Jesus Heals

                                                                                                                                           
The healing of Peter’s mother in law                                                                       Pg.1
Luke 4:38  And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39  And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41  And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. 42  And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 43  And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44  And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

There is a God who loves us and cares about the things in our life that cause us harm and misery. Jesus is our soul’s refreshment, and we are to learn of him and continue in our seeking him for every aspect of life, no matter what the conflict or condition which affects us. Jesus heals, and this was his time to let it be known that the Kingdom of God is near.

1.Why is Jesus there?
Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John are with Jesus and either by invitation or by divine providence Jesus goes to Peter’s home. We are not told why he went there. Most likely it was out of a hospitable concern for Jesus that they asked him to stay with them. Or it was the fact that the mother in law was ill. It was definitely not accidental, There was motive, Christ goes nowhere and does nothing without cause or reason.

Q.1 Simon had met Jesus previously at another place and time. Do we recall that incident?
Q.2 What was the relationship now of Simon, with Jesus? Still just a friend?
Q.3 Was Jesus invited to Peter’s home as a guest or as a healer? What do you think?
Q.4 What are we told, was the first thing Jesus did after entering Peter’s home?

2. Do we have great expectations of Jesus?
Probably the group with Jesus, had seen the miracle of the demon exorcism and knew or had faith that Jesus could heal Peter’s mother in law. And since he had no place to stay, it was very convenient and hospitable of them to ask him to visit. And while there he could help the ill woman. They had seen what Jesus can do.

Q.1 Jesus, there as a friend would be there as a healer too. Is this the providence of God?
Q.2 Jesus was asked to help the Mother in law, or did they know he could heal her?
Q.3 Are there those who would find it difficult to ask Jesus for his help? What about us?
Q.4 What far reaching benefit did this miracle of healing foster?

As soon as Peter began to follow Christ, his family began to benefit by it.  Every person who knows the virtue and authority of Christ should earnestly seek his grace in behalf of all the spiritually suffering in their family and in their circle of friends.  All who seek the aid of Christ in truth, will never do so in vain.


3. Who asks what of Jesus ?                                                                                              Pg.2
We are not told who did the asking, but it must have been agreeable with all there that Jesus could help. Otherwise there would have been more discussion. We are not told the details of her illness, only that she had a fever. And the group asked for Jesus’ help. Who indeed? We do not always know who it is that asks for Jesus’ help on our behalf. We do know that it was not the woman who was ill.

Q.1 What must be the thoughts of those who need his help?
Q.2 Which person in the group is more likely to have asked for Jesus’ help?
Q.3 Would that request have been confirmed within the group?
Q.4 Is there a truth revealed in what this group did?


4. What has Jesus Done?
We are told that Jesus stood over her , and the fever left her. It was just that simple. Or was it that simple? Jesus, with all the power of God came into the presence of this ill woman, stood there, over her, and presented her illness with all the power of God that he has been given by His Father so as to be able to cast out demons and to heal the sick and even to raise the dead. We do not need a fire truck to come to our home to blow out a candle, but we do need to know how to call on the ability and the effort to get the flame extinguished. Jesus can do anything, no matter what the challenge may be. And all we need to know is how to call on him. And to do so with all faith and trust that he will do as he has promised. If we're God's own possession, we have to take our faith public and share how awesome is the God who called us out of the darkness of our sin, and into his marvelous light of eternal life.
Q.1 What must be the thoughts of Jesus right at that moment?                                                                                 Q.2 Why is it that the presence of Jesus is so powerful in this instance?                                                   Q.3 What is there about Jesus that gives these believers such confidence?                                                              Q.4 What are the expectations of this group?

5. All is well with Jesus?
After she was healed of her fever, the woman rose from her bed and began to minister to them. Life indeed, was recovered, to her and she  must be more than ever in his service, to his glory. If illness be rebuked, and we arise from our sickness, we must set ourselves to minister to Jesus Christ. Those that minister to Christ must be ready to minister to all that are his for his sake: She ministered to them, not only to him that had cured her, but to them that had besought him for her.

Q.1 How is it that this woman so sick with fever is now ready to serve others?                                                                                 Q.2 This miracle seems to work for the benefit of all, how does that happen?                                                   Q.3 How is it that just from this incident, now others outside this group call on Jesus ?                                                            

6. Jesus Heals all?                                                                                                               Pg.3
Now that this healing was accomplished, no doubt the news had spread throughout the region, and at sundown people came to him for healing of diverse diseases and even those possessed of demons were healed and the demons cast out. The sign he used in healing was laying his hands on the sick; not lifting up his hands for them, for he healed as having authority. He healed by his own power. The Bible frequently invests this simple gesture with weighty symbolism. Its significance can be fruitfully evaluated in connection with four concepts: blessing, miraculous power, separation, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Q.1 Is this not what anyone would do when ill, seek to be healed?                                                                              Q.2 What is there about the laying on of hands that is so significant?                                                                                                                                                                                      

7. What everyone wants of Jesus?                                                                                                            
When the morning came they all wanted him to stay  and continue to bless them and work his miracles. We are sometimes too dedicated to the presence of Christ in our midst, and do not want the special occasion to end. Some people actually think that Jesus Christ belongs to their denomination or fellowship. We become so accustomed to depending upon him that we forget that Jesus came to us so that all might have salvation that honestly seek his saving grace.  John 3:16

Q.1 Are we sometimes judgmental of those who do not worship as we do?                                          Q.2 Would we also want him to stay with us in the same way?                                                            Q.3 Do we not also want that for our country, to be healed?                                                                                                                                                                                      


8. What Has Jesus done?
Luke 4:43  And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Christ, though he preached in the synagogue at Capernaum, would not be tied to that. It is well for us that our Lord Jesus has not tied himself to any one place or people, but, wherever two or three are gathered in his name, he will be in the midst of them. Jesus was not preaching that He had come to set up an earthly, material, physical kingdom, but that He had come, commissioned by God the Father, to establish a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of His people, and that this would be accomplished by the gracious gospel of the grace of God toward poor non-deserving sinners who would repent and believe Him as the Messiah, the One sent down from heaven, the Savior, God's Gift to the sinners of this world that if we but repent of our sins and call on the name of Jesus that he will forgive our iniquity, and will remember our sin no more.

