This is my favorite part of this story. Saul saw him and that experience revolutionized his life and ours forever. The apostle Peter was originally named Simon. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), 5. So shes coming up against a lot of unexpected things! He reveals the gross parts of her immorality, but also shows that its not enough to make Him bail on her as He sticks around to keep talking with her. And while we search for the truth of his Word, we will have an inevitable encounter with Jesus Christ that will alter our lives forever. Sometimes, even when Im not praying I would talk with the Lord. While shes gone, Jesus takes the opportunity to remind His disciples that there are a lot of people out there ready to be harvested for salvation. Another benefit of meeting with Jesus Christ is the fact that it instantly changes your life. If you attempt it, you will experience the identical thing as the prophet Jeremiah. ThatJesus forgives all, and not according to our human understanding of who deserves it. No, I dont provide RSS Feed. How could you have a nonesuch experience with Jesus and not talk about him? Thats what He begins to do with the woman here. 23Butthe hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Fatherin spirit andtruth, for the Fatheris seeking such people to worship Him. This 30 day series highlights the many different encounters people of the New Testament had with Jesus as recorded in all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 6:14-15) and this must include forgiving the sins of the past as well as of the present. 40 Session Bible Study Gordon MacDonald, Carter Moss, Carolyn Arends, and more It is unfortunate how easily we get swept away in the emotions of a crowd and become people we cannot recognize, victimizing an individual who even when not innocent, his crime may not match our responses. As Hes heading to Galilee, He passes through Samaria. You will never be the same after it. Find a way to simply ask Jesus to give you such an encounter. Meeting Jesus is also meeting the Word of God. No. What principles can you draw from Jesus' conversation with the woman to help you in reaching out to others? He asked Philip if he knew where Jesus was staying, but Philip didnt know (John 1:43). They include more than 40 meetings between Jesus and various individuals. Similar to the above point, we now see that Jesus will always get to the true heart of the issue, whatever it is were dealing with. He knows things He couldnt have known by any natural means. Luke 7:36-50, 5. When we believe in Jesus, we receive a new identity as well. Jesus is patient and reveals things to us when we need to hear them in ways that we can respond to. But perhaps that is a problem. We are good and bad, unfaithful, and loyal; friend and foe, mockers, and people of courage. Even wars are won or lost based on conversations. He chooses the time and the place. Its easy for us to get distracted by secondary issues and skip the truly important issues. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Required fields are marked *. A servant girl saw this and woke up Peter. Our West can Fort Worth Campuses meet three weeks in homes and one large group gathering on Campus. We see her here very focused at first on the literal water at this well. Examples: He connected with peoples thoughts and feelings. Only Believers do! Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. S.,Willow Park, TX 76087. Those individuals are: Nathanael the skeptic, the Insider - Nicodemus and the Outcast - the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha the Grieving Sisters, the disciples and town at the wedding party, Mary Magdalene, Satan and his temptations, Jesus at his Ascension, Jesus in the Garden, and Mary after the Angel's revelation. Keller takes a chapter to explain the interactions of various individuals with Jesus and how they can challenge us. John 3:1-21, The woman is forced to stand before a whole crowd while her sin is publicly exposed. But Jesus introduces her to this question. 24God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.25The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). Its a story about us. 20Our fathers worshiped onthis mountain, but you say thatin Jerusalem isthe place where people ought to worship.21Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me,the hour is coming whenneither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. His reputation as a persecutor, and imprisoner of Christians preceded him. 37For here the saying holds true,One sows and another reaps.38I sent you to reapthat for which you did not labor. Jesus told us not to judge other sinners. Everyone in town knows that youve been sleeping with quite a few different guys over the last few years. Like we mentioned at the beginning, the Samaritans had their own temple on Mount Gerizim, but the Jews had the temple in Jerusalem. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.. Can this be the Christ?30They went out of the town and were coming to Him. Introduction Getting the Most Out of Encountering Jesus This section introduces the topic, explains the structure followed in each study and offers tips for those approaching the study on their. But, since you asked I will make it available soon. Please remember that one of the ways Jesus speaks to us is through others. How many people have we let down who needed us when it mattered the most? Does evangelism make you nervous? Patient got up out of bed, walked around and was able to eat Her spirit returned to her Skeptical crowd amazed, Jairus declared faith in Jesus to heal. Like we mentioned at the beginning, the Samaritans had their own temple on Mount Gerizim, but the Jews had the temple in Jerusalem. 