A Divine Appointment

Read the Text: John 4

Memorize the Text:   Don’t you say, “There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields because they are ready for harvest.” (John 4:35)

Consider the Text: John 4

A divine appointment is motivated by compassion for the lost. It forces us to willfully cross-cultural, social, and economic boundaries to connect with people for the purpose of communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ. This encounter occurs from a deep desire to see those separated from the Lord respond to the gospel and receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Two characteristics exist concerning a divine appointment. First, God orchestrates these opportunities to share. Second, we must not miss the appointment God arranges. In John 4, Jesus modeled the engagement of a divine appointment. 

Jesus demonstrated how we must be MOTIVATED by a care for the lost. The Bible says that Jesus “had to travel through Samaria.” This statement reveals the motivation of Jesus to reach those in need of the gospel. Normally, a Jew would pass around Samaria because of their dislike for Samaritans, but for Jesus, the eternal need for his divine appointment outweighed all earthly stigmas. In a world so divided by cultural, ethnic, social, economic, and many other subcultures, may we come under the motivation of eternity and the work of the gospel to cross those lines. 

Jesus showed us how we need to be WILLFUL to cross various boundaries. John 4:7 identified a cross-cultural opportunity for Jesus when the Apostle identified “a woman from Samaria.” This statement revealed two taboos that the world identified as barriers that Jesus must never cross, cultural and social. Samaritans were considered half-breeds. As a result, the Samaritans were disliked by both Jews and Gentiles. For Jesus to travel into Samaria for this divine appointment indicated that no cultural boundary ought to stand in the way of fulfilling the mission of the Lord to reach the nations. 

Jesus crossed a socially forbidden boundary as well. Jesus engaging a woman at the well would have been questioned by the world, but this woman, in particular, drew notice because she came to the well at a time when others were not there. She was a social outcast of a social outcasted people. Motivated by the desire to reach the lost, Jesus cross these social barriers to share with her the message of the gospel. Are we willful to cross lines like these for the sake of the gospel? Do we struggle because of concern about what others may “think” if we engage individuals in these subcultures? 

Jesus exemplified how we need to CONNECT with people. Jesus met the woman amid her circumstance and position in this world. He used a moment in life, gathering water at the well, for the purpose of sharing the eternal truth of the gospel. Jesus set the stage to later command his follower to “Go and make disciples,” meaning that as his followers walk through life that the mission of the kingdom of God should be part of their journey. 

Jesus connected with the woman at the well by using real-life examples to point to the eternal truth. He used the everyday example of water to speak of the eternal water that never fades away. At the same time, this relevant connection led to a connection on a personal level as Jesus spoke to her concerning her personal situation with a man in her life. Jesus addressed the woman’s great need for salvation by connecting with her on a personal level to speak clearly to her. 

Jesus modeled how to COMMUNICATE the good news of Jesus. Christ spoke of her sin-filled life. He did not condemn her but drew her to a place of awareness. He identified the sin in her life and declared that she must not continue in such a lifestyle. Jesus called out her sin with a compassionate nature but refused to coddle her and allow her to think it is okay to continue living in that manner.  He called her to change. 

Jesus did not stop at calling out her sin but continued by speaking of her need. Jesus declared her need for forgiveness and salvation with simplicity and clarity. He identified that without living water, her life was in grave need because she remained separated from the Lord. She was called to seek forgiveness from the Lord through salvation. Thus, Jesus offered her the needed solution. Jesus did not tell her of her sin and leave, but he pointed her to the eternal solution needed in her life. 

We need to see how Jesus interacted with the woman at the well during this divine appointment and take note of how we must follow his lead. We are called to reach across the barriers formed by humanity and invite people to a relationship with Jesus. We need to guard against self-righteousness and over-elevating ourselves and remain humble and passionate in the work of the gospel. What barrier is keeping you from sharing Jesus in obedience? What commitment will you make to overcome the barriers?

This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.