Nothing to draw with?

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 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.) 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." John 4:7-10

REFLECTION
At an unusual time of the day – when everybody else is trying to protect themselves from the burning heat of the merciless sun - a Samaritan woman comes to Jacob’s well to draw water. Being a Samaritan woman is not a problem at this site, but being a lady with a questionable reputation for having serial sexual relationships does make her feel uncomfortable when other women are around. When everybody is gone, it seems safe for her to go to the well. But why is that Jewish man still sitting there in the shade and what does he want from her? Water? But he has nothing to draw with – or has he? Did he draw her with his unconditional love?

PRAYER
Dear Lord, I don’t want to exclude people, but secretly I still do. Sometimes I even exclude myself because I feel too embarrassed, too guilty and too unworthy to come into your presence. But there you are, waiting for me, asking for a little favour. It’s my pleasure, Lord. What can I do for you?
I want to be just as political incorrect as you are, Jesus. I don’t want to ignore or exclude people, I don’t want to be blind for their feelings of embarrassment and rejection and deeper needs for love and acceptance. I come to you, Lord, although I can’t even bring my own empty bucket. Silly man I am. But I do have a bottomless pit, a deep desire that only you can truly fulfil. Please come and pour your love into my heart till it overflows with compassion for all the lost people you came to serve and rescue.

He must become greater; I must become less.

An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:25-30).

REFLECTION
John the Baptist stepped aside politely as soon as he saw the Messiah. Even as a baby in his mother's womb he leapt up for joy because of such a special encounter - and as a grown-up man John pays his respect to his superior still. Jesus is Lord! - John the Baptist couldn't agree more. The bridegroom's best man shouldn't try to attract all the attention; the bridegroom's friend is just happy to be included in the wedding celebrations. John listens attentively as soon as he recognises the bridegroom's voice, his face lights up when the Light of the world appears... John wants to glorify his Lord and he wants to step aside and become less. Yes, John wants to become smaller - if necessary literally smaller - if that's what it takes to honour his Lord.

PRAYER
Lord, I can't thank you enough for the great things you reveal in your Word. I enjoy learning more about your beautiful people, your very own children! John the Baptist, a rough man with a tender heart - what a great witness he was! He didn't mind that people left him in order to become the Master's disciples. His joy increased with every living soul that surrendered to Jesus. He must become greater; I must become less. That's my prayer too, Father. Please use me to reflect your Son's bright shining light in this dark world!

Water and the Spirit

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:50-8

REFLECTION
Evangelists and TV-preachers didn't invent the idea that we all must be born again. Jesus, the Son of God, told us so! Can you ignore His command? Being born again... how hard can it be? Just like Nicodemus, I can't remember anything from my first birth experience. Just like this Jewish religious leader, I'm not able to enter my mother's womb in order to be born for the second time. It's easy to see that Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Why? Because he took everything so literally. Jesus explained that being born again is a spiritual experience. And just like your first birth, you just have to let it happen. Surrender yourself, humble yourself and allow God's Spirit to breath the new breath of life into your soul!

PRAYER
Father, how hard can it be to become reborn? Thank you that I know that I am born again already. This is not my work, but purely the work of your Holy Spirit. I'm a child of your desire, it was not my decision to be born for the first time. You are my loving Father, and I do choose to entrust my life into your hands. My Deliverer, in this moment I ask you, let everybody who reads these words make a decision to be born again, this time by the cleansing water of your forgiveness and the powerful inspiration of your Holy Spirit. Amen!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Johannes 3:16-18

Embrace

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. John 2:23-25

REFLECTION

Jesus was doing spectacular, miraculous signs and the people couldn’t believe their ears and eyes. Was it any wonder that the crowds followed him wherever he went? Jesus was a miracle man and again and again he astounded the masses with his powerful words and incredible deeds.
Yes, I’m sure Jesus had many followers. Or should I say: many admirers? What happened to this huge fan club when the hero refused to play in their Superstar movie? Where did they all go when Jesus explained to them that he had to lay down his life for a higher cause than an earthly kingdom?

PRAYER
Dear Lord, your painful question -"You do not want to leave too, do you?" - echoes in my ears and touches my heart. I don’t want to be just an admirer. I want to be your true follower. Yes, I know that this means that I have to carry your cross and that some people will laugh at me, ridicule me and even hate me. So be it. Do I have an option, Lord? I just can’t live without your words of eternal life. I know that you don’t need my testimony, but I do want to run this race until the very end and I trust that you will be waiting for me at the finish line with your arms wide open. This time to embrace me.