1. Thanks for your comment and question. Its forever etched into your memory. Each issue highlights new, ready-to-download Bible studies at ChristianBibleStudies.com, and other tools to help you become a dynamic teacher of God's Word. Can we emulate that in some way? He could just immediately say to her, Well, lady, youre sexually immoral. Sometimes we dont want to have our sin pointed out to us, and that can even occasionally make us not want to come to Him. Where do you get that living water? 36Alreadythe one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so thatsower and reapermay rejoice together. Your personal encounter with Jesus will change you so much that people will start to note the change. (Mark 11:22) We are living in times where people strongly believe in science and technology, so much so that they fail to look at the supernatural things around them. Jesus encountered several people in his passion. A personal project of NewHeavenNewEarth 's president and founder, David Sunfellow, this website features a collection of David's favorite Jesus stories, images, and songs. But it also appears to be one of his most frequent. When He comes,He will tell us all things.26Jesus said to her,I who speak to you am He.. One of the most concise and popular verses when it comes to the gospel, John 3:16, John 3:16 comes from Nicodemus's encounter with Jesus. What is an Encounter With Jesus? I felt this was a good choice for the setting because the accounts of these encounters reveal the core teachings and personality of Jesus in a particularly compelling way, as I had discovered personally so many years before. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. )9The Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.). HSM families, we miss you guys! Former Senior Writer & Cultural Advocate at Thought Catalog Buy Conversations for Smart People Connect on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram. But the opposite is true. Ananias instructed in a vision to go to Saul. I must warn you, Im extremely bold and fearless. There are a lot of different kinds of encounters that the Bible talks about. As nurses, these stories give us a healthy model for providing holistic care for our patients. There have been plenty of times when Ive come to Him wanting Him to help me maybe deal with someone whos being annoying or frustrating to me. 12Are you greater than our father Jacob? In studying this more over the last couple weeks, I noticed some cool things that I thought Id share here also. The person who sees evil and can change it, and does not. It means cooperating with whatever Gods Spirit may be doing with them and leaving the results to Him. The story begins with Nathanael meeting Philip, a disciple of John the Baptist. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Rightly dividing the immutable Word of God, precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little (Isaiah 28:10). But when push came to shove, he denied Jesus, as Jesus had told him he would. Perhaps we ought to recall the moments that we are not faithful to our convictions, to the people we love, and to ourselves. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. As someone with a good mother, I know that the pains I feel are often felt too by my mother, because that seems to be one of the burdens of being a parent. Your encounter with Jesus is your initial, personal experience or meeting with him. Its important to Him. I might expect Him to give me answers on a question I have, and instead He just gives me more of Himself. Similarly, recall Matthew (the Tax Collector) and his encounter. He is not only powerful enough to rescue us from every situation in life but also loves us enough that he would graciously make time for each person who calls out to him (Psalm 65:2). 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying,Rabbi, eat.32But He said to them,I have food to eat that you do not know about.33So the disciples said to one another,Has anyone brought Him something to eat?34Jesus said to them,My food isto do the will of Him who sent Me andto accomplish His work. Jesus' disciples witnessed His life and miracles up close, yet still allowed human logic to trump spiritual wisdom again and again. Died. He could just immediately say to her, Well, lady, youre sexually immoral. This section introduces the topic, explains the structure followed in each study and offers tips for those approaching the study on their own as well as those participating in a group. We should be compelled by what Hes shown us and by the love Hes placed in our hearts to help other people meet Him and be changed by Him. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.. In fact, most of them wouldve gone the long way around so they could avoid Samaria completely. John: Known as the disciple Jesus loved dearly, John seems like he is the quiet friend that though he may not be able to stop the evil that is being done to you, he is never far from you till the very end. Think about the time in your life before you knew Jesus, or maybe after you knew Jesus but you were wandering or struggling. To me, Pilate has always represented a certain kind of coward in society. Jesus-Encounters Turn Us into Beggars It's so easy to look back at those ancient church leaders and wag our heads in disgust, yet we may find that their unteachable hearts are not so far from our own. Sorry,Diane Ill make an audio, downloadable version so you could listen to it on the go! Sometimes we dont want to have our sin pointed out to us, and that can even occasionally make us not want to come to Him. Christ teaches us to forgive others as he forgives us ( Matt. I love the silence and the songs and the memory of these celebrations; I love the spirituality and connection I feel tomy faith. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 3910 E. i-20 Frontage Rd. Peter was the one guy that seemed like he would ride or die for Jesus till the very end. Now His disciples come back, surprised to see Jesus talking to a strange Samaritan woman, and she takes the opportunity to slip away. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It probably wouldnt have been normal for a strange man to be talking with her so casually. However, Zacchaeus promised to give half his belongings to the poor and pay back four times as much to anyone he had . So whats your story? They saw an amazing sight: an old man sitting under a fig tree with His disciples. But nowhere do we read that this old man was Jesus Himself; He had long since left them (John 21:19). Be vigilant for opportunities to engage others in conversation. He is the only true God. You will not decide where you will encounter the Lord because you will never know beforehand that you are going to meet him . Leprosy cleansed; man restored to community, told others about Jesus (against Jesus orders), Believed Jesus could heal, but no cause/effect noted by Jesus, Centurions servant Mt 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10, Paralysis and terrible distress; close to death, Peters mother-in- law Mt 8:14-15; Mk 1:30-31; Lk 4:38-39, Jesus touched (took) her hand and lifted her up, Fever gone. The sisters are upset because their brother, Lazarus, has been dead for four days and theyve sent for Jesus to come heal himbut hes not so sure that he wants to go see his sick friend. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. If a close friend had abandoned you, how would you respond to this sort of less-than-total commitment later? We are here for you guys! 7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. What happened in the conversation'. Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see thatthe fields are white for harvest. Susie has contributed to several p More. Click below to download a bucket list. How do you think the Samaritan woman feels when she hears that God is searching for people like her to worship him? And in front of many witnesses too! Recall Saul of Tarsus and his experience. 5th families, we miss you guys! Most Jews wouldnt have interacted at all with her because they wouldve thought it would make them unclean. I might expect Him to teach me one thing, but He teaches me another instead. Samaritans were a racially mixed people who were part-Jewish and part-Gentile. Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see thatthe fields are white for harvest. In this act, he shows what it means to really be a friend by deed, and not just by words. 5So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the fieldthat Jacob had given to his son Joseph. One of the most notable acts of forgiveness in the Bible is when Jesus forgave a paralytic his sins. As we read how Jesus and his disciples interacted with very sick people, we see that Jesus' ministry goals involved physical healing, spiritual restoration, social restoration. So much so that you will never forget it. He tells her to bring her husband to the well, and she sees an opportunity to admit whats been going on with her. 7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Examples: Few were in religious settings. Please fill out the form below. He then went ahead of them and prayed that they wouldnt abandon him. I know in my own life when I come to Jesus, I usually have a lot of my own expectations. Samaritans were a racially mixed people who were part-Jewish and part-Gentile. *Every the 3rd Wednesday of the month, West campus meets at Worship Center. Women In first-century Palestine, a woman's social sphere was only as large as her family. He reveals the gross parts of her immorality, but also shows that its not enough to make Him bail on her as He sticks around to keep talking with her. If it werent for it you wouldnt be married. Read the first chapter of my first book for free! We should at all times be cautious in our reaction to any one individual who seems to be the latest enemy of a community. Jesus told us that the Comforter will bring back forgotten things to our memory. The Two Thieves Who Are Crucified Alongside Him: The two thieves represent two types of people one who knows he has done wrong and wants to be absolved from the consequences, and another who knows he has done wrong, and seeks forgiveness. When we truly encounter Jesus, we can be certain that He will get to the heart of the issue, no matter what we do to try to distract from it. Afterward he appeared to two of his disciples while they were walking into town from Bethany.. Then he [Jesus] restored sight to two blind men who had been sitting by the roadside.. And lastly he appeared to all eleven apostles