Hi
So there I was reading John 3 & 4, and these two statements caught my attention. And these two frames the reflection on today’s Holy Nougat
Enjoy
“This man came to him at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one is able to perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him.”” John 3:2 LEB
““Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.” John 4:19 NLT
Firstly
I noted that the seeker’s question was phrased as a statement. Neither the woman nor Nicodemus asked what was directly on their mind.
Yet, Hebrews 4:16 invites us to BOLDLY approach God’s throne … what a difference Christ’s resurrection makes!!! (and perhaps the impact of time upon culture)
Moreover,
It was clear that they perceived Jesus differently. Nicodemus pegged Jesus as a teacher, not a prophet. Why? Granted, that’s exactly Who Jesus was and some; but why perceive Him as a teacher – could it be that part of our initial understanding of Jesus is framed from our own Life experiences? Nothing is wrong with that for a starting point. Our relationship with God MUST begin somewhere.
The Sychar Woman’s experience with Jesus began with him being different from most Jews she knew then expanded to recognizing that He Knew her even more intimately than those who had wed and bed her over time. She experienced the fullness of Jesus’ prophetic nature.
Yet,
she rightly perceived there was more to Jesus than mere prophecy. Rather than cloud her curiosity with ‘facts’, she allowed Him to reveal Himself to her spirit.
“The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”” (v. 25) Should we continue on the trajectory that the way of speaking implies a question; one surmises that she may have been asking of Jesus, ‘Are you the Christ?’
So here’s the reflection and challenge all rolled into one
We have been Told that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. What did our initial meeting with Jesus reveal about His nature?
Did we stop to probe His depth and know Him for ourselves?
Let’s allow nothing – not intellect nor ignorance; social rejection nor (social) acceptance; neither friend, family nor foe to prevent us from experiencing God’s true nature for ourselves!
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