Q.1 How best to preach the Kingdom of God than to take it to the people?                                          Q.2 Would you say that Jesus was as effective as possible in that day?                                                            Q.3 How is it that his methods could have been improved?                                                                                                                                                                                      

Meditation :                                                                                                                                Pg.4

What is there in life that we value most? I would have to say our health would be at the top of the list. Millions of dollars are spent in research and development of cures for all types of illnesses, and still there are illnesses for which there seem to be no medical cure. A regular health checkup is one way that we, and God can help with our own healing. In Jesus’ day, there were very few known cures for any disease, and many died for lack of just minimal care. Many in Jesus’ day believed that sin by an individual or by their mother or father was the cause of many infirmities. And even now there are still questions and controversy that swirl around ministries of healing.
Questions often asked include: 1) Does God heal everyone? 2) Why are some people not healed? 3) Whose faith is necessary for healing: the sick person’s, the minister’s, or both? . 4) Does God simply choose who he will have healed? No one this side of Heaven can truthfully answer these questions. Yet there are many miraculous healings that we can recall where there is no other explanation, than it being the providence of God.  However we choose to believe, the Bible gives us at least 10 ways the Christian has access to God’s healing power:

1. Through the presence of the gifts and the anointing to heal. There are times when God releases the gifts of healing in certain places. “To another faith [is given] by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:9). Clearly healing is a gift given for the benefit of the Christian Church and for the glory of God.
2. Through the laying on of hands. It is the privilege of every true believer to lay hands on the sick and pray for their recovery. “they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18).
3. Through elders, prayer and anointing oil. Here the believer by his own volition calls for the pastors to pray over him. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14).
4. Through speaking the Word to your sickness.  This word must be spoken confidently. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).
5. Through the power of agreement and healing.  “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:19-20).
6. Through your own faith.  “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).
7. Through the name of Jesus.  “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
8. Through praying for others. . “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).
9. Through the faith of others. Jesus healed a paralytic because of the faith of the man’s friends. Jesus responded to their faith. Likewise believers can pray for others. “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic , ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house’” (Mark 2:5-11).
10. Through medicine.  “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matt. 9:12). God uses myriad approaches to effect healing for His own.




Opening Prayer:                                                                                                         Pg.5

Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we place our faith. Our study today takes us to the Home of Peter where Jesus is asked for help in healing a sick family member. We pray that you will enable our hearts to be open to your message, and no word be spoken that is contrary to your will . Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance that even though you are not present in body, you are most certainly with us in spirit. Offer them your healing touch as you truly are there with them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen

Overview
Our study is about Jesus visiting Peter’s home in Capernaum. He is asked to help Peter’s mother in law who was sick with a fever. Jesus had only to rebuke the fever and it left her. Even though Peter’s mother in law did not ask to be healed, nor did she speak at all, Jesus healed her. She then began to serve others.
A miracle is a phenomenal or supernatural event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers, and more often than not cannot be explained by the laws of nature. God never operates contrary to His Word or to the laws of nature which He has established, but He has the prerogative to supersede them. Instantaneous healings always constitute a miracle.
In this instance, Jesus gained more respect for his message as he continued to heal all who came to him for help and healing. It is further encouraging to read that Jesus was determined to deliver his message of salvation to all people. The good news found in the gospel is that we are not strangers to God and he will not leave us desolate and alone or ill with no recourse.

Closing Prayer:
Father God; Be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing touch. We pray now that  we will have your protection and guidance as we continue in our day to day living. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN

Jesus Confronts Evil

Confronting Evil Spirits                                                                                    pg.1
Luk 4:31  Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32  They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

After having been rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, and escaping possible death by the crowd who wanted to throw him off a cliff at Nazareth. Jesus moves on, intent on his mission,  He stops at Capernaum and on the Sabbath day he began to teach in their Synagogue, as was his custom. How is that done?  This was known as  "the freedom of the synagogue.  It was a policy that developed early in synagogue life to allow for various teachers, and the ruler had the responsibility to determine who that teacher would be. Here Jesus spoke with authority His words carried a powerful message. There was a commanding force in it. But as usually happens where Jesus is involved, something else also happens to further emphasize his ministry.

Q.1 Does his near death experience in Nazareth seem to have any effect on Jesus?
Q.2 Did you ever question how Jesus just walked into a Synagogue and began to teach?
Q.3 What do we hope to hear on our own Sabbath day?
Q.4 Does the fact that “his words had authority” convey any special meaning to us?                                        

Luk 4:33  In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,
Luk 4:34  "Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

This is the first of several encounters with demonic spirits that Jesus has, and in each case the demonic spirits recognize and acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.  No doubt he was speaking at this time.  Then the demon which possessed the man recognizes who Jesus is, and knows what is going to happen to him. He begins to call out for Jesus to leave him alone. In addition he causes the possessed man to fall to the floor. But immediately at Jesus command the demon leaves the man. It does not take long when in the presence of our Lord Jesus that evil, will flee. In fact even the mention of his name causes great distress to the evil one. And that was the case in this incident  
                                                                                           
Q.1 What two things stand out in these two verses?                                                                                     Q.2 What was a demon possessed person doing in the synagogue ?                                                         Q.3 What does a demonic spirit want with anyone?                                                                                     Q.4 Do we believe that there are evil spirits, evil people and evil throughout the world?                             Q.5 Do the evil spirits, evil people and evil throughout the world, know who Jesus is ?                             Q.6  Do even the evil spirits listen to him?