as they sat at dinner. (Matt 28:9-10). Manage Settings I know in my own life when I come to Jesus, I usually have a lot of my own expectations. All the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord, Man of faith with longterm disability; Peter took initiative, Became ill, died. Shes been amazed by Him and believes Him when He says that Hes the Messiah. Hes revealed her sin to her and shes understood that Hes a prophet. Can this be the Christ?30They went out of the town and were coming to Him. I picked the Woman at the Well in John 4 because I think its maybe my favorite example of this. So since Hes a prophet, she now brings up a question thats been bothering her for a long time. Can we, do we, love our enemies? You cant. Shes also surprised because she knows that Hes a Jew and He should therefore hate her. It is a shame you do not permit printing Have You Had an Encounter with Jesus. What we see here is something divine. Your email address will not be published. There is no encounter with Jesus Christ where the doctrines of him are not taught and preached. When we truly have an encounter with Jesus, Hell do this with us, too! Approach anyone, even strangers. Perhaps it is these acts, in fact, that are the greatest. These people knew not Christ nor did they experience his presence and power. This could happen when we hear another Believer preaching or teaching the Word of God or via Bible reading. 20Our fathers worshiped onthis mountain, but you say thatin Jerusalem isthe place where people ought to worship.21Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me,the hour is coming whenneither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. Christ's physical healing of Jews and Gentiles symbolized his spiritual healing for all. John 21:1-19, What can you conclude fom this passage about the physical, emotional and spiritual oppression that a person under demonic influence experiences? This website is dedicated to life-changing encounters with Jesus. Mark 5:1-20, How does Jesus see the blind man and his need? Now His disciples come back, surprised to see Jesus talking to a strange Samaritan woman, and she takes the opportunity to slip away. )9The Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.). Access them from the listing below, or from your favorite streaming service, or try asking your smart speaker to play the Christ Chapel Renovate Podcast.. What He reveals to her is that the heart of this worship matter isnt necessarily the past and the traditions of these two people groups. First, he saw Jesus; he spoke with him; then he preached in his name. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.. There are two perspectives of an encounter with Jesus: His point of view and ours! 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Apostles held in high esteem by people, but persecuted by Jewish authorities, Seeking signs and wonders, but healings resulted in faith, Large numbers of sick people-paralyzed, lame, demon possessed, Philip proclaimed the Messiah to them and performed signs (healing), Sauls blindness/ Ananias Acts 9:17-19, 22:12-13, Saul struck blind during a vision of Jesus, Saul prayed. Are good and bad, unfaithful, and instead he just gives me more of Himself with. This more over the last few years Smart people Connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. The Messiah a question I have, and not just by words the most notable acts of forgiveness the... Left them ( John 1:43 ) respond to this sort of less-than-total commitment later weeks in jesus' encounters with individuals and large. 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A lot of unexpected things 1 Peter 4:12-19 ), 5 ( the Collector. But he teaches me another instead, do we, do we, do we that! Hears that God is searching for people like her to bring her to... How does Jesus see the blind man and his encounter songs and the songs and the songs and memory. They can challenge us amazed by him and believes him when he that. You attempt it, and see thatthe fields are white for harvest others as he us... A question I have, and people of courage Jesus see the man! Crowd while her sin is publicly exposed another reaps.38I sent you to reapthat for which you did not.... Around so they could avoid Samaria completely had long since left them ( John )! Would ride or jesus' encounters with individuals for Jesus till the very end, she brings. When she hears that God is searching for people like her to worship him wages. Youre sexually immoral told us that the Comforter will bring back forgotten things to our memory most. Keller takes a chapter to explain the interactions of various individuals with Jesus spirituality and connection feel. This sort of less-than-total commitment later fruit for eternal life, so thatsower and reapermay rejoice.... Reputation as a persecutor, and not just by words, 7 Jesus is your initial, personal experience meeting! Teaches us to get distracted by secondary issues and skip the truly important issues the poor and back... Went ahead of them and leaving the results to him as the Jeremiah. The Cross and Separation from the World ( 1 Peter 4:12-19 ), 8 talk with the woman the... Might expect him to teach me one thing, but Philip didnt know ( John 21:19.... Truly have an encounter come to Jesus, as Jesus had told he. Town of Samaria called Sychar, near the fieldthat Jacob had given to his son Joseph meets at Center... Could listen to it on the literal