THE SECOND MIRACLE
In this 4th chapter of John, the Pharisees were trying to create a controversy between John and Jesus based on the number of baptisms each group was performing. Jesus was not involved, as He was not performing baptisms. Because of this Jesus left the area and decided to go to Galilee. On His way He stopped at Jacob’s well in Samaria, (Jacob dug this well and it was still functioning until that day. While He was resting a Samaritan woman came to draw some water from the well and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was quite surprised to hear Him speak to her, as the custom in those days was that Jews did not bother with Samaritans. She questioned Him about that and He replied, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” She missed the point entirely. The well produced water for quenching thirst, but the water Jesus referred to (His living Word) would provide eternal life to anyone who would ask. She then proceeded to ask Him for this water but I get the feeling she was thinking of physical water and not salvation at that point.
Jesus requested her to go back to town for her husband and return, and she said she didn’t have a husband. Jesus, of course knew that, but He was testing her and He told her that she had five husbands and the one she was living with was indeed not her husband. She did go back into town and told the people what occurred and they all went to see for themselves; out of curiosity I’m sure. Just prior to her leaving to go into town they were discussing worshipping and Jesus told her that the day was coming and actually was already here when people would worship anywhere and not necessarily in a place of worship, like the synagogue or temple. This was a prophetic statement of His resurrection and the creation of the church period, which we are still in to this present day. This period will end when Jesus returns. Jesus explained to the people that they didn’t know what or whom they were worshipping, whereas the Jews did know that worship was to be accomplished in the Temple. Please note that salvation at that time was through the Jewish faith only. He told her that God was Spirit and people must worship in Spirit and truth. She then said to Jesus that she was aware of the coming Messiah and Jesus told her flat out that He was the Messiah, verse 26, “I who speak to you am he.”
After she had left, the disciples wanted Jesus to eat something and He told them that He had more important matters to which He must attend; His Father’s will i.e., to save those in the world who would believe in Him. He was telling the disciples, metaphorically, that the world was ready for the ‘Good News’ of salvation and it was time to present the story to the world.
Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman’s word, however when they heard Jesus they realized they no longer needed to rely on her excitement; they saw and heard themselves.
Jesus finally made His way to Cana and had a visit from a royal official whose son was dying at his home. He wanted Jesus to accompany him to save His son. Jesus told Him to go home and he would find that his son was living, verse 50, “You may go, your son lives.” Indeed he got well at the instant Jesus told him that his son was alive. It was obvious that Jesus was a little perturbed with the man because he wanted to see a sign. Nonetheless Jesus saved his son because they believed. This was the second miracle Jesus performed.
The teaching in the first few verses demonstrates how man can use good and try to create divisions between friends, regarding the jealousy and rivalry the Jews were trying to create between John and Jesus. At the well we see a human side of Jesus because of His fatigue from travel. Verse 14 describes the permanency of the salvation Jesus gives us, providing of course, that one asks, “…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.” Verse 18 clearly teaches the omnipotence of God, when He told the woman she had 5 husbands; He knows everything about us, every detail of our lives and He still loves us and gave His life for us. This is truly amazing. Verses 21-24 teach the way of salvation before Christ was through the Jews, however a time was coming and actually was when salvation would be available to anyone, anywhere and at any time. Verse 34 is the mission of Jesus, to do the will of the Father. Verse 38 teaches our responsibility to preach the Word at any given moment under any kind of circumstance. Some of us will simply sow and some will reap, but we have one goal. We see the Lord healing when it is in His will for whatever purpose He has. Ours is not to question but to do.
The meaning to me is that I don’t always have to know why something is, why it happens and to whom, but I do know that I must always accept the fact that God is in complete control and knows every detail of my life and knows what is best for me
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