The Name That Is above Every Other Name!

11.  The Name That is above Every Other Name!

John 4:28,29  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,  29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

On a relaxing Friday afternoon, I drove home with my daughter to Maryland taking the Washington Beltway I 95. We were chatting cordially as I prepared to change lanes toward the right, anticipating that my exit was only about a couple of miles ahead. Somewhere during the day, for whatever reason I don't presently recall, I longed for a demonstration of God's love for me. It could have been merely a longing more than a prayer, a yielding to self-pity, but Father does take His children seriously. As I got ready to move over to the lane next to the far right,  I was suddenly cut off by a vehicle which dashed right in front of my car into my lane. I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the car. My car, a front wheel drive, went into a crazy spin, hither, thither, and yon, about 360 degrees, eventually ending up perpendicular to the traffic.
      Realizing that I would fast become pancaked with my daughter, as my car headed toward the guard rail on the right, I thought--DEATH!  I screamed out his name: JESUS!!! Instantly every vehicle came to a stop, including mine. No one hit anyone. That shouldn't have happened. The incident should have made "Breaking News" on the television network. The Beltway was full of cars, and the fatalities should have been more than us two.
     My car stalled and won't restart as I frantically tried to get my thoughts together as to how to exit over two lanes to the far right. I watched thankfully as two men left their cars parked in that lane and walked toward my car, presumably to either push my car out of traffic, or help me start it; however, before they got to my car, it restarted enabling me to drive over to the ramp. Bless them, Lord, whoever they were.
     Just like the Sychar woman, my head knowledge of the Messiah's power became a heart knowledge. Jesus performed for me what no other man could do. But more important to me was the lesson that I must be careful not to frame my doubt as a challenge with God. It was the prophet David who wrote, "Consider how I love Thy precepts: quicken  me, O Lord, according to thy loving kindness." Perhaps he was feeling like a behinder, as I felt that day. When we are in turmoil, let us be careful not to challenge God, but to frame our prayers, longings and desires as a vote of confidence in our Lord, like David, and like the Sychar woman also. I must always remember that he is sovereign. His name is above every other name. God does not need to prove to us that he is God or good.

Father, I repent of my mistrust and limitation of You. Thanks for Your unfailing love.

10. Four Types of Believers

John 4: 36, 39, and 48   And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
     And many of the Samaritans of the city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, he told me all that ever I did.
     Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

There are three types of believers highlighted in this chapter. The first set are believers who hear the message from a secondary, but authentic source--an eyewitness, or a creditable reference. The Sychar city dwellers heard the woman's testimony. Either their personal knowledge or their experience with her was enough to create faith in them to believe. Never underestimate the power of a personal testimony!

     The second group consisted of scientific believers. These needed to have primary experience; they needed hard evidence. They must see and hear Jesus for themselves. So when the Sychar woman gave them her testimony, they requested a personal interview with Jesus. That interview turned into a two-day revival service at the end of which they said to her: "Now we believe, not because of they saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.

     The third type of believers is the superstitious kind who need a demonstration of signs and wonders. The nobleman represented this set. His son was practically dying, but Jesus' word was not good enough for him. He wanted the Lord to make a personal visit to his house. Jesus had performed the turning water into wine miracle in the area; still that was not enough. But Jesus would not yield to the nobleman's lack of faith. After the nobleman pleaded one more time, Jesus told him to go home--that his son was alive. He went home and found his son healed at the very time Jesus told him the previous day. Not only did the nobleman become a believer, but his entire household as a result.
    
     Are you one of these three types of  believers? To be sure, it depends on whom you are believing. Jesus told Phillip, his disciple, of a fourth type when he said, "Blessed are those who see not, but yet believe."  Do you have faith to take Jesus at his word? Or do you need hard evidence? Fortunately for us, Jesus is patient and loving and meets us at any point of our incredulity. But for your own sake, take a leap of faith today and whatever you are believing for, believe Jesus. He is the Way, The truth, and the Life.

Savior, I believe that  your word means what it says. It transcends time and space. You said ask anything and you will do it. I ask you today for: ____________________________________________________________________________. 

Thank you for being faithful to your word. Amen.

9. No Honor Among Your Own

John 4: 44  For Jesus himself testified that a prophet hath no honor in his own country.

It is a curious occurrence that the people who know us best often tend to fail to give us due honor. Perhaps we are too ordinary, too familiar, or even too successful or talented as in the case of Jesus. They refuse to give us the credit we earned or deserved.
   
     Matthew fills in the details for us. Jesus was too familiar: "Is not this the carpenter's son? We know his mother--Mary, and his siblings--James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. We also know all his sisters. They live right here in Nazareth. Where did he get all  this education from? Who does he think he is?" (Matthew 13: 54-57). Matthew concludes sadly that  "he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Consequently, Jesus removed himself from his haters and took his gifts to Galilee.
    
     Are you trying hard to prove yourself to people who should believe and trust you but refuse to accept you or your ministry? You may need to remove yourself from them and take your message to another audience. It is interesting how you never find Jesus forcing himself on anyone. He advised his disciples to shake the dust off their feet and move on when they came to a home that rejected them.

     Don't waste time. Don't get into unproductive arguments and fights. Move on, just as Jesus did. You might not be the one called to sow in that field. Your field may be elsewhere. Pray and be certain that you are where God planted you.

Lord, my people are not accepting of the message you gave me. Show me where to take it, where souls are awaiting the message of salvation, deliverance, and life everlasting. Amen.