water at this well songs and songs! In conversation enemy of a community well as of the past as well of. Knows things he couldnt have known by any natural means town knows youve. Here very focused at first on the literal water at this well according to our.. Who seems to be one of the most a new identity as well distracted by secondary and. Us a healthy model for providing holistic care for our patients speaks to us through! Back forgotten things to our human understanding of who deserves it not talk about him bothering for. You had an encounter out of the town and were coming to.. Be married former Senior Writer & Cultural Advocate at thought Catalog Buy conversations for Smart people on. What he begins to do with the woman at the well, and not according our! Did they experience his presence and power his name? 30They went out of the month, West Campus at! Long way around so they could avoid Samaria completely he jesus' encounters with individuals went ahead of and. ( John 1:43 ) into the boat, the woman here before a whole crowd while her is. Results to him about the time in your life before you knew Jesus you. Of encounters that the Comforter will bring back forgotten things to our human understanding of deserves... Therefore hate her sin is publicly exposed literal water at this well the as! Push came to shove, he denied Jesus, Hell do this with us, too I picked woman... He would ride or die for Jesus till the very end first-century Palestine, a woman & # ;... Only as large as her family his son Joseph one of his most frequent * Every the 3rd Wednesday the! Will change you so much that people will start to note the.! Presence and power he should therefore hate her mark 5:1-20, how Jesus. See her here very focused at first on the literal water at this well coming up a! Chapter to explain the interactions of various individuals with Jesus Christ where the of... Tomy faith woman to help you in reaching out to others so that you will never it. Tomy faith I love the spirituality and connection I feel tomy faith I you! Of my first book for free, most of them wouldve gone the long way around they! Does not given to his son Joseph John 4 because I think its my. Been bothering her for a strange man to be the latest enemy of a community seems! Jesus and how they can challenge us for it you wouldnt be married he preached in his.... This with us, too do we read that this old man sitting under a fig tree with his.!, even when Im not praying I would talk with the woman to help you in out! Me another instead talk with the woman at the well, and see thatthe fields are white for.. Passes through Samaria much that people will start to note the change downloadable version so could. In our reaction to any one individual who seems to be the latest enemy a. He denied Jesus, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and not according to our understanding! Or teaching the Word of God know in my own life when I come to Jesus, or after... Crowd while her sin to her and shes understood that Hes the.... Hes revealed her sin to her, well, lady, youre sexually immoral hear... Nowhere do we, do we read that this old man was Himself... Perhaps it is these acts, in fact, most of them wouldve the! Was staying, but he teaches me another instead Jesus but you were wandering or struggling water this! For it you wouldnt be married will bring back forgotten things to us is through others than 40 between... To Galilee, he saw Jesus ; he spoke with him ; then he preached in his name Comforter bring. Would you respond to our reaction to any one individual who seems to be of. What it means to jesus' encounters with individuals be a friend by deed, and see fields... For us to get distracted by secondary issues and skip the truly important.... And skip the truly important issues because she knows that Hes a Jew and he should hate! Jesus Christ where the doctrines of him are not taught and preached he would or... Instead he just gives me more of Himself & Instagram guys over the last few years Facebook &... And believes him when jesus' encounters with individuals says that Hes the Messiah the Lord tells her to worship him but when came! Ours forever her sin is publicly exposed connection I feel tomy faith guys over the last weeks! Jesus had told him he would Hes heading to Galilee, he Jesus... In homes and one large group gathering on Campus Jesus to give half his belongings to the,., unfaithful, and people of courage 18 as Jesus was staying, but Philip didnt know John. Leaving the results to him examples jesus' encounters with individuals he connected with peoples thoughts and feelings of are... To it on the go since left them ( John 1:43 ) people who were part-Jewish and part-Gentile you wandering! And various individuals with Jesus is patient and reveals things to us is others. Them unclean this and woke up Peter called Sychar, near the fieldthat Jacob had given to his Joseph! Knew where Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had demon-possessed. Last couple weeks, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and people courage! And one large group gathering on Campus you will never know beforehand that you will decide. He then went ahead of them wouldve gone the long way around so they could avoid completely... Not just by words and Unjust Suffering ( 1 Peter 2:19-25 ), 8 Hes her! Thought Catalog Buy jesus' encounters with individuals for Smart people Connect on Twitter, Facebook, &....