John 4:43-54: The second sign: Jesus has power over disease

Analysis

Jesus has arrived in Galilee after traveling from the Passover through Samaria and arrived back in Cana where he did his first miracle. The synoptic gospels record that Jesus (Luke 4:29-30; Matt 13:53-58) was driven out of his home town of Nazareth in Galilee shortly after returning from the wilderness when he was starting his ministry.

In the testimony given by John the Apostle, the tables have turned and the people of Galilee welcome him with open arms now that he returns to the town. It is obvious that his fame and word of his teachings and miracles spread throughout the land after the Passover. It is akin to a trouble maker who leaves his hometown and becomes famous somewhere else. Upon his return to the hometown, he is of celebrity status in the eyes of the townsfolk and they welcome him home.

This was good news to an official (officer of the court or the like) living in Capernaum because he had a son that was on the point of dying. From the narration, he believed three things after his encounter with Jesus:

• Jesus can do miracles and might heal his son;
• He believed Jesus did indeed heal his son when Jesus said so; and
• Him and his household believed Jesus to be who he says he is.

The progression from “somebody told him that Jesus can heal” to complete belief in Jesus (v53 “And he himself believed”) is apparent here. Jesus rebukes the man (and the people of the town) first concerning his (their) unbelief (or partial faith) before making that faith whole through the miracle.

It is also interesting that John uses the phrase in v54 “…the second sign Jesus did…” when describing the miracle even though Jesus has, according the synoptic gospels, done many miracles before this. John is making a case for the deity of Jesus. The first sign Jesus did (according to John) was to show how he had power over nature. Here, Jesus shows that he has power over disease.

My Response

Jesus came to save the lost from their sin and not to provide in earthly goods (e.g. health and wealth) and it is through our faith in Jesus that we are saved. During Jesus’ ministry he was given the power to back up his claim that he was God and the healed people of their diseases and demons.

In today’s day and age we have the proof through the bible that Jesus was who he says he is and we are saved through our belief in him.

Jesus has the power over all creation (as there is not one thing he did not create) and we are seeing this power through the eyes of John.

John 4:27-42: Sowing the Word to the world

Analysis

The whole account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman is one of the most beautiful stories of evangelism and conversion in the scriptures in my humble opinion.

Jesus has shown the woman her need to be freed from her sin and her need for the saviour and she believed (v7 – v26). At that time two things happened, the disciples returned from the town where they went to buy food and the woman left the well to spread the message of the arrival of the saviour to the town’s folk (v27, v28).

It would seem that the disciples by now has learned that Jesus’ reasons for doing things a certain (or peculiar) way might not be easy to understand or might seem completely out of sync with tradition but that there was a very good reason for what he did or said. Thus they did not question Him about speaking to the woman but rather urged him to regain his strength. Their concern was greater for him than for the cultural faux pass they just observed. Here Jesus uses the opportunity to explain with the metaphor of the harvest what has transpired with the Samaritan woman (v34 – v38). They (disciples) might still be in training but there are many people to reach with the Word and the people available to do it are few. It is important that they do not give up preaching the gospel, even if it does not seem like it bears fruit. The groundwork done might allow someone else (in God’s time) to bring that soul to salvation.

Not long after saying these words to his disciples the woman returned with the harvest of the town’s people to whom she proclaimed Jesus to. She was the labourer that brought the harvest to the sower (Jesus) and the reaper (God).

And they believed because of the woman that brought them to Jesus and they believed in Jesus and his words.

What is your response ?

Jesus purely preached the Word of truth that he was the Messiah and saviour of the world. He did not (in this instance) use miracles or anything else to convince people of their need for a saviour. For the word of the cross is the power of God to those who are being saved (1 Cor 1:18)

Jesus also perfectly showed that the gospel is for everyone; Gentile, Jew or even Samaritan. It is our job to do as Jesus did and bring the word of salvation to everyone.

John 4:1-26: Evangelism 101

Analysis
Our Lord and saviour has angered the Pharisees and their ilk to a point where he needs to avoid them. Within the context of Jewish culture, travelling through Samaria could very well be considered an extreme attempt at avoidance according to the Jews as pointed out in v9 “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” The Jews believed that you could become contaminated (unclean) from even travelling through Samaritan territory.

Jesus breaks down the barriers of tradition and culture by first travelling through Samaritan territory, speaking with a Samaritan and the fact that it is a woman he is speaking to.

Notice what Jesus does not do; he doesn’t try to explain himself to the woman why he is talking to a Samaritan woman; neither does he try to argue theology or history. Instead He tells her that the Messiah is going to do something great and wonderful for her: Jesus tells her that he can supply her with living water instead of the perishable water she is seeking at the well (v10). The Greek word ζάω (living) could metaphorically mean quick water or running water. Jesus is offering a stream or waterfall of water instead of stagnant well water. This fuels the Samaritan’s interests. However, it would appear as if the woman still does not understand completely as she is still looking for real water. Here Jesus teaches her (and us) the way of salvation:

• Repentance. He makes the woman realise her sin and need for it to be taken away and forgiven (v18).
• Faith (or belief): The woman believes that the Messiah is to come (v25) but clearly does not know how this is going to work or the fact that his time is now (“…when he is come, he will declare unto us all things”).

Jesus tells this woman that she has sin and that it needs to be dealt with. There is also a rift between her and the one who can supply eternal living water and the Messiah has come to deal with this rift. The messiah is here to take away her sin and pay the price so that all people can worship together in his wonderful name.