Jesus is so very kind
The fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… This is Jesus, who is also purposeful and generous
During his earthly ministry, Jesus traveled from Judea to
Galilee by the shorter route. Jews avoided this road because they would pass
through Samaritan towns, where residents of mixed descent lived. The Jews
despised them.
By midday Jesus, under the scorching sun, grew thirsty, and he rested
in Sychar at Jacob’s well while the disciples went into town to buy food. A lonely woman arrived to fill her water pots during the hottest hours of the day, avoiding local gossip. Jesus seized the opportunity to befriend her.
“Will you give me a drink?”
“How can you ask me when Jews don’t associate with Samaritans?”
“If you knew about God’s gift, and
who asks you for water, you’d have asked him and he would have given you living
water.”
“You have nothing to draw water from
this deep well. Where will you find living water? Are you greater than our father,
Jacob?”
“This well will never satisfy you,
but the water I give you will become a spring of living water overflowing with
eternal life.”
“That’s amazing! Give me this water!”
“Go, call your husband.”
“I don’t have a husband.”
“What you say is true. Five men have
married you, and currently, you dwell with another.”
“Sir, you must be a prophet. Our fathers
worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim we should worship in Jerusalem.”
“Salvation comes from the Jews. One
day, people will worship the Father in spirit and in truth because the Father
seeks sincere, truth filled worshippers.”
“I know the Messiah will come, and
he will explain everything to us.”
“I am the Messiah!”
Astonished, the woman walked back into town, the
dust of the road rising around her worn sandals. Her heart pounded with a
strange mixture of awe and excitement. She approached the town square, bursting
to tell everyone she’d met the Messiah, whose words resonated deep within
her soul. He had revealed every secret thought and deed she’d ever harboured. Her
testimony was so convincing that they believed in Jesus and invited him to stay
with them, a Jew among Samaritans.
So, what do we glean from this amazing encounter?
Jesus set aside his thirst to relieve
this Samaritan woman’s broken heart because her suffering touched him. Despised
by Jews and neighbours alike, he befriended her whilst exposing her chequered
history without condemnation. Sinful, she realized the coming Messiah could
help her, and yet when would their paths cross? None of her husbands had met
her innermost needs or eased the pain of rejection. Could this man be the
Messiah?
He proved his identity by his love
and kindness. He gave her living water, sweetened with love, truth,
forgiveness, and eternal life. Although it’s unlikely that she quenched his
thirst, he relieved the spiritual thirst of a woman whose reputation was in
tatters. God loved her, and after she received this living water, her community
embraced her. She had been transformed. Meanwhile, Jesus drew strength from his
heavenly Father. And whatever Jesus asks of us, he replaces in abundance
because he has unlimited resources to lavish on us. She received his gift and shared it because
it overflowed into a living spring of eternal life within her spirit.
Jesus understood her rejection because he also suffered regular attacks from
the Jewish leaders and Pharisees. His friendliness cut through cultural prejudice and caught her attention. As God’s Son, he had the right to condemn her sin, but instead, he offered her forgiveness and hope.
His kindness extended to Calvary. But when the kindness and love of God our
Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us
through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom
he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so
that, having been justified by his grace, we might become
heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7.
If you have been washed in his blood, pause for a moment and
thank him. Our good deeds never outweigh our evil ones, but his righteous act
of sacrificial kindness has paid for all our sins.
If you think you are too far from God for him to reach you,
please consider the Samaritan woman. She never expected to meet the long-promised
Messiah, but he sought and found her, a divine appointment. He loves you, and he is near to you. He
will hear your simple prayer and meet you where you are right now. If you’ve suffered rejection, Jesus will accept you. Just ask him. If you imagine you’re too unworthy
for his love, remember he died for you and wants to forgive you. You will receive forgiveness, his loving presence and the power
to serve him when you place your life in his hands.
Perhaps you've been persecuted because you have taken a stand for Jesus. He knows about your
suffering and will walk with you through pain and isolation. My prayers are
with the persecuted, with those who suffer for Jesus’ sake. Your reward will be
abundant, and your eternal future is bright. As we wait for our eternal transformation, let's drink from streams of living
water every day. We will never thirst for love, comfort, and acceptance ever
again because Jesus will supply our every need.
The Garden of Life
Let streams of living water through the garden of your life,
The mountain stream of heaven bubbles with joy,
The light of Jesus will shine on your path,
You'll see vast beauty in his care.
Sweet roses of love where soft dewdrops fall,
Velvet and red in the crisp morning air,
A tree of life with roots deep and wide,
Will bring lasting peace to your soul.
When evil grows in your garden of life,
Let Jesus dig it out with loving care.
Then grow in his grace and share it all around,
For you've found his forgiveness right there.
So feed on his word, let it fill you with strength,
Let nothing snatch the seeds that he sows,
While you grow the way he wants you to be:
A tree yielding fruits of his love.
Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you
rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28.
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