AND HE HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA.
Greetings.Welcome.Let us continue to study the words of life,as we can see that the Day is drawing nigh.
When our Lord Jesus came on earth,his greatest aim was first to minister to the Jews ,then he would to the rest of the nations(Gentiles).For this reason,he would put a little more difficulty in the way of the Gentiles who followed him seeking to be healed.He told them openly that he had not been sent to them but rather to the lost sheep of Israel.(Read Matthew 15:22-28).
On a certain occasion, Jesus sent out his disciples to go and preach,but charged them with these instructions:not to go to among the Gentiles or any town of the Samaritans (who were living in Israel at that time.)Rather,they were to go and preach to the Jews only.
Matthew 10:5-6;
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
As we said in the beginning,Jesus had planned to go and deal with the Jews first.However,his schedule was interrupted at some point.Hence,he had to accomplish his objective of preaching to the people of the nations for a certain period of time,so that they could believe and be saved.
John 4:3-7;
“He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
AND HE MUST NEEDS GO THROUGH SAMARIA.
Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”
Contemplating on verse 4 of the scripture above,it is that the Lord Jesus did not intend to say anything in Samaria.His thoughts were set on going to Galilee to preach the Jews.But Samaria was a crossroads to Galilee,and there was no other way.Therefore,he had to pass through Samaria.
When he got there,the Bible says that Jesus was very exhausted.But should he just sleep?All because he was not sent to them?Or should he just sit and rest while he watched the souls of infidels perish?It is true that as tired as Jesus was, even if it were me,I would sleep off.Given I have not been sent to a certain people,why would I bother myself doing something I’m not instructed to do?
On the contrary, the Lord did not mind the fact that he was tired and needed to rest.He did not even eat anything.Instead,he began to teach the Gentiles.He got started with the sinful woman at the well.This did not amaze only the Samaritan woman but also his disciples,when they returned and saw him preaching to the non-Jews,save for the fact that it was a woman.Something he had told them not to do in the past.
John 4:9-10;
“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
What does God want us to learn from this? For you to reach your destined Galilee in life,you no other way but to pass through Samaria.Perhaps,you have a vision to go and preach the gospel both in towns and villages.Such aspirations are great.But as a student, it appears like you’re not moving to your desired destiny in that environment you are in currently.It looks as if your purpose is not getting to fulfilment.Don’t worry.God has allowed that situation over your life for a good reason.He has placed you where you are now.He wants you to use that opportunity to teach and preach to the people in your world.Share the message of salvation with your fellow students at school.It is one way of making Christ known.You need to pass through Samaria for you to get to your Galilee that God has shown you or you have planned.
As a working Christian,it may appear to you as if that vision to serve God is not going to be fulfilled.You do not get free time off from work to do God’s work.But don’t forget that your workmates and all those around your world also need to know Jesus.Just begin where you are.Jesus didn’t let the fact he was to go and preach to the Jews first keep him from preaching to the Gentiles.He knew that he was just passing through Samaria.He witnessed to them the good news of salvation,whereupon many of them believed, and even wanted to make their king;but he refused.
Today,many Christians don’t realize why God has put them where they are now.They keep on waiting for the right time so that they can begin to serve God.They look at their present situation and start giving excuses like:”Wait,let me first get from this place or finish this or that, and I will then begin to work for the Lord.”They do not know reason why God put them in that environment or why he takes them through certain circumstances.God has put that opportunity in your path and expects you to use it to preach Christ.
The Bible tells us to be ready in season and out of season.
2 Timothy 4:2;
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Moreover,the Lord Jesus told us to learn from him(Matthew 11:29.)This is one teaching in which we need to imitate Christ,so that we can become people who bear fruit for him regardless of our present situation or circumstances we are going through.Let us not wait until we reach our Galilee first for us to begin doing God’s work.Begin in that humble state.He will then turn the small beginnings into great opportunities for us to serve him our best.
Shalom.
Please share this message with others.
+255693036618/+255789001312.