Pe 5:8  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

                                                                                                                                             Pg.2
           
Luk 4:35  "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

Here we have the first instance where Jesus performs an exorcism. There are many more instances. In each instance, the demons leave in a dramatic fashion. This instance of Jesus’ power, which many in our day make light of, was then looked upon as greatly magnifying him in power and authority. During Jesus’ time, there were no psychiatrists or mental therapists. And there were no  treatment facilities for those with psychological disorders. Today we have the doctors, and treatment facilities, psychologists, and psychiatrists that are available for those who have mental and emotional disorders. We can treat them and usually bring the disorder under control. But is that the same as an exorcism? And are the possessed people of today simply not recognized?

Q.1 How did the Demonic spirits recognize Jesus right away?                                                                   Q.2 What did people do in Jesus’ day with these possessed people?                                                             Q.3 Do we hear of such possessed persons in our world today?                                                                 Q.4 Do You believe that Jesus can heal such demon possessed people today, or was that just during his time on earth ?                                                                                                                                                                                      
Luk 4:36  All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!"
Luk 4:37  And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

Jesus with one single command silences the demon, and with another , drives him out of the man. Don’t we all wish for the authority of such a man as Jesus. There are those people today who suffer possession by demons.  Demon possession is not necessarily an illness and Satan is clever at disguising his demons. Only Jesus can conquer that which Satan is attempting to take from us. Jesus is the doctor of our souls and the author of our salvation, and he cares deeply about what we are going through as we live day to day.
That one single gift of God can and does provide for our salvation. That is the message of this exorcism. That words from Jesus can overcome the demons in our lives. Jesus Saves!

Q.1 How is it that this man was there that Sabbath day when Jesus was there too?      
Q.2 Do you consider it is the providence of God that allows us to meet Jesus?
Q.3 Is there a definite recognition of demon possession of which we are aware ?                                        Q.4 Is it a reasonable possibility that thru Jesus power even today that demonic spirits can be           exorcised?                                                          


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                                                                                                                                             Pg.3
Meditation

Today's world rarely recognizes a demonic spirit as anything other than a sickness, or mental, or personality disorder. And to be other than normal is just a human defect. True enough these things are real and do have consequences, and must be treated. But could it be possible that the common man of the world today is just not able to comprehend what the power of Satan is doing in our world? We keep, drifting farther and farther from the reality of the power of Jesus’ name. We seem to be catering more and more to the occult and to the heretical views of our world today. We try not to be offensive in our presentation of our religious beliefs. We do not want to offend anyone. Of course then the question is, What if Jesus had conducted his mission in similar fashion. Where would that leave the hope of our salvation?  Even the demons recognize him and have no choice but to obey his commands. Actually Satan knows very well that his world is a doomed world and simply wants to inflict As much harm, grief, pain and hopelessness as is possible while he is here. But we have this one thing as our hope. And that is the amazing power given to us at just the mention of Jesus’ name. We can call on him even in the hopelessness brought on us by our demons.

Satan leaves no stone unturned. But Jesus shows us his power and majesty over our demons through this example and many others which we will cover in our studies. This is just the first of several instances where Jesus recovers a lost soul from certain destruction by his powerful presence.  We are not told what happens to the man after the exorcism, only that  he was not harmed and the evil spirit left him. We would be left with the thought that after Jesus has finished this miracle, that life and the wholeness that Jesus has restored in the man has returned to normal. And he can resume his presence and worship of God in the synagogue. Jesus does that to all lives he touches. He changes the way one approaches life’s trials and tribulations. He magnifies his presence and diminishes the evils that plague mankind. Increasing the faith of the individual to such that even Satan’s wiles no longer claim our souls and we are free to worship God because of Jesus.

I highly doubt that the man with the unclean spirit was there in the synagogue by accident. In most cases, those with unclean spirits were kept in the homes, they were locked up or in ostracized communities, or they lived away and alone like the man who lived among the tombs with the legion of demons which possessed him. Thus, we can ascertain that this was not a coincidence here. That is why this confrontation is intriguing. Those that are looking for the truth see the authoritative teaching, and the signs and wonders that back up what Jesus, the teacher is saying. The power to subdue evil belongs to Jesus, and  Jesus only. Had the demoniac been able to buy his freedom from the demons, one has to wonder if that isn’t what he would have done.
News about good things spreads fast. This is what Christians are to exemplify in their lives so as to be living witnesses to the miraculous power that Jesus has to transform lost souls into redeemed souls for Christ.. Remember, the Christian is to  be bold for Christ at all times, especially in difficult situations.



Opening Prayer:                                                                                                         Pg.4

Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ whom we believe with all our heart is our Savior. We understand that there are people in this world who need to meet Jesus, and be cleansed. Our study today takes us to one of those places. We ask that no word be spoken here tonight which might be contrary to your will and that each word be blessed with your approval, or it not be spoken. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance that even though you are not present in body, you are most certainly with us in spirit. Offer them your healing Spirit as you truly are there with them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen

Our study today is about Jesus in a synagogue in Capernaum with a very disturbed man who beseeches Jesus to leave him alone. This man had an urgent need, Jesus answered his need and removed the spirit of evil which had captivated him. As a result the man was healed and Jesus had only to speak to the demon and it fled his presence. The man was unharmed because the power to subdue evil belongs to Jesus, and  Jesus only. Had the demoniac been able to buy his freedom from the demons, one has to wonder if that isn’t what he would have done.
News about good things spreads fast. This is what Christians are to exemplify in their lives so as to be living witnesses to the miraculous power that Jesus has, to transform lost souls into redeemed souls because of Christ. Remember, the Christian is to  be bold for Christ at all times, especially in difficult situations. Jesus can do miracles, we just need to trust him at his word.

Closing Prayer:
Father God,  be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. Some are ill some are conflicted, all need your healing power. We pray now that  we will have Your guidance as we continue in our day to day living. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN

The seven major exorcism accounts in the Synoptic Gospels which have details, and imply specific teachings
· Exorcism at the Synagogue in Capernaum,
· Exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac,
· Exorcising the Canaanite woman's daughter,
· Exorcising the blind and mute man
· Exorcising a boy possessed by a demon,
· Jesus exorcising at sunset
· Jesus exorcising a mute
· Jesus healing two blind men.

