Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

The other day I realized something that never dawned on me before. When Jesus was asked a direct question He didn’t always answer the question, but rather diverted the subject to something that would reveal the truth of God to that person.

            John 4:9-10 NLT reveals one example. “The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, ‘You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’ Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’” Here we see that though Jews hated the Samaritans, Jesus was not concerned with where the woman came from, but rather that she was a person in need of divine forgiveness. That should speak to us today. We all need redemption, regardless of where we came from or what we grew up believing. Because of Jesus’ indifference to the peoples she came from both she and many other Samaritans were saved that day. 

            John 4:49-50 NLT shows us a different scenario. A royal official’s son was near death. Hearing Jesus was in his area he sought the Lord out and said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” He had wanted Jesus to come to where his son lie and heal him. But Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” On his way home, the official’s servants met him with the news that the fever left his son and was alive. The official realized that the exact time his child’s fever broke was the same time Jesus said the words “he will live”.

            Now we can’t know whether Jesus said anything else at that time, but the point of the event is that Jesus “cut right to the chase” as the saying goes and dealt with the issue at hand as only He can. It was obvious at that moment in time that the Lord didn’t have to BE where the healing was to take place. Because He WAS God He merely spoke the word and the child was healed. That day the healing caused the official and his entire household to believe. 

            It is apparent from the scriptures that Jesus didn’t come to earth to hold multiple press conferences to answer questions regarding who He was or why He was there. He repeatedly stuck to His main mission which was to bring salvation to His sinful creation. God was their only hope and He knew that. The same is true today. Serving the Lord isn’t some sort of game. It’s serious business and one’s eternal destination hangs in the balance. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries