The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study.The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Monday, 11 April 2016 - "An imperative rest stop for Jesus"
Daily Scripture: John 4:1 When Yeshua learned that the P’rushim had heard he was making and immersing more talmidim than Yochanan 2 (although it was not Yeshua himself who immersed but his talmidim), 3 Yeshua left Y’hudah and set out again for the Galil. 4 This meant that he had to pass through Shomron.
5 He came to a town in Shomron called Sh’khem, near the field Ya‘akov had given to his son Yosef. 6 Ya‘akov’s Well was there; so Yeshua, exhausted from his travel, sat down by the well; it was about noon.
Reflection Questions:As we learned during our Lenten study of John’s gospel, John showed Jesus back and forth between Jerusalem and Galilee more often than Matthew, Mark or Luke. The central story we’ll read this week began as Jesus went from Jerusalem in southern Israel to Galilee (the north). Most Jews in his day bypassed the region of Samaria, between Judea and Galilee. Not Jesus. He went through Samaria by design (he "had to go"—verse 4), and reached Jacob's well at noon.
- John said Jesus “had to go” through Samaria. Pastor Roger Frederickson wrote, “He did not need to save the three days He could gain by passing through this ill-regarded province rather than crossing the river and going up the eastern desert route….the Father had sent Him into the whole world—not just part of it.”1 Does God’s love still call us to go to places that human divisions tell us to avoid? How can you break down barriers between you and other people in your day-to-day life?
- Historic Christian faith has always said Jesus was fully divine and fully human. This story showed that: “Jesus was tired from his journey” (verse 6). Hebrews 2:17-18 said Jesus “had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way….He’s able to help those who are being tempted, since he himself experienced suffering when he was tempted.” In what parts of your life journey are you tired today? Share your tiredness with Jesus in prayer. He understands, and can help and strengthen you.
Lord Jesus, you needed to rest. Often I do, too, emotionally and spiritually as well as physically. I’m so thankful your steadfast love never rests, but is always there to support me. Amen.
1 Roger L. Frederickson, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 27: John (Lloyd John Ogilvie, general editor). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1985, p. 94.Insights from Donna Karlen
Donna Karlen serves in Communications at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
Until I read today’s GPS reflection points, I thought the sentence “Jesushad to go through Samaria” meant that this route was the best way for Jesus to get to Galilee. Jesus certainly didn’t have access to all the transportation options we do today, so I figured this was just the standard route for people traveling from Judea to Galilee. But as the GPS points out, another way would have allowed Jesus to avoid Samaria – something most Jews preferred to do.
So it was no accident that Jesus stopped at Jacob’s well to rest – he had to go there because he was meant to encounter a woman there. The scripture passages sharing the story of Jesus restoring and redeeming the woman at the well are in the GPS readings for other days this week, so I won’t go there today. But not only was it not an accident when Jesus met this woman at a well (Pastor Adam called it a “divine appointment” in his message last weekend), but that it happened at Jacob’s well is especially meaningful. The story of Jacob’s son Joseph, found in Genesis in the Old Testament, is an amazing story of restoration and redemption.
Briefly, Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and sold their little brother into slavery. Joseph endured some really rough times as he grew into a man, but eventually he rose to power, and Pharaoh “set him over all the land of Egypt.” As such, Joseph did many good things.
Joseph’s father thought he was dead and his brothers didn’t know what became of him, but when a famine came upon their homeland, father Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized his brothers. From his exalted position, he could have them thrown into prison or even put to death. Instead he says to them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Instead of condemning his brothers for the evil they had done him, he fed them and restored them. He “comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” He gave them a second chance.
At Jacob’s well – “in the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph” – Jesus is about to comfort and speak kindly to one who desperately needs a second chance. And given the events of her life, she needed third, fourth, fifth… chances. And our God – blessed restorer and redeemer – gives us those chances.
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Until I read today’s GPS reflection points, I thought the sentence “Jesushad to go through Samaria” meant that this route was the best way for Jesus to get to Galilee. Jesus certainly didn’t have access to all the transportation options we do today, so I figured this was just the standard route for people traveling from Judea to Galilee. But as the GPS points out, another way would have allowed Jesus to avoid Samaria – something most Jews preferred to do.
So it was no accident that Jesus stopped at Jacob’s well to rest – he had to go there because he was meant to encounter a woman there. The scripture passages sharing the story of Jesus restoring and redeeming the woman at the well are in the GPS readings for other days this week, so I won’t go there today. But not only was it not an accident when Jesus met this woman at a well (Pastor Adam called it a “divine appointment” in his message last weekend), but that it happened at Jacob’s well is especially meaningful. The story of Jacob’s son Joseph, found in Genesis in the Old Testament, is an amazing story of restoration and redemption.
Briefly, Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and sold their little brother into slavery. Joseph endured some really rough times as he grew into a man, but eventually he rose to power, and Pharaoh “set him over all the land of Egypt.” As such, Joseph did many good things.
Joseph’s father thought he was dead and his brothers didn’t know what became of him, but when a famine came upon their homeland, father Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized his brothers. From his exalted position, he could have them thrown into prison or even put to death. Instead he says to them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Instead of condemning his brothers for the evil they had done him, he fed them and restored them. He “comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” He gave them a second chance.
At Jacob’s well – “in the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph” – Jesus is about to comfort and speak kindly to one who desperately needs a second chance. And given the events of her life, she needed third, fourth, fifth… chances. And our God – blessed restorer and redeemer – gives us those chances.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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