How could you have a nonesuch experience with Jesus and not talk about him? Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well teaches us much about witnessing: 1. 6:14-15) and this must include forgiving the sins of the past as well as of the present. This requires some amount of boldness. Given the cultural hostilities, Jesus easily could have sat quietly while the Samaritan woman came, drew her water from the well, and left. 16Jesus said to her,Go,call your husband, and come here.17The woman answered Him, I have no husband. Jesus said to her,You are right in saying, I have no husband;18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. He then went ahead of them and prayed that they wouldnt abandon him. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. What we see here is something divine. Asked Peter and John for alms, Peter looked at man, told him to look at them, stand up and walk in the name of Jesus. Shes never heard of living water. Samaritans were a racially mixed people who were part-Jewish and part-Gentile. Now were going to see what happens when a Samaritan woman has an encounter with Jesus. Good Friday is the day Christians commemoratethe passion of Christ, and for those of the Western Rite Orthodoxy, that is today. A personal project of NewHeavenNewEarths president and founder, David Sunfellow, this website featuresa collection of Davids favorite Jesus stories, images, and songs. At age twelve, His parents found Him at the temple in Jerusalem, "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions" ( Luke 2:46 ). Since hes gone back to heaven we must by necessity touch him by faith. 36Alreadythe one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so thatsower and reapermay rejoice together. This act of friendship, this act of love should not be overlooked. Sinners dont experience the presence of God! It was about the sixth hour. 1. And above all, the Good Friday story is a remembrance that pain and suffering rarely has the final say; there is a resurrection nearby. Some of these encounters are just a mere sighting, to those who claim they have been taken to other planets and returned back to earth. Jesus clearly tells us not to judge others ( Matthew 7:1-2 ). 6Jacobs well was there; so Jesus,wearied as He was from His journey, was sitting beside the well. Sorry,Diane Ill make an audio, downloadable version so you could listen to it on the go! We are determined to stick together as one big HSM ministry. But when push came to shove, he denied Jesus, as Jesus had told him he would. When he found the empty tomb of Jesus, he went inside and saw clearly that it was empty (John 20:11-14). And in front of many witnesses too! Whatever it is, Jesus likes to surprise us and remind us that Hes got it under control. 20Our fathers worshiped onthis mountain, but you say thatin Jerusalem isthe place where people ought to worship.21Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me,the hour is coming whenneither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. Each interaction with another person will supply you with the prospect to speak to his or her situation in the name of Jesus Christ. | Exploring Doubts About the Exclusivity of Christ, When God Doesnt Give You What You Want | Exploring Doubts About Gods Goodness. It probably wouldnt have been normal for a strange man to be talking with her so casually. Jews and Gentiles were united in not liking them, but Jews wouldve seen them as dirty and unclean. We agreed that I would explore encounters that individuals had with Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John. Then, you progress from being the target for everybodys evil to being the weapon that God uses to expose and tear it down. I have written about some initial qualities of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Whatever it is, Jesus likes to surprise us and remind us that Hes got it under control. Our West can Fort Worth Campuses meet three weeks in homes and one large group gathering on Campus. One is the encounter with disaster when you lose everything, which I have experienced and was able to overcome. Since she knows Hes a Jew, she knows He believes Jerusalem is the place to worship. For one thing, its noon and shes probably not used to seeing anyone at the well. Do we find empathy for people when it is most difficult to do so? Those individuals are: Nathanael the skeptic, the Insider - Nicodemus and the Outcast . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Took him by the hand and raised him up, Feet, ankles made strong; jumped up, began walking, leaping and praising God. A person who just likes to know whats going on, and feels important because of it. Rather, the person has an individual encounter with Jesus in the person of the priest, which includes a confession of sin, an . Others have labored,and you have entered into their labor., 39Many Samaritansfrom that town believed in Himbecause ofthe womans testimony, He told me all that I ever did.40So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. 12Are you greater than our father Jacob? She tells them that He knew everything about her, Hes a prophet, and her enthusiasm for Him makes them want to meet Him themselves. I also enjoy that unlike major Christian holidays, even where there is a commercialization of Easter, you really cannot wholly take the crucifixion, death, and resurrection, and turn into something for secular consumption. In this story, Jesus walked into a crowd of sick and disabled people. Its forever etched into your memory. Peter and his brother Andrew had an encounter with Jesus, Matthew 4:18-20. Good Friday is the story that reminds humans that pain and suffering is not unique. There is no encounter with Jesus Christ where the doctrines of him are not taught and preached. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Jesus touched him, said, Be made clean! Sent to priest and directed to offer prescribed gift. However, even though Saul had an experience with Jesus the disciples in Jerusalem were still afraid of him. Seeing that Jesus Christ is not physically with us for he returned to heaven, then we must learn how to encounter him by interacting with his Holy Ghost. Jesus said to her,Give me a drink.8(For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. His reputation as a persecutor, and imprisoner of Christians preceded him. The Bible is full of jesus encounters with individuals and bible characters who had encounters with god, and he has been just as present throughout the years as he was during his time on earth. And I continued with whatever I was doing. They thought he was pretending so he could entrap and then imprison them. So shes coming up against a lot of unexpected things! The story begins with Jesus meeting a paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, who had been lying there for 38 years (John 5:1-9). Be sure to check out everything happening online. The story begins with Nathanael meeting Philip, a disciple of John the Baptist. I picked the Woman at the Well in John 4 because I think its maybe my favorite example of this. What condition in your body or life could God use to display his glory and power? Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. Shes now the one asking for a drink. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Have a question or concern? Most people wouldve come to the well in the morning or in the evening when the temperatures wouldve been cooler. Jesus encounters individuals in unique ways that will allow them to recognize him as the risen Lord. The Two Thieves Who Are Crucified Alongside Him: The two thieves represent two types of people one who knows he has done wrong and wants to be absolved from the consequences, and another who knows he has done wrong, and seeks forgiveness. So she asks Him to clear up the discrepancy between her peoples tradition and His. The heart of the issue is whats happening now those who worship God must do so in spirit and truth and the Messiah has arrived. Jesus challenges the religious leaders (Matthew 23:1-12) Jesus spoke about the . But I love that as soon as He explains it to her, shes all ineven though it seems she doesnt completely understand what Hes talking about. Do we follow the goodness of our heart regardless of the surroundings about us? Luke 7:36-50, 5. There have been plenty of times when Ive come to Him wanting Him to help me maybe deal with someone whos being annoying or frustrating to me. What results can we expect to see when a person is set free from Satan's power? Susie has contributed to several p More. Thats what He begins to do with the woman here. Of course Jesus reminds him that his power is not absolute and only limited to time and space. And we cannot forget the experience of the thief on the cross. Matthew 8:23 says that Jesus went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.. We need Johns in our life in order to survive, I think. I, for one, have always loved this time of year as far as the Christian/Catholic calendar goes. 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying,Rabbi, eat.32But He said to them,I have food to eat that you do not know about.33So the disciples said to one another,Has anyone brought Him something to eat?34Jesus said to them,My food isto do the will of Him who sent Me andto accomplish His work. Here are five cast-off groups that Jesus loved: 1. Your email address will not be published. An object for wickedness and evil. Nathanael was from Cana in Galilee and had heard about the miracles that Jesus was performing in Judea. John 9:1-38, This woman's affliction is so personal she doesn't want to approach Jesus directly. We do not know much about him in the Gospel recollections and perhaps that is also a notable thing. 3 weeks in Homes & 1 week at the FW Campus, 3 weeks in Homes & 1 week at the West Campus. Then a young man appeared at his side with clothes as white as snow and told him not to be afraid because Jesus wanted to reveal himself again (Luke 24:5-7). Shes also surprised because she knows that Hes a Jew and He should therefore hate her. How do you think the Samaritan woman feels when she hears that God is searching for people like her to worship him? But Jesus introduces her to this question. This week I had the opportunity to teach a lesson on a woman in the Bible who loved God. 1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making andbaptizing more disciples than John2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only His disciples),3He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. Sometimes others wont believe your account that you had seen the Lord until someone else speaks on your behalf. I might expect Him to guide me to a specific route He wants me to take in my life, but instead He reminds me to just seek Him first and everything else will follow. Simon, the Cyrene: Simon is one of the few men of courage in Jesuss passion. What He reveals to her is that the heart of this worship matter isnt necessarily the past and the traditions of these two people groups. Herod to me represents a busy-body and silent coward. Waited until patient dead 4 days, wept and went to tomb, asked the stone be removed, prayed, Lazarus come out. