5.4 The Revelation of Jesus
The Revelation of the Messiah: An Encounter Beyond Prejudices

Read John 4:16–24. What does Jesus do to show this woman that He knows her innermost secrets, and how does she respond?

In John 4:16–24, Jesus brings the woman at the well into direct contact with the truth of her life by revealing her innermost secrets. When He asks her about her husband, He touches a sensitive point in her life, prompting her to recognize Him as a prophet. However, instead of further opening up to this truth, she tries to steer the conversation toward an old religious controversy—the proper place of worship. This attempt shows how people often avoid deeper self-awareness by diverting to familiar topics.

However, Jesus does not engage in the discussion about the place of worship but uses the opportunity to convey a greater truth: Worship is not an external ritual nor is it bound to a specific place. True worship occurs “in spirit and in truth.” Thus, Jesus calls the woman to go beyond cultural and religious boundaries and seek a deep, personal connection with God.

Through Jesus’ revelation that God is Spirit and that worship must be based on truthfulness and inner devotion, the woman understands that she needs more than just religious practices—she is invited to seek God in her own heart. This simple yet transformative truth prepares her to receive more and opens her heart to the living water that Jesus offers. Jesus’ response reminds us that true worship is not tied to external places or traditions but is rooted in an authentic and direct relationship with God.

Read John 4:25–26. How does Jesus reveal His identity to her?

In John 4:25–26, Jesus does something extraordinary: He reveals to a simple Samaritan woman that He is the Messiah—the clearest and most straightforward self-declaration of His identity in the Gospels before His arrest. He does not choose a large gathering or respected individuals but a woman who is considered an outsider in society and struggles with her past. This choice demonstrates Jesus’ love and appreciation for every individual, regardless of social status or background.

This encounter highlights that Jesus did not come only to impress large assemblies but also to reach those on the margins of society who feel lonely or worthless. Revealing His identity to this woman shows us that God meets us on the most personal level, where we often feel the most vulnerable and unrecognized.

By knowing her secrets and yet revealing His identity, Jesus not only gives her deeper self-awareness but also a clear reason to believe in Him. This encounter shows that true encounters with God often happen where we feel forgotten by the world, and that His love embraces and renews us in our deepest brokenness. Jesus’ revelation as the Messiah to this Samaritan woman reminds us that God’s grace and revelation are open to everyone—regardless of past, culture, or social standing.

What should this account teach us about why the Gospel must tear down the barriers we build between people?

This account of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman vividly shows us that the Gospel knows no cultural, social, or moral barriers. Jesus speaks with someone whom society views as an outsider—a Samaritan woman with a complicated life story. For many Jews of that time, a conversation with her would have been unthinkable. Yet Jesus overcomes these boundaries to bring her the message of salvation and renewal.

The Gospel requires tearing down barriers because God’s love and salvation are intended for every person, regardless of origin, social status, or past. When we judge and exclude people based on external standards, we hold back the transformative power of the Gospel and block others from accessing God. Jesus’ actions teach us that genuine love and the pursuit of unity in faith should transcend human prejudices.

This story calls us to become aware of our own prejudices and to dismantle them so that we can make room for the Gospel to truly build bridges. The Gospel itself is a call to reconciliation and to valuing every person as God’s beloved child. Tearing down barriers means living and proclaiming Jesus’ message of love and redemption in a way that reaches everyone—without conditions or reservations.

The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman reminds us that God’s love and His message know no social or cultural boundaries. In our daily lives and faith journey, this story calls us to question our own prejudices and barriers and to be ready to meet the people around us with openness and empathy.

1. Breaking the Limits of Acceptance: Just as Jesus overcomes the societal barriers between Jews and Samaritans, we are also called to overcome prejudices and divisions that separate us from others. Whether in school, the workplace, or the neighborhood—true love and acceptance should go beyond origin, status, or past. Jesus’ example teaches us that every person is valuable and that the Gospel is meant for everyone.

2. Seeking Authentic Encounters: Jesus shows that true worship and encounter happen “in spirit and in truth.” In our own faith life, this means seeking God not only in external forms or specific places but experiencing Him in a deep, authentic relationship within us. Similarly, we can learn that encounters with other people should also be honest and without masks—without relying on superficial judgments or societal categories.

3. God’s Love as a Foundation: Jesus reveals Himself to the woman as the Messiah—not to a privileged or respected person but to someone whom many see as an outsider. For us, this is a powerful reminder that God’s love is unconditional. This love should shape our interactions with others and strengthen our trust that God knows and accepts us, no matter where we are in our lives.

