BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
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BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday January 19, 2014
____________________________________________________________
THE
POWER TO SAVE
(Giving
guidance to people who are open to faith in JESUS)
John
4:39-54
In John chapter 4, verses 39-54, the woman, whom JESUS met at Jacob’s
Well, went eagerly back to Samaria to witness of her life-changing event there
with the LIVING SAVIOR. Her “actions” set off a “chain reaction”
that led to many more people receiving the free gift of salvation, through the
Gospel of CHRIST. And though she, herself still had many questions,
nevertheless, her life had now been “jump-started in a new direction”.
She had come to the well that day, no doubt, filled with shame for living a
life that had, to that point, ostracized her from the other women of her
community. However, she left the well having “a new lease on life” that
one can only receive by coming to the end of one’s self, and coming
face to face with CHRIST JESUS.
JESUS lingered there in Samaria
for a couple of days and then continued on north to Galilee with HIS disciples.
HE had already pointed out earlier how a prophet is often honored everywhere
except his own home country. This proverbial saying, which is also mentioned by
the Gospel writers, Matthew (Matt. 13:57) and Mark (Mark 6:4), is re-iterated
here by the Apostle John (v. 44). Whether or not JESUS was talking about HIS
earthly home country of Galilee, or, HIS beloved nation of Israel, is unclear.
Here, John seems to be preparing
his readers for the upcoming rejection of JESUS’ doctrine, by even HIS OWN
native Jewish people, during HIS three-year mission, here on earth. And even
though they had been impressed with HIS miracles and wise speech, ultimately
they were a part of the angry mob that killed HIM on Calvary. Their enthusiasm
for the GOD WHO healed them was not always indicative of the faith, or lack
thereof, that, they had in HIM.
Now there was a certain royal
official with an ailing son, who had made the 25-mile trip from Capernaum
hoping to meet JESUS when HE arrived in Cana. The tiny village of Cana was the
site of JESUS’ first recorded miracle (John 2:1-12), where HE transformed
several barrels of water into wine. Obviously, neither the official’s position,
nor, his money, was enough to save his son who was now near death back in
Capernaum.
The official soon found JESUS and
began begging HIM to come to Capernaum and heal his son. JESUS asked the
desperate official, who was probably of Jewish descent, “Must I do
miraculous signs and wonders before you people will believe in ME?” Without
receiving a response from the man, JESUS told him to “Go back home, your son
will live”. The man believed JESUS and started on his way back home.
While he was in route back to
Capernaum, he was met by a few of his servants. They informed the official that
his son had made a miraculous recovery at around one o’clock the previous
afternoon. When the official heard the time that was given to him by his
servants, he knew that it was JESUS, WHO had healed his son. This was the
second miracle that JESUS had performed in Galilee, after coming from Judea.
From that day on, the official and his entire household became followers of
CHRIST JESUS.
Personal testimony used along with
GOD’s Word is still the best means of leading others to CHRIST, even though
faith based on someone else’s testimony is only a secondary influence. True
faith comes from one’s own experience and face to face meeting with
JESUS, once one comes to the end of themselves (v.42). And though everyone
won’t be “saved”, JESUS’ light shines on everyone born into the world
(John 1:9), and that light has never been just limited to the Jews, or the
nation of Israel, but rather, it has always been GOD’s wish that all mankind be
saved.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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