…

John 4:28 (Greater Need)

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, (John 4:28) Read: Joshua 18:1 – 19:48 Relate: My cousin posted a picture of a modern version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs today that earned a chuckle and probably got me thinking along these lines. I’ve seen this pyramid since…

John 4:25-26 (I AM)

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!” (John 4:25-26) Read: Joshua 12:7 – 15:19 Relate: All the right roads lead to this moment. Every great journey leads to this destination. Jesus felt compelled to go…

John 4:23-24 (What Is Truth?)

The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) Read: Joshua 10:1 – 12:6 Relate: Jesus said that the Father is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. I want to…

John 4:23 (It’s Coming… It’s Here)

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23) Read: Joshua 7:1 – 9:27, 1 Chronicles 2:7  Relate: I love a paradox. Maybe it is just me, but I love trying to wrap my mind around two different concepts that, somehow, both must be true.…

John 4:22 (Through the Jews)

You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. (John 4:22) Read: Joshua 3:1 – 6:27 Relate: For a lot of scholars down through time the second half of this verse has caused problems. Augustine had to bend over backwards trying to explain how…

John 4:21 (No Place)

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. (John 4:21) Read: Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12, Joshua 1:1 – 2:24 Relate: This week I had the privilege of going to an ARC conference (ARC = Association of Related Churches) down…

John 4:19-20 (Two Mountains)

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” (John 4:19-20) Read: Deuteronomy 31:30 – 32:52, Psalm 90 Relate: Questions. Sometimes our questions might be big. Sometimes they might…