Watchman Archives

Irony is defined as follows: (1) Incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.  (2) An event…

Jesus is our Lord and Savior. He has established His own covenant, and has revealed to man what true worship under that covenant will be. It is left for us to search out His will, and submit to it fully. Only then will our worship of Him be, “in spirit, and in truth.”

(John 4:1-15)

After Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus (John 3), He left Judea, and traveled through Samaria on His way back to Galilee. Many took a circuitous route between the two regions to avoid the Samaritans, who were despised by the Jews. However, Jesus determined to cross through Samaria, and immediately struck up a conversation with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the city of Sychar.

Jesus’ disciples had departed into the city to buy food, and upon their return (vs. 27) marveled that he had talked with the woman. Jesus’ actions, and the content of the conversation itself, made clear that His purpose in coming to earth was to save all men, not just the Jews.

The beginning of the conversation supplies for us a wonderful application regarding the work of evangelism. Jesus used a mundane request, “Give Me a drink,” (vs. 7), to introduce Himself to the woman as the Messiah. But first, he had to deal with the woman’s perception of Jews. She wondered why he was talking with her, because, as she said, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (vs. 9). Instead of directly answering the question, which was most probably an expression of her animosity, He intimated that He was the Messiah. He said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (vs. 10).

The phrase “gift of God” is a bit obscure, as it could refer to the giving of Jesus himself (cf. John 3:16), or perhaps the gift of salvation. The phrase “living water” was likewise obscure, at least to the woman, as she made the same mistake as Nicodemus, assuming that Jesus was talking about the physical rather than the spiritual. However, Jesus’ manner obviously disarmed and intrigued her, and allowed Jesus an opportunity to teach her important truths relative to her redemption.

Jesus’ words caused her to first ask, “Are you greater than our father Jacob?” (vs. 12), then to proclaim, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” (vs. 19). Finally, after their conversation was finished, she showed her growing faith by asking her countrymen, “Could this be the Christ?” (vs. 29). To the honest of heart, the words and works of Jesus clearly showed Him to be someone special, (cf. John 3:3), for He “taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22).

The woman was first confused, as she thought Jesus was referring to the water in the well. The well was deep, and Jesus had no container to use to draw the water. Even after further clarification, she still thought Jesus was referring to actual water, perhaps from another location, that would forever slake her physical need (vs. 15).

Jesus, of course, was referring to the spiritual rather than physical. As Dan King puts it in his commentary on John,

It is easy for us to see in these words an allusion to the quenching of the spiritual thirst wrought by the gospel in the hearts of men. But this was a truth which the Samaritan woman could not yet hope to grasp. Her thoughts are upon physical needs and the relief which He might give her from the daily toil associated with visiting the well and drawing water from its depths. (pg. 76-77)

We should not be too harsh in our estimation of this woman, as she has many companions. Nicodemus was already mentioned, asking, “How can a man be born when he is old?” (John 3:4). The multitude in John 6 misunderstood Jesus’ reference to the bread of God, saying, “Lord, give us this bread always” (vs. 34). Even his own disciples often misunderstood His spiritual references to his death, resurrection and reign as the Christ.

Of greater importance is the promise itself, “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (vs. 14).

What Christ offers us sustains us for an eternity. While we will always get thirsty again, no matter how much we may drink, this spiritual water supplied by Christ quenches our spiritual needs forever. We have a better understanding of Jesus’ words than did the woman at the well, but our request should be the same, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst…” (vs. 15).

A look back at the lessons learned from the events that occurred on and after September 11, 2001.

A good way to begin our study would be to define the word grace.  Grace is defined as, “Favor, goodwill for or toward another… to…

I just spent the night sitting with a co-worker/friend whose house had burned to the ground with everything they own still in it.  My friend,…

The Bible (Greek; biblia) is a collection of sixty-six books of divine inspiration.  The Bible is a timeless masterpiece that has been printed in 2,454…

Meekness is not weakness, but is the ability to choose to exercise great strength in the form of self-control. It is not apathy, but the ability to distinguish between personal injuries and offenses against the things of God. Meekness is needed in the life of a Christian, and is the means by which we will dwell with God in His kingdom for eternity.

One of the interesting parts of any book or movie about time travel is watching the characters try to figure out the progress and customs…

The Bible condemns the recreational use of alcohol, even in moderation. The only reasonable and honest conclusion that can be drawn from 1 Timothy 5:23 is that it is proper for a Christian to use a small quantity of wine for medicinal purposes. However, one must acknowledge the fact that the Bible uses the word “wine” in a generic manner, often referring to unfermented grape juice, which was the preferred remedy for stomach disorders during the first century. This text also indicates that Timothy did not drink any wine, which argues strongly in favor of the early church practicing abstinence when it came to the consumption of alcohol.

Complaining does not accomplish any good for our spiritual lives or for the cause of Christ. It brings down efforts, stifles enthusiasm, causes dissatisfaction, discontent, and division. Complaints directed toward God are a sin on par with idolatry and fornication. Christians are not to grumble against one another lest we be condemned. Instead, we are to do all things without complaining and disputing.

The image of Christ that lingers should never be one that looks the other way at sin and error, but which confronts it, sometimes mildly and sometimes boldly, as the occasion requires (Jude 22, First Thessalonians 5:14). To follow his example, we must first examine ourselves (Matthew 7:1-5). Only then do we truly honor the babe in the manger who became the savior on the cross by upholding all the truth all of his life.

We can present ourselves as candidates for peer pressure when we do not make the proper application of the Gospel in our lives.

Our giving may be the most obvious way in which we lay up treasure in heaven, investing our prosperity in the kingdom of our hope by providing money bags which do not grow old, a treasure that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:33-34). This is our Jubilee, not just every fifty years, but every first day of the week and every day in between–a simpler, selfless life.

Some people today believe that they have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues and to prophecy, to perform miracles, to heal the sick and cast out demons. Regardless of the sincerity of these individuals, these claims do not harmonize with the Bible’s teaching regarding the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were real. They were given to believers through the laying on of the hands of an apostle. These gifts were the means of equipping the church and confirming the word to unbelievers. When the last apostle died, these gifts were no longer available to mankind.

Psalms 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”  There is a feature that most of us put a lot of…

Solomon wrote, “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6).  Most young people look forward…

Spring is in full bloom, and with the increase in temperatures, we see a corresponding decrease in the amount of skin covered by those who…

Haman was hanged on the very gallows he built to kill the object of his rage, but the danger is no different today when we act as if blessing and salvation avail us nothing because we can’t obtain satisfaction or the objects of our lust, envy and covetousness. Learn to be content.

The Bible has much to say about the Christian’s victory in this life.  The apostle John writes, “For whatsoever is begotten of God overcomes the…