Jesus and rejection

Jesus and rejection

Jesus returns home                                                                                                                          Pg.1
Luke 4:14  Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15  He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16  He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,

It is important to note that he had already gained some fame and respect for what he had been doing just prior to coming back to Nazareth. Each of the towns had a synagogue and Jesus had been teaching in the various towns in the Galilee area. He came back to Nazareth to visit, and pay his respects and to partake of worship in the synagogue This seems to refer to what had been the habit of the life of Jesus while he had lived at Nazareth.  And surely all the people knew him.

Q.1 He returned to Galilee in the power of the spirit, what does that statement imply ?
Q.2 What reasons would bring Jesus back to Nazareth ?
Q.3 Going back to his hometown, and teaching. Would that be welcomed?

Jesus speaks
Luke 4:17  and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18  "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20  Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22  All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

This is the very heart of what Jesus is doing at this time. And it is what he tells the people there in the synagogue, He told them that the scripture in Isaiah 61:1 which he read to them there, was now fulfilled. and they spoke well of him and recognized him as Josephs son.  One would suppose that at that moment there were those who would be very pleased to see a hometown boy doing such a good job.

Q.1What do you think the townspeople felt about his presence in Nazareth at this time?
Q.2 Would there be any ill feelings or jealousy of him by some?
Q.3 What does the Isaiah scripture reveal to us as we read it?                                
Q.4 Would it have the same meaning to those Jews to whom Jesus was reading?                                
Q.5 What did Jesus mean by saying to them that the Isaiah scripture was fulfilled?



Jesus is critical                                                                                                                                 Pg.2
Luke 4:23  Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself!' And you will tell me, 'Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.”  24  "Truly I tell you," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

Here we hear Jesus beginning a critical observation as to what these townspeople probably will think of him. That is that a man ought to look at home, and take care of himself, and of those that belonged to him; and Christ was aware that his townsmen would object this to him, that if he was the person he was said to be, and could do the miracles and cures which were ascribed to him, he ought to do something of this kind at home, among them, who were his townsmen, neighbors, relations, and acquaintances. Familiarity breeds contempt; and we are apt to think meanly of those whose conversation we have been accustomed to;  He then quotes an old proverb, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown”.

Q.1 What is the reason that Jesus would speak out like this to his own hometown people?
Q.2 Is Jesus trying to provoke his fellow townspeople?
Q.3 Is there a possibility that he is reading the hearts of his townspeople?
Q.4 Do you agree or disagree that this old proverb is probably correct?

Jesus explains
Luke 4:25  I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.
26  Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.
27  And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian."
28  All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
29  They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.
30  But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Here Jesus speaks very frankly to the citizens of Nazareth. He taught in their synagogues, their places of public worship, where they met, not, as in the temple, for ceremonial services, but for the moral acts of devotion, to read, expound, and apply, the word, to pray and praise, and for church-discipline; and they were not responsive to his work in such a way that it served to show that they were changed in any way. And as an example he cites two instances; One where God thru Elijah does not come to the Jews during the three and a half years of famine, but only to a widow in Zarephath in Sidon who was in need. And anotherinstance where  there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian." God responds to those who respond to his servants

Q.1 Is there something Jesus know about his hometown people?
Q.2 So what did the people think of this criticism?
Q.3 Were the townspeople seriously thinking of killing Jesus?
Q.4 Do you find their reaction too severe?
Q.5 Was Jesus response miraculous or simply the providence of God?
Q.5 What do we know about the providence of God?
Opening Prayer
Jesus our savior, and our intercessor, we pray your blessing tonight, on this study. We pray that you would put the words and their meaning into our hearts and minds,  those words that you would have us learn from this study. We pray that no word be spoken here tonight, contrary to thy will, and that all here will be subject to your guiding Spirit.We ask your blessing on all families represented here tonight and bless all those who are seeking your healing hand for illness or conflicting relationships. We pray that your grace may abound and give them healing.  These things we ask in your Holy name Jesus, AMEN

This is the return to Nazareth that Jesus does where his hometown people ultimately reject him. What does he do? It is our intention to learn the intricate and minute details of each event in his life with a teaching moment in it.  There is no word he spoke and no act he committed that is not of paramount import to any who seek Jesus and his teaching.  We will attempt to relate these events to life as we know it in our world today. We pray that we will never be faced with the realization that these townspeople come to know


Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, God of our salvation. It is you through your Son Jesus who has made us and not we ourselves. We sometimes become so wrapped up in our own network of concerns that we forget that it is You through your Son Jesus  who really is in control of our world. We pray that your loving concern for us will be such that we will learn to be attentive to the words of Your son Jesus and that we will listen to him. We pray that we will respond to His call, we pray that you will find us and teach and minister to us and that we will never be guilty of rejecting Jesus, and that our response will be acceptable to Him. In the Name of Jesus we pray. AMEN

Jesus Speaks Healing

Where is Jesus?                                                                                                  Pg.1
John 5:2  Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.

Until the 19th century, there was no evidence outside of John’s Gospel for the existence of this pool; therefore, scholars argued that the gospel was written later, probably by someone without first-hand knowledge of the city of Jerusalem, and that the ‘pool’ had only a metaphorical, rather than historical, significance. Then in the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of a pool fitting the description in John’s Gospel. The name of the pool is said to mean house of mercy or house of grace. In both Hebrew and Aramaic the word could also mean 'shame, disgrace'. This dual meaning may have been thought appropriate since the location was seen as a place of disgrace due to the presence of invalids, and a place of grace, due to the granting of healing.

