John 4:4
This is the day that Americans celebrate their Independence as a nation. Over two centuries ago, our forefathers raised arms to fight for the right to govern themselves, and to determine their own fates and destinies. Subsequent generations have given life and limb to preserve that freedom which was won and which has been sustained through much bloodshed. Thank God today for your personal freedom, and for those who paid a great price to make it free.
Jesus paid for our redemption on the cross of Calvary some 2000 years ago. Just as many troops have voluntarily laid down their lives for our freedom as a nation, Jesus voluntarily laid His life down so that we could go free from the shackles of sin. Jesus had over 12 legions of angels (72,000+) at His disposal if He changed His mind about dying at Calvary (Matthew 26:53), but He went anyhow, because as the old gospel song says, “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind”.
Doing for others because He was prompted by the Spirit was not a new thing for Jesus. He told us, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). His entire life was one of hearing the will of God and then acting accordingly. It was God’s will that Jesus live a sinless life and then give that life for humanity. God poured His wrath on His Son because He did not want to pour it on us.
In the time of the Bible, when a Jew wished to journey from Judea in the south of Palestine, to Galilee in the north of Palestine, they would cross the Jordan river and head north through Decapolis. This was not the shortest route from Point A to Point B, for this cost them an extra day of travel. The quickest route was directly north through Samaria, without the mundane practice of crossing the Jordan and then crossing back over into Galilee. The Jew went through this routine simply to avoid having to step foot in Samaria, such was their hatred for Samaritans. Samaritans were a breed of people whose ancestors were half Jew and half Gentile, thus Jews felt that they were an inferior race, and one unworthy of even the footprint of a good Jew.
John 4:3 tells us that Jesus left Judea, and departed again into Galilee, “And he must needs go through Samaria” (John 4:4). The Holy Spirit specifically mentions where Jesus is coming from and where He is going through and that He goes through Samaria by design of the Spirit. It is just like our Savior to ignore the trend of the day and go directly through Samaria. He was never afraid to get His hands dirty, and He felt no less love for Samaritans than He did for anyone else.
The reason for His journey into Samaria is the little woman at the well, who is only at the well at noon because her reputation has sent her into social isolation. The Spirit knows where you are and why you are there and He perfectly orchestrates Jesus to enter your Samaria on purpose. Thank God that Jesus went to the cross, though it would have made more sense for Him to “cross the Jordan” to avoid the issue. We can’t be worth the price that He paid to save our souls, can we?
We are free today through the blood of Jesus Christ and it was His choice to lay down His life. As you are grateful for physical freedom today, say a “thank you” to your Heavenly Father, that He whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.
This is the day that Americans celebrate their Independence as a nation. Over two centuries ago, our forefathers raised arms to fight for the right to govern themselves, and to determine their own fates and destinies. Subsequent generations have given life and limb to preserve that freedom which was won and which has been sustained through much bloodshed. Thank God today for your personal freedom, and for those who paid a great price to make it free.
Jesus paid for our redemption on the cross of Calvary some 2000 years ago. Just as many troops have voluntarily laid down their lives for our freedom as a nation, Jesus voluntarily laid His life down so that we could go free from the shackles of sin. Jesus had over 12 legions of angels (72,000+) at His disposal if He changed His mind about dying at Calvary (Matthew 26:53), but He went anyhow, because as the old gospel song says, “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind”.
Doing for others because He was prompted by the Spirit was not a new thing for Jesus. He told us, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). His entire life was one of hearing the will of God and then acting accordingly. It was God’s will that Jesus live a sinless life and then give that life for humanity. God poured His wrath on His Son because He did not want to pour it on us.
In the time of the Bible, when a Jew wished to journey from Judea in the south of Palestine, to Galilee in the north of Palestine, they would cross the Jordan river and head north through Decapolis. This was not the shortest route from Point A to Point B, for this cost them an extra day of travel. The quickest route was directly north through Samaria, without the mundane practice of crossing the Jordan and then crossing back over into Galilee. The Jew went through this routine simply to avoid having to step foot in Samaria, such was their hatred for Samaritans. Samaritans were a breed of people whose ancestors were half Jew and half Gentile, thus Jews felt that they were an inferior race, and one unworthy of even the footprint of a good Jew.
John 4:3 tells us that Jesus left Judea, and departed again into Galilee, “And he must needs go through Samaria” (John 4:4). The Holy Spirit specifically mentions where Jesus is coming from and where He is going through and that He goes through Samaria by design of the Spirit. It is just like our Savior to ignore the trend of the day and go directly through Samaria. He was never afraid to get His hands dirty, and He felt no less love for Samaritans than He did for anyone else.
The reason for His journey into Samaria is the little woman at the well, who is only at the well at noon because her reputation has sent her into social isolation. The Spirit knows where you are and why you are there and He perfectly orchestrates Jesus to enter your Samaria on purpose. Thank God that Jesus went to the cross, though it would have made more sense for Him to “cross the Jordan” to avoid the issue. We can’t be worth the price that He paid to save our souls, can we?
We are free today through the blood of Jesus Christ and it was His choice to lay down His life. As you are grateful for physical freedom today, say a “thank you” to your Heavenly Father, that He whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.
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