John 4:22-26
Jesus continues to answer the Samaritan woman’s question about where to worship.
Notice, He didn’t deny that they did indeed worship God—only that they didn’t really know the One they worshiped. Aren’t we like that sometimes? We know about Him, but do we really know Him? In fact, Jesus references a whole group of people who, on judgment day, will claim to have done all kinds of things for Him, yet they missed the most important aspect of knowing Him—keeping His commandments. Matthew 7:21–23 records:
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” —Matthew 7:21–23 NLT
Knowing God implies that we not only worship Him in spirit, but that we worship Him in truth. As Jesus once said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” His Word is truth, and to walk in truth, we must keep His commandments.
Notice as well that Jesus states salvation comes through the Jews—not from the Jews—through the Jews. That is an important distinction. God chose the Jewish people through whom He would reveal His Messiah. It is often said that to understand Jesus’ messages more clearly, one must have an understanding of Jewish culture, for God chose to reveal Himself through it. Many of Jesus’ parables and teachings contain references to Jewish cultural practices and traditions.
As the Samaritan woman processes all of this information, she makes a statement showing that the Samaritans, too, were awaiting the coming of the Messiah—one who would explain these things to them. Then Jesus drops this bomb: “I AM the Messiah!” This was one of the few times He stated this so plainly in the first person. Most of the time, He referred to Himself in the third person. I imagine you could have heard a pin drop after that.
Leave it to the disciples to interrupt this life-changing conversation—as we shall see tomorrow (unless you want to keep reading now in your Bible ?).
Notice, He didn’t deny that they did indeed worship God—only that they didn’t really know the One they worshiped. Aren’t we like that sometimes? We know about Him, but do we really know Him? In fact, Jesus references a whole group of people who, on judgment day, will claim to have done all kinds of things for Him, yet they missed the most important aspect of knowing Him—keeping His commandments. Matthew 7:21–23 records:
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” —Matthew 7:21–23 NLT
Knowing God implies that we not only worship Him in spirit, but that we worship Him in truth. As Jesus once said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” His Word is truth, and to walk in truth, we must keep His commandments.
Notice as well that Jesus states salvation comes through the Jews—not from the Jews—through the Jews. That is an important distinction. God chose the Jewish people through whom He would reveal His Messiah. It is often said that to understand Jesus’ messages more clearly, one must have an understanding of Jewish culture, for God chose to reveal Himself through it. Many of Jesus’ parables and teachings contain references to Jewish cultural practices and traditions.
As the Samaritan woman processes all of this information, she makes a statement showing that the Samaritans, too, were awaiting the coming of the Messiah—one who would explain these things to them. Then Jesus drops this bomb: “I AM the Messiah!” This was one of the few times He stated this so plainly in the first person. Most of the time, He referred to Himself in the third person. I imagine you could have heard a pin drop after that.
Leave it to the disciples to interrupt this life-changing conversation—as we shall see tomorrow (unless you want to keep reading now in your Bible ?).
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