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Written by Ben Cheek
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Saturday, 18 November 2006 |
In John 4, Jesus popularity is beginning to concern the Jewish leaders. Verses 1 thru 3 tell us that Jesus was gaining more disciples than John and once Jesus heard that the Pharisees had learned of this, he left Judea and went to Galilee.
Verse 4 says; "Now he had to go through Samaria." If you look at a map of the area during the time of Jesus, you see that Samaria lies between Judea and Galilee. It seems obvious that Jesus would have to go that way. But, there is that little word "had." That word always bothers me. I never wanted to do things I "had" to do. Jesus, however, did things he had to do from the day he was born.
The Greek word used here is "edei". This word could just be translated as "necessity" maybe of circumstances or nature. But there are two other definitions of this word which have a deeper meaning.
- necessity in reference to what is required to attain some
end
- necessity established by the counsel and decree of God, especially by that purpose of his which relates to the salvation of men by the intervention of Christ and which is disclosed in the Old Testament prophecies
Maybe what John is saying here is that it was God's plan that Jesus go to Samaria and meet the woman at the well at this particular time in history. Perhaps this was the time when God would reveal His plan to reclaim all mankind to himself.
Jesus was always about doing the "Father's will." In verse 31, his disciples encouraged him to eat something. His response was; "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." (vs 32) When the disciples asked what he meant, Jesus told them that his food was “to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
God’s timing; what a complex and marvelous thing. I don’t pretend to understand it but to do His will in His time is what life is about. The Bible says; “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.” (Galatians 4:3-5 (New Living Translation)) What made it the right time? I don’t know but God does.
Father, help me to rely on your timing and not my own. You know what is best in all situations. May you be glorified and your will be done in all things. Amen
Original content by: http://becauseofjesus.blogspot.com/2006/11/in-gods-good-time.html.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 18 November 2006 )
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.