Q1. As Christians who believe the bible is the inspired word of God, are we to take all these location descriptions literally?
Q2.What other locations can you name that are verifiable

What Jesus Knows
John 5:3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6  When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
This man has been an invalid for 38 years. He has been hanging out at this pool near the temple, receiving alms for the poor. He has probably grown pretty accustomed to this lifestyle. No work, other people around. Even his answer is not a “yes”, but an “I’m trying to get in the water for healing but can’t get there fast enough.” I believe that God asks us this question more often than we realize: “Do you want to get well?” Jesus has the power to heal, not just physically but emotionally, psychologically, relationally.
Q1.Does one know when one wants to be healed?                                                                                 Q2.How did Jesus learn of this mans condition?                                                                                                Q3.What reason did he have for having never gotten into the pool?                                                                                 Q2.What are some of the problems of today's sick and ailing or crippled?                                    Q5.What are some of today's obstacles that prevent our being healed?                                        Q6.What is your feeling about vs. 4.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Question 6 is slightly off the subject of the lesson; Vs.4 is included in the KJV and not in the NIV, there are many theories and opinions. Some believe that the waters were medicinal and were more so at different times of the year; Some believe it was an Angel, seen or unseen:  All try to explain it, but are there those who need no explanation, who actually do believe it? Who is there that will deny that God has angels, and that they do his bidding? Was this the case at this pool?
         
What Jesus Does                                                                                                                 Pg.2
John 5:7,  "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."

Never was a sinner more helpless than was this man. If God gave him strength to do his will, so he can all others; and the plea that we can do nothing could have been urged with far more propriety by this man than it can be by any impenitent sinner. This man has been crippled for life, now he has been instructed to get up and walk. No doubt his crippled legs were straightened, and made whole while he lay there. Then when Jesus spoke, he did as he was told. It was a remarkable command. The poor man had been sick for a long time, and it does not appear that he expected to be healed except by being put into the waters. Yet Jesus, when he gives a commandment, can give strength to obey it. It is our business to obey the commands of Jesus, however feeble we feel ourselves to be. His grace will be sufficient for us, and his burden will be light.
Q1. Would it appear to this man at this point in his life that he has a chance for healing?
Q2. What would be our natural reaction to this command?
Q3. What is it about Jesus that is different from most men of that day?
Q4. To add drama to the event, what did Jesus tell him?
Q5. The man was told to get up and walk, Was that a possibility, considering his condition?
Q6. To respond to Jesus , the man needed incentive and strength, where was it to be found ?
Q7. When Jesus speaks things happen, are we prepared to respond when he speaks to us?

Who Jesus is
Joh 5:9  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10  and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." 11  But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.”12  So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" 13  The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

There will always be those who are willing, and given the grace of God to perform the tasks that God has set before us. There will also always be those who are determined to stop his work. They will use whatever means there are to make that happen. Satan has his ways of making a willing heart for God be as much inconvenienced as is possible. But if one is determined, Satan’s work will be nullified. Nevertheless Satan does not relent in his constant barrage against God’s will and against those who have a heart for God. What did Jesus do to answer Satan in the Wilderness

Q1.Could the man have done this without Jesus?
Q2.Are there those today that are that evil?
Q3.The man was simply doing as Jesus had told him, and should he have done that?
Q4.Why are these people so interested in what Jesus does?
Q5.Jesus had healed him without ever telling the man who he was, Why?
Q6.Are there times when people will want to chase Jesus away from us?
                                                                                                                                                  Pg.3
What Jesus says
John 5:14  Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15  The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

One might preach an entire sermon on vs.14 or on vs. 15. Actually the Gospel message that John was teaching and preaching during these same times, was that very message, Repent of our sins and be baptized, or something very bad is our destiny. And Vs. 15, Go and tell, evangelize all who will listen. In every case thus far, when Jesus worked a miracle or healing, it was then that the recipient of the act went and broadcast the news.

Q1. What did Jesus imply in vs. 14?
Q2. As the woman at the well, the man wanted it known that it was Jesus who healed him Why?
Q3. Rules, The Jews are quoting the law, why are they doing this ?
Q4. Are there miraculous works that Jesus does, that people broadcast today?



Jesus’ defense
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17  In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working."18  For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
17
And now here we are in today's world, still faced with some of the same situations and conditions. Jesus is being persecuted, The world leaders are aligning against Christianity, and Jesus speaks from the words in the Bible.

Mat 4:4  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Mat 4:7  Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Mat 4:10  Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Mat 4:17  From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Mat 4:19  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

Q2. Jesus, as the progenitor of God answers their charges with his defense. What is his defense?
Q3. And how do people today feel about that?   Pro & Con.
Q4. Are there those charges today, against Christians? Who is doing that?








Opening Prayer:                                                                                                   Pg.4                                                                                                                            
Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ whom we believe with all our heart is our Savior. We understand that there are people and places in this world where His presence is  anticipated, and welcomed. Our study today takes us to one of those places. We ask that no word be spoken here tonight which might be contrary to your will and that each word be blessed with your approval, or it not be spoken. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance that even though you are not present in body, you are most certainly with us in spirit. Offer them your healing Spirit as you truly are there with them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen

Our study today shows Jesus in a discourse with a very prominent man who beseeches Jesus to go with him to heal his dying son. Jesus is indeed our healer, he redeems, forgives, leads, and directs our lives if we but take the time to ask and believe that he can do as he says. All we need is to trust in him and do as he says. This man came to Jesus with an urgent need, Jesus answered his need and deepened his relationship with him. As a result the man’s son was healed and Jesus never even touched him, indeed never even saw him or even knew his name. Jesus can do miracles, we just need to trust him at his word.

Closing Prayer:
Father God,  be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. Some are ill some are conflicted, all need your healing power. We pray now that  we will have Your guidance as we continue in our day to day living. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN

Meditation:
In this Scripture, we glimpse how the encounter with Christ can strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” May that be our personal mission statement. God has plans for your life, and the lives of your loved ones. Our life is God’s gift to us, It may be filled with more hardships than we think we can possibly bear at times. That is when we rely on the faith we have gained in times of communion with Christ. God desires that we have a relationship with his Son, He desires for us to listen to him and learn from him, Our choice is to try to say “yes” not just when loving and trusting are easy, but even when it is very difficult and scary, and we desperately need him to respond. We are never alone. We are ever loved beyond all measure. But we need to be aware and certainly never underestimate what Jesus can do in our life if given an opportunity. He can do Miracles.                                                                  The Lord will rescue his servants, become one of them.

