Monday, April 21 – John 4, Mark 2 – Additional Reading: The Desire of Ages, Chapters 19 and 20

1. How do true worshipers worship God? (John 4:24)

2. What was the “food” Jesus preferred? (John 4:34)

3. At what hour was the nobleman’s son healed? (John 4:52)

4. How did Jesus respond to those criticizing Him for eating at Matthew’s house? (Mark 2:17)

In today’s reading, we find Jesus fully engaged in His ministry, first passing through Samaria, and later in Cana and Capernaum of Galilee.
The text says, “He needed to go through Samaria.” (John 4:4). Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well was no accident. It fulfilled a divine purpose. This story has inspired countless hymns, poems, reflections, and sermons.

The lessons from this encounter can be summarized this way: God feels the need to seek you. Even if you are unaware, He sets a divine appointment with you and goes out of His way to meet you. You are a precious instrument in His hands, even if society looks down on you for who you are or the mistakes you’ve made. The soul’s thirst is satisfied only through an encounter with the great “I AM.”

Prejudices are human. To God, all His children are equal. Jesus transcends human preconceptions. That afternoon, He surprised the woman, His disciples, and an entire region, and He should still surprise us. The despised Samaritan was worthy of His effort. “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” (John 4:32)

Society has often been harsh toward women. In many places, it still is. Yet Jesus had no problem approaching a woman, speaking with her, and choosing her as His instrument in a great mission. He could have chosen others; He likely chose her because of her need, knowing she would appreciate it more. Most certainly, He chose her because of her willingness: “The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ‘Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’” (John 4:28–29)

This encounter and the Samaritan woman’s testimony sowed the seed for a great harvest. Jesus’ words to the disciples that day were visionary. Not long after, the deacon Philip and other disciples would reap a great harvest there, as seen in Acts 8.

Mark 2 recounts miracles, Matthew’s calling, and the controversy the Pharisees stirred regarding fasting and the Sabbath.

The Pharisees judged and criticized Jesus based on their traditions and practices concerning fasting and the Sabbath. Though they pretended to be pious, they lacked the joy of communion with God. They were friends of law and criticism, enemies of Jesus and the feast. The moment was one of joy, “because the bridegroom” was with them (Mark 2:19), but they didn’t recognize it. In the dryness of their works-based religion, their spiritual experience had lost its freshness. They were unable to accept what God was doing right before their eyes.

There is a thread running through today’s stories and throughout the Bible: the essence of faith is not found in rituals and outward practices. It is found in maintaining a living and fresh relationship with the One sent by God. He is the Living Water. He has the power to forgive sins and heal. He is the Bridegroom of the feast. He is the Lord of the Sabbath.

I pray that you may drink each day of the water of life through a living and daily communion. May the cloth of your experience stay new. May the wineskin of your soul always be ready to receive new wine. And may you enjoy a renewing experience of rest in fellowship with the Lord of the Sabbath. Amen.

May God grant you a richly blessed day alongside your loved ones.