4. The Gospel as a Bridge: The Gospel itself is a message of reconciliation and a call to unity. When we appreciate people in their diversity and break down prejudices, we create space where God’s love can work. This story encourages us to live out the Gospel by reaching out to people who think or live differently and opening ourselves up to genuine connection.

In daily life, Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well shows us that love and healing begin when we become aware of our own prejudices and learn to see people through God’s eyes. This way, we can not only proclaim the Gospel but also make it alive through genuine relationships and community.

True strength is shown when we lay down prejudices and approach others with an open heart.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-5-the-testimony-of-the-samaritans-5-4-the-revelation-of-jesus-themes-in-the-gospel-of-john-living-faith/

October 30, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – Acts Chapter 3

¹ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

² And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

¹¹ And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

¹² And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

²² For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

King James Version. Public Domain

 

Commentary

Introduction

The Book of Acts, written by Luke, continues the narrative from the New Testament Gospel of Luke, documenting the spread of Christianity following the ascension of Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 of Acts marks a significant turning point in the early church by describing the first public miracle performed by the apostles Peter and John. This passage, known as the Healing of the Lame Man, illustrates not only the power of Jesus working through his disciples but also the growing tension between the emerging Christian community and the religious leaders in Jerusalem. The healing at the temple serves as a catalytic event, leading to intensified persecution and an expansion of the apostles’ missionary efforts.

Commentary

Verses 1–10: The Healing at the Temple

The scene opens at the ninth hour (3 PM), a time of prayer in the temple, as Peter and John gather to pray. The lame man, crippled from birth, sits daily at the “Beautiful Gate” (the temple’s entrance) and asks visitors for alms. His daily presence at the temple gate underscores his dependency and lowly social status as a beggar.

When he recognizes Peter and John, he asks for alms, but Peter responds in an unexpected way. Instead of money, Peter says, “Look at us!” — a call for a personal encounter and trust. Peter then explains that he does not have material wealth but offers healing in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” This declaration emphasizes the authority and spiritual power granted to the apostles.

The lame man is immediately healed, stands, walks, and accompanies them into the temple, praising God. This instantaneous healing, demonstrated through the man’s walking and leaping, attests to the reality of miraculous works through the apostles. This miracle not only represents physical healing but also signifies spiritual liberation and the arrival of God’s Kingdom.

Verses 11–26: Peter’s Sermon to the Crowd

People who recognize the formerly lame man are astonished and shocked by what has happened. Observing their wonder, Peter seizes the moment to deliver a powerful sermon.

Peter begins by acknowledging the crowd’s amazement and redirects their attention from the apostles’ own power to God, saying, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this?” He clarifies that the healing was not by human strength but through the power of God. Peter references the glorification of Jesus, whom the leaders had handed over to Pilate and denied.

Peter condemns the rejection of the Holy and Righteous One, identifying Jesus as the “Prince of Life” whom God raised from the dead. This declaration underscores Jesus’s divine nature and role as Redeemer. Peter emphasizes that faith in Jesus’s name is the source of healing, highlighting the miracle’s spiritual significance.

Peter then calls the crowd to repentance, saying, “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” He references Moses’s prophetic words, stressing the need to listen to the prophets. The call to repentance and the announcement of Jesus’s return connect the lame man’s healing to the Christian eschatological hope.

Theological Implications

The healing of the lame man symbolizes the holistic healing that the Gospel brings—physically, spiritually, and socially. It demonstrates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and affirms the apostles as legitimate leaders of the church. Emphasizing Jesus’s name and faith as the means of healing highlights Jesus’s central role in God’s redemptive plan.

Peter’s sermon links the miracle to the necessity of repentance and the acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah, establishing a clear distinction between the old religious system and the new Christian faith. Acts 3 thus reveals the power of the Gospel and the transformative impact of faith on individuals and communities.

Summary

Acts Chapter 3 describes the remarkable healing of a man lame from birth by Peter and John at the “Beautiful Gate” of the temple. This miraculous act draws the attention of the Jerusalem crowd and leads to a public sermon by Peter. In his message, Peter emphasizes that the healing occurred not by human strength but through the power of Jesus Christ, whom they had denied. He calls the audience to repentance to receive forgiveness for their sins and points to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. The healing of the lame man and the subsequent sermon mark a pivotal moment in the spread of early Christianity, affirming the apostles’ divine authority and presenting the Gospel’s message to a wider audience.

 

 

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/30-10-2024-acts-chapter-3-believe-his-prophets/