Faith In Times Of Crisis

Faith in Times of Crisis                                                                                                       Pg.1


Where Jesus goes
John 4:43  After the two days he left for Galilee. 44  (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

Christ went into Galilee, into the country of Galilee, but not to Nazareth, which was strictly his own country. He went among the villages, but declined going to Nazareth for a reason. Jesus himself testified, who knew the temper of his countrymen, the hearts of all men, and the experiences of all prophets, and it is this, That a prophet has no honor in his own country. Prophets ought to have honor, because God has put honor upon them and we do or may receive benefit by them. The honor due to the Lord's prophets has very often been denied them, and contempt put upon them. This due honor is more frequently denied them in their own country. Men's pride and envy make them scorn to be instructed by those who once were their fellow co-workers.

Q 1. What is this about, what’s wrong with Nazareth?
Q 2. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
Q 3. Did Jesus know that he would not be effective in Nazareth?
Q 4. Does Jesus know where he is not appreciated?
Q 5. Have you ever been in that position?

A  warm welcome
John 4:44  When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 45 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
We seek any possibility of aid when we are suffering, Jesus had just arrived, and the Galileans had welcomed him because they had heard of, or had witnessed his miracles. So the matter of his visit reached all ears and a royal official came to him with a request to come and heal his son. The mans request was an honest appeal to Jesus who can read all or any hearts desire. We do not get more desperate than when we have children in danger or near to death, we will do whatever it takes to help our children. Jesus no doubt saw this in the man and we see in the following
Q 1. Why did the people in The Galilee welcome him?
Q 2. He went into Cana, in Galilee, knowing that he would be welcomed there. Why?
Q 3. Why is the royal official seeking Jesus? Why not send a servant to fetch him?
Q 4. Might it be because he remembered Jesus’ act of turning water into wine?
Q 5. Did he have a need that Jesus could answer?
Q 6. So what is it that he is asking?
Q 7. And what was Jesus’ answer?





What Jesus means                                                                                                               Pg2
John 4:48 Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." 49  The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50  "Go," Jesus replied, "your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

Jesus does not tell this man that he had no faith, but that he had not enough. Although it was a general statement of the Jews of that day, describing the way their faith seemed to depend on actually seeing some sign or wondrous act which Jesus has accomplished in front of witnesses. If the official did not have faith of a sort, he would not have come from Capernaum to Cana, to beg him to heal his son.  However he was like most of us even today, we expect Jesus to come to our aid  and if he doesn’t then we are conflicted. If he had enough faith , he would have been contented with recommending his son to our Lord, without entreating him to go to Capernaum to heal him. It is not that he did not believe, it was just that at that time Jesus had performed real miracles and there were witnesses to it. This man probably thought it had to be done that way. Here we learn that our faith needs to be stronger, That we need not “Visit A Healer” to have access to what Jesus can do for us. He will do it “Long Distance” and without an intermediary.

Q 1. Do you see in Jesus’ answer as a hesitation to act ?
Q 2. Why did Jesus answer the way he did?
Q 3. And what was the response of the official ?
Q 4. Is this his second request?
Q 5. So is it a matter of how many times we make the request?

What Jesus did
John 4:51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him."
Jesus had healed him even without knowing his name, what sort of person he was or even going to minister to him, he just did it. In many instances Jesus does his healing and we do not know it, We don’t even know when or how. Many times in our lives the providence of God is working even before we ask in prayer. Jesus knows our heart, knows our intention and can work his miracle in us and we not even know it. The Father had come to Jesus and Jesus had performed the work of healing and no others in the family nor even the servants who worked for the man knew how it took place, they only knew it had happened, and they rushed to tell the father the good news. Just as do we when the goodness of God works miracles in our lives we like to let it be known, we like to tell of it. We “Go tell it on the Mountain”

Q 1. That must have been very uplifting, what do you think?
Q 2. And what was the response of the official ?
Q 3. Why did he want to know  the time?
Q 4. What effect does knowing what time it happened have on the matter?
Q 5. Do we like to have confirmation of what God is doing in our lives?



 The Jesus effect                                                                                                                  Pg.3
Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and his whole household believed. 54  This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee

Once we realize that it is God who sustains us, and brings us through crisis after crisis it does make our faith stronger. But with some people it does not take a crisis, it just takes commitment and encouragement. Not all of us are the same in faith and belief. With some of us it might have taken somewhat longer to make the metamorphosis but we do not need a miracle to show us what God can do if we just trust his care for us. We owe our lives to Jesus Christ thorough whom all things come into being. Some of us by miraculous healing. Some of us just by the providence of God’s looking after us day by day, like a shepherd looks after his sheep. And all by the Grace of God. And that is what Jesus does for the Christian Believer.

What we believe
Rom 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Rom 8:30  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Rom 8:31  What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
 There is no better or more loving relationship that human beings have to understand, than that of a parent and child relationship. However, once we realize that God Has a Son, and his Son is loved by him even more than you love your child, You will begin to understand that through the Grace of God he has Given Jesus’ life, and power, and privilege, so that he may own us as his children, you will then understand just how much Jesus loves you. He died for you. You are a Child Of God. He loves you ! He will heal you.

Q 1. Every Christian should already know this, but do we always act like it?
Q 2. Does it seem to you that when we are in crisis we get more of it?
Q 3. When it is shown that God has acted on our behalf, is our faith strengthened?
Q 4. Why did Jesus say what he did in vs. 48? (Go to the top of page 2)
Q 5. Does it seem to be that way to you? (Or do you just take him at his word)









Opening Prayer:                                                                                                                                  Pg.4
Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ whom we believe with all our heart is our Savior. We understand that there are people and places in this world where His presence is  anticipated, and welcomed. Our study today takes us to one of those places. We ask that no word be spoken here tonight which might be contrary to your will and that each word be blessed with your approval, or it not be spoken. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance that even though you are not present in body, you are most certainly with us in spirit. Offer them your healing Spirit as you truly are there with them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen


Our study today shows Jesus in a discourse with a very prominent man who beseeches Jesus to go with him to heal his dying son. Jesus is indeed our healer, he redeems, forgives, leads, and directs our lives if we but take the time to ask and believe that he can do as he says. All we need is to trust in him and do as he says. This man came to Jesus with an urgent need, Jesus answered his need and deepened his relationship with him. As a result the man’s son was healed and Jesus never even touched him, indeed never even saw him or even knew his name. Jesus can do miracles, we just need to trust him at his word.