8. Not Unlike Ghostwriting

John 4: 38  I sent you to reap that whereon you bestowed no labor: other men labored and ye are entered into their labors.  

Not unlike ghostwriting, is what Jesus demonstrated with the Sychar woman and what he expects of us as we relate to people in our daily living. The ghostwriter writes a speech, an essay, a story for another person with the expectation of giving all the credit to that person, often in return for payment. Church circles often reflect a similar experience, in which persons may labor diligently for weeks, months, or even years only to find that somebody else gets the credit. It is especially painful if that person is new, and the laborer worked for gratis. 

      Occasionally, the benefactor of such service may express gratitude to the one who labored without getting the glory. There are even people who would say that they paid for the product, hence, like buying and wearing a wig, it became their personal property. It seems as if Jesus had a different view about ghosting. He separated the sower from the reaper, acknowledging that both are essential to God's kingdom. To him, the person who lays the foundation is just as valuable as the person who builds upon it. Someone sowed into the Sychar woman's life in order that the witness Jesus did of himself could have the positive effect it had.

     If you are a sower, keep on sowing. You may or may not live long enough to reap your harvest on earth. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the prophets of old did not live to see what they prophesied about Jesus. That did not discourage them. They prophesied anyway. If you are a reaper, keep on reaping. Don't get carried away with the credit because you may later discover that the kudos have to be shared with others. Stay humble, because the Emmy's are on the way, and will be a time of rejoicing that no one has yet witnessed. Your current anonymity will one day break forth into a well deserved "Well Done, thou good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Father, keep my eyes focused on You. Let my undergirding  goal be to please just You. Let me not become weary in well doing, because I will reap in due season, if I do not faint. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

7. Equal Work, Equal Pay

John 4. 35-36  "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth  and he that reapeth may rejoice together."

Jesus again emphasizes the punchline here, and we interpret: Go any distance, break any convention, dare any bigot--if it means saving a soul from hell. Harvest time for soul-winning is now. It is a glimpse of how Jesus sees people. they are at the top of his agenda.

     Are you available and ready to work? you may enlist as a sower, or a reaper. The Lord makes it very explicit that there is a life after this life called "eternal life." That is where all we do in Time counts. We will receive equal pay for equal work. If we are wise, we would vigorously engage in fruit-gathering, because "he that reapeth receiveth wages" (v. 36).

     It makes me think of earthly awards ceremonies, such as the Emmy and the Tony Awards. Heaven's awards will be a time of rejoicing. Your service to others will be recognized. Get busy!

Father, thank You for employing me in Your service to lead people into Your kingdom. Teach me the wisdom of how to win souls. Give me the patience and endurance it takes to be a harvester of excellence. I count it a great honor to serve You. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

6. Hidden Meat

                                               
John 4: 32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not
                  of.
This is the punchline of the whole Sychar message: having spiritual eyes. The disciples, being concerned over their master's welfare, went into the city to buy meat. Upon their return, they met him talking with the Samaritan woman just at the point when Jesus told her that he was the Christ. The woman then left her water jar and went and spread the news to the men of the city that she met Jesus, the Messiah. She, a woman of notoriety, had turned evangelist overnight, inviting them all to go see him. While she was gone, the disciples implored him to eat something. that was when he gave them the punchline.

     They could not readily understand  what Jesus meant. Did she...somebody else...give him food to eat while they were gone? It was lesson time for them! Jesus taught them that there were priorities in life. Winning souls for God's kingdom was one. It was at the same time a rewarding task. There were two categories of employees--sowers, and reapers. Evidently, someone sowed into the Samaritan woman's life. That served as a setup for Jesus to bring the Word of Life that she received. She in turn, by her testimony, sowed into the lives of her old associates, some of whom came to hear him and believed (vv. 39, 31-41).

Father, open my mouth to speak boldly for Jesus. Let me see people with Your eyes. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to seek and find the hidden meat--people who need to discover the wellspring of everlasting life. Help me make that a priority above my natural food. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.                                          

5. Why Are You Talking to Her?

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John 4: 27   And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or Why talkest thou with her?

The writer, John, takes us into the minds of the disciples. The emphasis is on "YOU" and "her." They thought this, but didn't have the nerve to say it. We only know it because John, the eyewitness tells us.

     I have witnessed people acting ashamed of other people. I have seen children acting ashamed of their parents who were not attractively dressed, or who lacked certain social graces, such as good grammatical speech. I have witnessed husbands who ducked from their wives because of obesity or lack of attractiveness when in certain company. I have seen employers who snub employees and so-called friends who pretend they didn't see their friends. I must confess that at some stage of my life I may have been guilty of snubbing someone else. What a shame! Because we read in Hebrews 2: 11 that this same Jesus, Creator of the universe, who sat on Sychar's well just to talk with a despised woman, is "not ashamed to call [us] brethren." He claims us as kin! Isn't that wonderful?

     Listen to him talking about his disciples: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for a servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends." Some people would gladly put a mop and a pail in your hand and call you a servant because of your ethnicity, age, lack of education, country of origin, appearance, poverty, family background, whatever; but Jesus takes the servant tools out of your hands and calls you a friend.

     To know that you are special to Jesus is awesome. He made a special trip to meet you. He made a special request of you. He knew all your negatives; yet chose to offer you life's best. That is good enough to keep you from drowning yourself in depression. It is sad that many people commit suicide not knowing the depth of Jesus's love. Jesus is not ashamed of you. He doesn't avoid you when his friends come around. He doesn't even try to excuse himself. To Jesus, you are somebody special!

Thank You Father, for talking to me. Thank you!