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Those individuals are: Nathanael the skeptic, the Insider - Nicodemus and the Outcast - the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha the Grieving Sisters, the disciples and town at the wedding party, Mary Magdalene, Satan and his temptations, Jesus at his Ascension, Jesus in the Garden, and Mary after the Angel's revelation. This is my favorite part of this story. While shes gone, Jesus takes the opportunity to remind His disciples that there are a lot of people out there ready to be harvested for salvation. In studying this more over the last couple weeks, I noticed some cool things that I thought Id share here also. Your email address will not be published. You can experience an encounter with God through Christ our Lord. Mark 5:1-20, How does Jesus see the blind man and his need? He is not only powerful enough to rescue us from every situation in life but also loves us enough that he would graciously make time for each person who calls out to him (Psalm 65:2). As nurses, these stories give us a healthy model for providing holistic care for our patients. They think everything will go smoothly. The heart of the issue is whats happening now those who worship God must do so in spirit and truth and the Messiah has arrived. So when we come to Him, we should learn to expect the unexpected! He was teaching them, but they didnt know it. The sisters are upset because their brother, Lazarus, has been dead for four days and theyve sent for Jesus to come heal himbut hes not so sure that he wants to go see his sick friend. Jesus asked questions in more than half of the conversations He had. In this story, Jesus visits his friends Martha and Mary in Bethany. People, I think, that tell us a lot about not only the story of the passion, and the incredible intensity of the mood and emotions; but I think encounters in Jesus passion is a story about humanity. Your speech will change. Do we find empathy in the stories of people who we do not know? Unable to stand, Jesus called to her that she was healed, then laid his hands on her. Read on to learn more. Apparent feelings of aloneness and helplessness, Jesus asked if he wanted to get well, ignored mans excuses; told him to stand, take up mat, walk. Recently, I wanted to remember someones name, but I couldnt. Where did the encounters take place? Examples: In 25 instances, it was the other party who started the discussion. Jesus-Encounters Turn Us into Beggars It's so easy to look back at those ancient church leaders and wag our heads in disgust, yet we may find that their unteachable hearts are not so far from our own. Your speech will change. Peter responds with a word that signifies deep affection but a weaker commitment than the love Jesus asks from him. So, I said, Holy Ghost, what is the name of that young man, who lived in Port Maria that I had Bible Studies with some twenty-five years ago?. All the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord, Man of faith with longterm disability; Peter took initiative, Became ill, died. However, you must ask Him. They believed her based on her testimony about Him, but then they encountered Him and believed even more. But it also appears to be one of his most frequent. Christ teaches us to forgive others as he forgives us ( Matt. Jesus told us not to judge other sinners. 9. We should be compelled by what Hes shown us and by the love Hes placed in our hearts to help other people meet Him and be changed by Him. How do you need to focus on being more like Me rather than trying to change this other person? Its stuff like that. The Word of God is real. So seeing anyone there at all is unexpected. He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.13Jesus said to her,Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14butwhoever drinks of the water that I will give himwill never be thirsty again. Novena Prayer To Velankanni Mother In Konkani, Prayer For A Friend Whose Mother Passed Away, Powerful Prayer For Healing Of The Teeth And Gums, Bible Quiz Questions And Answers From The Book Of Luke Pdf, Spiritual Meaning Of Eating Sugar Cane In The Dream, Thank You Letter To A Church For Financial Support, Spiritual Meaning of Someone Dying on Your Birthday, Spiritual Meaning Of Hearing Someone Call Your Name, Sample Introduction of A Pastor As Guest Speaker, Prayer For My Mother In Heaven On Her Birthday, Characteristics Of A Good Husband According To The Bible. Like most of us, the answers handed down to them didn't seem to work in the real world. Each issue highlights new, ready-to-download Bible studies at ChristianBibleStudies.com, and other tools to help you become a dynamic teacher of God's Word. His Books are available for purchase wherever books are sold. The Cross And Christian Distinctiveness (1 Peter 2:1-10). A personal project of NewHeavenNewEarth 's president and founder, David Sunfellow, this website features a collection of David's favorite Jesus stories, images, and songs. Since she knows Hes a Jew, she knows He believes Jerusalem is the place to worship. Facing Failure How do you feel when someone confronts you in front of others? What you have said is true.19The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive thatyou area prophet. These encounters often changed the life of the person involved, as well as those around them. Strangers and friends will desire to eliminate you because now you are calling on the name of Jesus Christ. Picture this the woman who just a few hours ago was going to the well in the middle of the day to avoid seeing people comes back into town running around, gathering up as many people as she can find. 6Jacobs well was there; so Jesus,wearied as He was from His journey, was sitting beside the well. We can't expect non-Christians to behave like Christians. The first is recorded in Luke 24:13-35 and briefly in Mark 16:12-13. and M.Th., Grace Theological Seminary) is senior pastor at Parkside Community Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. But we should remember that Hes kind and patient and He doesnt point out our sin without also being there to help us overcome it and change. This is an area that Jews wouldnt have been excited to stop in. Ananias instructed in a vision to go to Saul. This is not just talking about the Word of God and Scriptures and stuff. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Be sure to check out everything happening online. 41And many more believedbecause of His word.42They said to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves,and we know that this is indeedthe Saviorof the world.. Hes revealed her sin to her and shes understood that Hes a prophet. These people knew not Christ nor did they experience his presence and power. Most people don't believe .read more The apostle Peter was originally named Simon. She frequently teaches or speaks at women's Bible studies or events. Not surprising to Jesus were the questions Nicodemus posed, because Jesus' life on earth was one spent interacting with people. But He also doesnt say to Himself, I know shes got a lot of sin issues, but I dont want to offend her or go through the awkwardness of having a hard conversation, so Ill just ignore it. That wouldve been wrong as well! He could just immediately say to her, Well, lady, youre sexually immoral. When He comes,He will tell us all things.26Jesus said to her,I who speak to you am He.. Keller takes a chapter to explain the interactions of various individuals with Jesus and how they can challenge us. Painting by Yongsung Kim So its about noon and Jesus is tired so He takes a rest at Jacobs well. A true encounter with Jesus sends us out to tell others about Him. Note the Bible says all things. These, however, are additional features that every disciple of Jesus possesses. So use Him. Later, said not to sin anymore or worse things could happen, Healed, up and walking, going to the temple and apparently reformed, Born blind, financially destitute (beggar), Jesus put mud made with his saliva on patients eyes, told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam, Physically healed (able to see); believed, witnessed to family and others in community, Jesus initiated encounter; no faith indicated. He also told him not to sin anymore but if he did sin again then go ahead and sin no more so we know what happens when someone doesnt listen! 37For here the saying holds true,One sows and another reaps.38I sent you to reapthat for which you did not labor. Access them from the listing below, or from your favorite streaming service, or try asking your smart speaker to play the Christ Chapel Renovate Podcast.. If a close friend had abandoned you, how would you respond to this sort of less-than-total commitment later? He chooses the time and the place. Your personal encounters with Jesus will compel you to speak in his name. Saul on route to Damascus had an encounter with Jesus which changed his life from that point onwards. You will not decide where you will encounter the Lord because you will never know beforehand that you are going to meet him . And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out demonsand when evening had come, his disciples went down to the sea., Jesus told his disciples not only about his power over nature but also about their own lives: Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place privately; which means this wasnt just an exercise in intimidation by a charismatic leader who could command nature at will (though many would argue it was); it was also part of Jesus long-term goal for building up leadership within his church by giving responsibility for others lives back into their own hands again after years spent under oppressive regimes where people could expect nothing from anyone except being oppressed further until death took them away from this world forever.. 7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Your life will be routine until your first encounter with Jesus Christ. Having over 40 years experience with the Word! He reveals the gross parts of her immorality, but also shows that its not enough to make Him bail on her as He sticks around to keep talking with her. But mostly we need to learn how to be a John to the ones we love. 35Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? If you are not completely satisfied with the product you purchase, please. When he finally decides to go and see Lazarus thoughwellyou can imagine how that all went down: Jesus raised him from the dead! Veronica: Not from Gospel, but rather from oral history, Veronica is another beautiful person in the story of the passion. For one thing, its noon and shes probably not used to seeing anyone at the well. What happened in the conversation'. He did not need a special environment or control over the circumstances to discuss things of eternal significance. Now His disciples come back, surprised to see Jesus talking to a strange Samaritan woman, and she takes the opportunity to slip away. I must utilize a medium to share the Word of God thats in my heart. Recall Saul of Tarsus and his experience. For was it not Jesus who said, Have faith in God? And we will be lost for all eternity to enjoy torment with the Devil. I might expect Him to take certain sorrows or troubles out of my life, but He instead just tells me to trust Him and wait patiently. He tells her to bring her husband to the well, and she sees an opportunity to admit whats been going on with her. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied, (Acts 9:31). There is a great empathy we see here with these women who weep for him, who may or may not know him and yet mourn what is being done to him. What a change! As always, theres some hubbub from people who arent into what Jesus is doing and dont understand exactly whats happening, and this leads Him to move on for a bit. There they beheld God seated at his right hand. But I love that as soon as He explains it to her, shes all ineven though it seems she doesnt completely understand what Hes talking about. I might expect Him to guide me to a specific route He wants me to take in my life, but instead He reminds me to just seek Him first and everything else will follow. The Cross And Christian Distinctiveness (1 Peter 2:1-10), tax collectors and other sinners, invited to a party by Matthew (Matt. We should be compelled by what Hes shown us and by the love Hes placed in our hearts to help other people meet Him and be changed by Him. . Jesus responded to the initiatives of others. Peter was the one guy that seemed like he would ride or die for Jesus till the very end. Jesus is patient and reveals things to us when we need to hear them in ways that we can respond to. Meeting Jesus is also meeting the Word of God. When He comes,He will tell us all things.26Jesus said to her,I who speak to you am He.. Getting the Most Out of Encountering Jesus When we truly have an encounter with Jesus, Hell do this with us, too! Everyone in town knows that youve been sleeping with quite a few different guys over the last few years. If you have a Jesus story, image, or song that you would like to share, you can contact David at david.sunfellow@gmail.com. Now His disciples come back, surprised to see Jesus talking to a strange Samaritan woman, and she takes the opportunity to slip away. So when we come to Him, we should learn to expect the unexpected! Your encounter with Christ is not about you coming in contact with his presence. In this passage, two prophets and Moses appear with Jesus on the mount: Jesus taught in parables because the people were not able to understand the truth. Hes revealed her sin to her and shes understood that Hes a prophet. Similarly, Jesus cannot speak to you and you remain quiet. Based on the example of this woman, how can you demonstrate gratitude to Jesus for forgiving you? Hes not only interacting with her, but Hes asking her for water. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Its no wonder people started calling Jesus God after this miracle (assuming they had doubted before). Little do they know, theyre about to see a real-life example that this is true! This could happen when we hear another Believer preaching or teaching the Word of God or via Bible reading. Jesus has been an unexpected person in her life who revealed the sin she struggles with and cares about the heart of her issues. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3603cc9685a61611414a554cda82ffe" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I know in my own life when I come to Jesus, I usually have a lot of my own expectations. What you have said is true.19The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive thatyou area prophet. Find a way to simply ask Jesus to give you such an encounter. But instead of healing every individual, he approached just . Jesus told crowd this happened so they would believe, Rather shaky faith, mixed with anger and resentment toward Jesus, Congenital deformities of feet, ankles; unable to walk, carried by friends so he could beg. Approach anyone, even strangers. He seldom pressed for closure or a decision. Water for the Thirsty The gospels record some fascinating stories of Jesus' interaction with people. Here is a List Of Encounters With Jesus In The Bible: it is no secret to anyone that Christianity is a faith-filled belief. Jesus has been an unexpected person in her life who revealed the sin she struggles with and cares about the heart of her issues. Leprosy cleansed; man restored to community, told others about Jesus (against Jesus orders), Believed Jesus could heal, but no cause/effect noted by Jesus, Centurions servant Mt 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10, Paralysis and terrible distress; close to death, Peters mother-in- law Mt 8:14-15; Mk 1:30-31; Lk 4:38-39, Jesus touched (took) her hand and lifted her up, Fever gone. Overcome with sleep during Pauls long sermon, fell out the third floor window. We are here for you guys! Most Jews wouldnt have interacted at all with her because they wouldve thought it would make them unclean. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), 5. How do you need to focus on being more like Me rather than trying to change this other person? Its stuff like that. Shes now the one asking for a drink. I know thats happened to me. The pool had five porches around it and people would often sit on those porches waiting for an angel to come down from heaven and stir up the waters. To me, Pilate has always represented a certain kind of coward in society. He has been studying and teaching the Bible for more than forty years. We can learn much about how to handle that assignment by asking questions of the four narratives of Jesus' lifeMatthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Newell uses three foundational principles as a lens to examine these biblical cross-cultural encounters; namely, the Bible is a portrayer of cultures; a sculptor of cultures; and an appraiser of cultures (pp.