Closing Prayer:
Father God,  be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. Some are ill some are conflicted, all need your healing power. We pray now that  we will have Your guidance as we continue in our day to day living. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN


Meditation:
In this Scripture, we glimpse how the encounter with Christ can strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” May that be our personal mission statement. God has plans for your life, and the lives of your loved ones. Our life is God’s gift to us, It may be filled with more hardships than we think we can possibly bear at times. That is when we rely on the faith we have gained in times of communion with Christ. God desires that we have a relationship with his Son, He desires for us to listen to him and learn from him, Our choice is to try to say “yes” not just when loving and trusting are easy, but even when it is very difficult and scary, and we desperately need him to respond. We are never alone. We are ever loved beyond all measure. But we need to be aware and certainly never underestimate what Jesus can do in our life if given an opportunity. He can do Miracles.                                                 The Lord will rescue his servants, become one of them.

JESUS & SERENDIPITY

Isa 12:2  Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." Isa 12:3  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isa 12:4  In that day you will say: "Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. 

A chance encounter with Jesus!                                                               Pg.1

What motivated this chance encounter?

Joh 4:1  Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John-- 2  although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3  So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
Jesus did not have to leave Judea, but knowing that the Jews in Judea were getting very jealous of him and knowing that he was gaining a reputation by spreading his ministry in that area, and realizing he could go to the Galilee and continue to spread his ministry even more. And safer.
Q 1.Is Jesus really worried about what the Pharisees think?
Q 2.All things work together for good…Do you consider it a good thing, Jesus relocating?
Q 3.Do you ever feel you should change the direction your life is taking?
Q 4.What motivates your spiritual life?

Why Did Jesus stop at this well?

Joh 4:4  Now he had to go through Samaria. 5  So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6  Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7  When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8  (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Jews did not look forward to having any  type of contact with any Samaritan. But there were times, of necessity that they might use their services or accept their goods. Usually in the business of commerce.
Jesus had to go through Samaria because His love and mission compelled Him to go. He did not skirt around to avoid encountering the disenfranchised, the outcasts, the broken, unwanted, and despised Samaritans.  His encounter with this woman is enriched by his asking for a drink of water. It was not provocation, It was out of Love for humanity that Jesus even spoke to her.
Jesus will speak sometimes, we must always be aware.
Q 1. Can you recall relationships that have been served by chance encounters?
Q 2. What is different about this meeting, and the meeting Jesus had with Nicodemus last week?
Q 3. Was there something Jesus could do to make this woman’s life better?
Q 4. Is there something we can do to make someone else’s life better?                                                                                              

A serendipitous moment with Jesus?

John 4:9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
The Jews did not associate with the common citizen of Samaria thus this woman was both surprised and perhaps even offended that Jesus spoke to her. She answered perhaps mockingly, and she responded in the negative. Yet Jesus at that moment gives her his message of ministry. After only two sentences, he gives her an interesting challenge. We never know from which of our encounters with others will come the one with the blessings from God.
Q 1. What was Jesus reason for asking for water, He could have gotten a drink?
Q 2. What did the woman react to, and why?
Q 3. Why did Jesus answer her the way he did?
Q 4. Have you ever experienced a blessing coming to you from an unexpected source?
       A serendipitous moment?


                                                                                                                                                                      Pg.2

Jesus answers questions                                                                                                           

Joh 4:11  "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12  Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" 13  Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14  but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The obvious comment is made by the woman, she could see he had nothing to draw water yet he says he will give her living water. How? Is he someone special? Then Jesus answer is even more intriguing, water offering eternal life? She certainly wants that.
Q 1. Jesus had nothing to work with so how was he to do this living water thing?
Q 2. Do you think that she began to question his accuracy or validity?                                            
Q 3. I think we know what Jesus meant, but does she understand ?
Q 4. Have you ever questioned The direction Jesus wants for you?
Q 5. What did Jesus want for this woman?                                                              

What Jesus Knows

Joh 4:15  The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." 16  He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back. 17  "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." 19  "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20  Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
A typical response from the woman, A practical application of what Jesus has offered her. It will greatly aid her lifestyle making her life easier. Did she have a hard life? Then Jesus answer is strange, and provoking. Totally off the subject, He tells her to call her husband,  this reveals her lifestyle, and Jesus comments about it. Does He really know all about her, husbands and all?. He knows about her sins. She then begins to realize he is special. How is that?
Q 1. Jesus answer about the water seemed to get her attention, could he help her?
Q 2. Jesus changes the subject. He brought up her personal failings, was that necessary?                                            
Q 3. The woman realizes Jesus knows her and all about her. What does she do then?
Q 4. Jesus knows all about each of us, does that make you stop and think?

The Jesus effect

Jesus is real, he actually does know everything about each of us, and what we need. If we would just let him, he would minister to our needs. So often, we are driven to fix it ourselves. Just as the woman when he spoke to her about the water of eternal life. She wanted it so that she could do it herself. If we just enter into dialog with him. He Speaks, we listen, and we become affected by his interest, as was this woman. Then as she did, we are compelled to let it be known. We then become his disciple.
Q 1. What about Jesus made this woman even speak with him, wasn’t she beneath him?
Q 2. Jesus changes everything. We often underestimate what He will do, why is that the case?    

