Taking Jesus at His Word - John 4:43-54

When I was growing up, my two sisters and I would often seal our promises with the words, "cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye." Though we said this many times and did not keep all the promises that the words were supposed to seal, I am glad to say that my sisters and I still have good eyesight and have not died. Such words are a testimony that we really struggle to take people at their word. We are jaded by broken promises and unfulfilled expectations.

As we think about the promises of God and the trustworthiness of His word we are confronted by the same issues of trust. We want a something tangible that will assure us that God is true to His word. This issues is present in John 4:43-54 as Jesus leaves the Samaritan city in which revival broke out through His encounter with the woman at the well. Here we see a certain nobleman for the palace of Herod seeking the help of Jesus because his son was dying. As this man requested that Jesus come personally and heal his son, Jesus says something that at first glance appears harsh and rude, when is says they would not believe unless they see a sign. I don't believe the man cared much for what other people needed or what Jesus was trying to get teach. He simply wanted his son to live.

Jesus, instead of physically going to heal the man's son, simply stated that the boy would be well and the man would have to make a days journey with no sign at all or the comfort of having Jesus directly with him. He needed to take Jesus at His word. By doing so he is an example of what means to have to trust Jesus when all we have is a promise. With the remainder of this post, I hope to encourage you to take Jesus at His word.

If we are going to do this, we need to believe in the power of His word as described in Hebrews 1:3 as the author states, "3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” The word of Jesus is sustaining our very lives. If your life seems out of control perhaps you have been attempting to sustain it on your own.
 

To take Jesus at His word is also important because of its authority: John 12:47b-48 In John 12:47-48 we read, "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my word; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." Here Jesus point out the fact that His word is the authority by which people will be judged. Jesus came save and He does so as we put out trust in Him. I believe that Jesus is speaking directly to His word as His promises to save and declarations of His identity as our redeemer.

It may also be said that by taking Jesus Because moves our faith from partial to mature. Notice in our main text that when the man requested that Jesus come with Him to heal is son, he was displaying a basic faith in the fact that Jesus was a healer. By the end of the text, he and his household believe in the person of Jesus not just His ability to heal. This is a sign of maturing faith.

         

 

If we are to experience the growth in faith that comes from taking Jesus at His word we must act on His word prior to seeing any evidence or reason to do so. It may appear as though I am promoting blind faith, but I am not. Jesus has already done enough to call us to this challenge. He lived in perfect character and wisdom as well as returning from the dead. Now it is our turn to move. As we do, our faith will become settled in our souls and others will come to faith as well.    

Approaching God

I did not come to God on my own terms and neither can I bring others to him on my or their own terms. I must come to Him on His terms and in His prescribed method. I can see this as harsh and restrictive, or I can see this as being humble, respectful, and honoring.

We have all have made the mistake of being flippant or fearful when approaching God and do the same when bringing people to Him. It seems that we swing back and forth from flippancy to fear and sermons can be heard on both extremes. These extremes are the cause of many staying away from God altogether.  The narrative commonly known as, "The Woman at the Well", in John chapter 4 helps us understand how Jesus defined the appropriate approach to God. As you read the narrative please keep in mind the the manner in which God called His people to approach Him was temporary. The Old Testament method of worship was to prepare a people to be used of God to bring about the Messiah. Once Jesus came, the whole method of approach changed because it was fulfilled in Him. 

The Jews of Jesus day that rejected Him as Messiah would never had recognized this change and neither would the Samaritans who were rejected by the Jews because of their mixed racial heritage. Thus when Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman, He is defining our approach to God.

1. Jesus defines who can be accepted by God.

In Jesus day Samaritans where told that they were not welcome in Jerusalem and thus could not approach God in the Temple. They were a rejected people but Jesus explained that Jerusalem nor the temple were the means by which to approach God. He explained that all who would worship Him in spirit and truth were welcome and that God was searching for such worshipers. This clears up the notion of geographic location or national heritage keeps people from approaching God. 

We can also notice here how Jesus invites all to approach God. First, by offering His Spirit which is the only way in which we can come to God. He then reveals the truth about our personal sin which fulfills the promises of God that the Messiah will reveal all things. Lastly Jesus invites us to approach God by revealing that He Himself is the fulfillment of the all of the promises of God. 

 

2.   Jesus defines what it means to approach God in worship. 

Here Jesus disposes the woman's excuse for not worshiping God and continuing to live in a sinful life-style. He speaks of approaching God in spirit and truth. By saying that we are to worship God in spirit, Jesus is explaining that there are not geographic or physical boundaries that would keep us from worship. Again I remind you that the Old Testament method for worship was to form a distinct nation that would then open the door for all to come to God in spirit and truth through the Messiah Jesus. Worship is not concerned with externals, but the inner person is the place of worship. 

When Jesus speaks of worshiping God in truth, He is clearing up all the misconceptions based upon the traditions of men based upon a wrong understanding of the commands of God. Each generation of Christians from the first century forward had its hang up concerning style and methodology. May we ever mistake these for worshiping in truth. 

3. Jesus defines what it means to bring people into relationship with Him.

As the disciples returned from their trip to purchase food, they encountered Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman. To their surprise many of that city would begin to follow Jesus based upon the witness of the woman but more importantly their own encounter with Jesus. This teaching us that our witness can only go so far in bringing people into relationship with Jesus. We can make them curious, but only Jesus can truly convince people to follow Him. 

In conclusion, I wish to give you thought to consider. Consider your own misconceptions on approaching God and bringing people to Him. We must cast off the arrogance that demands God to accept any approach. Many say that it is arrogant for the Christian to believe that Jesus is the only way to God. I believe that it is not arrogant at all because it simply means that we have humbled ourselves to the point of coming to Him as we has called us. We cannot approach God however we deem appropriate. 

 

   

The Worst Advice in the World

Each year is filled with messages. Emails, texts, instant messages, phone calls, Facebook posts, instagrahams, and tweets ring of the same advice. At times this advice is nearly impossible to ignore. The advice that I am referring to is, "follow your heart". How you choose to respond to this advice will determine the course and quality of your life. Why is this the worst advice in the world? To begin understanding this question read the passage below.

Read 1 John 3:19-23 (ESV)

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

Based upon this passage I would suggest ignoring the worst advice in the world by listening to God, not your heart. When the Bible refers to your heart it speaks about your thoughts, emotions and desires. Please consider the following reasons why I am suggesting this. 

1.   Our hearts need reassurance that we are in the truth. V. 19

2.   Our hearts will condemn us. V.20

3.   God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything. V.20

4.   An uncondemned heart has confidence before God. V.21

5.   Confidence before God is lived out by keeping His commandments of believing in Jesus and loving others. V.22-23

You may find it very difficult to reject the worst advice in the world because of your heart's power to hinder you with condemnation. What you need to understand is that you can always get up again. Consider Proverbs 24:16, "for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity." I want to highlight the fact that this verse speaks of the righteous fall completely. Our heart tell us that if we fall then we must not really be a Christian. The truth is, the righteous fall. In fact people who do well in life are those who know how to get up even when their hearts condemn them. Also consider the following two verses from the New Testament. 

Romans 5:19 ESV 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

1 Peter 3:18 ESV 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

After reading this I prayerfully home that you agree that we cannot follow or give the worst advice in all humanity.