                                                                                                                                                                            Pg.3

What Jesus Reveals 

Joh 4:21  "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22  You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." 25  The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26  Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you--I am he."
Jesus begins to tell her the real truth of honest worship. She is not worshipping the true God. No false Gods, idols etc which the Samaritans all took part in. The salvation of her soul is from the Jews. God is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Then she speaks of what she believes to be the truth, That the Messiah is coming.
Q 1. Jesus speaks firmly, the truth of worship, what point is he making?
Q 2. He says that the Samaritans do not worship as they should. What does he mean?                                            
Q 3. This is getting to be a religious philosophical discussion. Is it confusing to her??
Q 4. Are we willing to do this discussion with Jesus, examine our religious beliefs?
Q 5. Did she come to realize that Jesus was The Messiah?
Q 6. Do we act as if we realize that Jesus is The Messiah? Some do, some don’t, why?
Q 7. Here was Jesus, the Son of God, and the Author of her salvation, actually speaking to her,      devoting time to her, giving her the realization of her salvation, what effect did it have?

Jesus Changes everything

Joh 4:27  Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" 28  Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29  "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" 30  They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Joh 4:40  So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41  And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." The woman then became the first of what we would call  a witness for Christ. She was the very first woman Evangelist. She begins to tell everyone she meets about him.  She is so taken with him that her enthusiasm is contagious, and the whole town comes out to see him. No doubt with the question, who is this man? Can he actually be the Messiah?
Q 1. By asking for a drink of water from a common sinner, what has Jesus done?
Q 2. The woman is excited about Jesus and what response does that generate?
Q 3. Would one call that a proper response upon coming to know Jesus?
Q 4. She had to go and witness, had to agree with his intimate knowledge of her, Why?
Q 5. And so what is it the whole town is coming out to see?
Q 6. Are we too, destined to bring attention to Jesus by our testimony?





Opening Prayer:
Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ whom we believe with all our heart is our Savior. We understand that there are people and places in this world where His presence is not anticipated, neither is it welcomed. Our study today takes us to one of those places. We ask that no word be spoken here tonight which might be contrary to your will and that each word be blessed with your approval, or it not be spoken. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen

Our study today.  Last week, we were introduced to Nicodemus who comes to Jesus by night with a single question. This weeks encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman at the well. The contrast between Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman is striking. She is a woman, she has no name, but she meets Jesus at noon, in full daylight. She was the first person to whom he revealed he was the Messiah.  Jesus gives her the most profound discourse in Scripture on the subject of worship. That God is spirit and that worship is not an approach of the body to a church, or a thing or object  but an approach of the soul to the spirit of God. In their spiritual conversation this stranger (Jesus) was to her, first simply "a Jew"…then "Sir"…then "a prophet." Finally she sees him for who he really is, The "Messiah. Like Nicodemus, she first interprets Jesus' words on a literal level, but she is able to ask for what Jesus has to offer rather than question the possibility, as Nicodemus did. She is not certain that Jesus is the Christ, but she does not let that stop her from leaving behind her water jar, going into the city, and inviting the people to their own encounter with Jesus. She demonstrates what can happen when we actually engage in conversation and questions about our faith. She becomes a witness for him, she became the first evangelist.

Closing Prayer:
Father God,  be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our
efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Grant to us your protection as we leave here and go with us as we travel. Bless the families represented here tonight. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. Some are ill some are conflicted, all need your healing power. We pray that we will come to realize as the woman in our study did , that Your son Jesus is, our messiah, our counselor, our savior and our guide. And the only giver of that living water of eternal life. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN

Meditation:
We desire the life that is imaged by Living Water—we want to feel alive within ourselves—we want deep, fulfilling relationships; we want to be able to transcend our sometimes dreary day-to-day routines and discover beauty and grace, meaning and goodness. St. Augustine has said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” We know this about ourselves. It is the deep thirst each of us has—for a life of integrity and love. Our sins throw up impediments to those things. Without harsh accusation or disparagement, Jesus reveals the truth of our brokenness. Christ’s loving presence and his total acceptance of each of us has likely affected us more than we can realize in this life. The Samaritan woman came to this realization quickly. Ought we not also to do that?
In this Scripture, we glimpse how the encounter with Christ can set one’s life on fire. His spirit enlivens, gives one courage to face the truth of oneself and to reach out in love to others. It motivates, it fills, it nourishes. In his letter to the Ephesians, St Paul prays, “that God may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” May that be our personal mission statement. God has plans for your life. Your life is God’s gift to you, capable of being a participation in his own life and love. It may be filled with more hardships than you think you can possibly bear at times. That is when we rely on the faith we have gained in times of communion with Christ. God desires that his living water flood each of our lives and the entire universe, flowing in you and me, in us, through us and all around us. Our choice is to try to say “yes” not just when loving and trusting are easy, but even when it is very difficult and scary, even when we are in the painful process of being transformed and pruned by him. We are never alone. We are ever loved beyond all measure. But we need to be aware and certainly never underestimate what Jesus can do in our life if given an opportunity. He can do Miracles.

Prayer? why do that?

Question: "Why pray? What is the point of prayer when God knows the future and is already in control of everything. If we cannot change God's mind, why should we pray?"

Answer: For the Christian, praying is like breathing. It is easier to do it than to not do it. We pray for a variety of reasons. For one thing, prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38) and obeying Him. We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also. If He needed to pray to remain in the Father’s will, how much more do we need to pray?

Another reason to pray is that God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13); to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21); to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2); to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41); and to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).

We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.

For situations in which we do not know God's will specifically, prayer is a means of discerning His will. If the Syrian woman with the demon-influenced daughter had not prayed to Christ, her daughter would not have been made whole (Mark 7:26-30). If the blind man outside Jericho had not called out to Christ, he would have remained blind (Luke 18:35-43). God has said that we often go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). In one sense, prayer is like sharing the gospel with people. We do not know who will respond to the message of the gospel until we share it. In the same way, we will never see the results of answered prayer unless we pray.

A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of acknowledging and accepting God's power in our lives, it is our means of defeating Satan and his army that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a high priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18). May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.