Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
John 4:16-18
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
Commentary:
4:17 no husband. While technically truthful, the woman’s curt statement is probably intended to close the subject. But Jesus, with gentleness and compassion, reveals both her sin and his omniscient knowledge of her life.
4:18 The woman had had five husbands who had either died or divorced her. When Jesus says the one you now have is not your husband, he implies that merely living together does not constitute a marriage. A marriage requires some kind of official sanction and public ceremony at which a man and woman commit to the obligations of marriage and the community then recognizes that a marriage has begun (see 2:1; also Song 3:11; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 9:15). Sexual relationships prior to marriage were without question thought to be morally wrong (Gen. 38:24; Ex. 22:16; Deut. 22:13–29; Matt. 15:19; John 8:41; Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2, 9; 1 Thess. 4:3; cf. the imagery in 2 Cor. 11:2).
4:18 The woman had had five husbands who had either died or divorced her. When Jesus says the one you now have is not your husband, he implies that merely living together does not constitute a marriage. A marriage requires some kind of official sanction and public ceremony at which a man and woman commit to the obligations of marriage and the community then recognizes that a marriage has begun (see 2:1; also Song 3:11; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 9:15). Sexual relationships prior to marriage were without question thought to be morally wrong (Gen. 38:24; Ex. 22:16; Deut. 22:13–29; Matt. 15:19; John 8:41; Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2, 9; 1 Thess. 4:3; cf. the imagery in 2 Cor. 11:2).
Questions:
- As Jesus usually does, he cuts straight to the point with this Samaritan woman. He puts his finger on the very source of her pain and embarrassment. He calls out her sin. Jesus was full of grace and truth. While he wasn't afraid to be seen hanging out and chatting with this sinful woman, he also wasn't afraid address her sin issues. When you look at your relationships with people that live in sinful ways or are far from God, what is YOUR grace/truth balance? How might it change the dynamic if you intentionally went into those situations consciously trying to be a good balance of both grace AND truth?
- The woman wanted nothing more than to keep her sin hidden from this religious man. She must have been mortified when he called her out. He had just forced her to face her sin head on and deal with it. No more running. No more hiding. She was exposed in the best way. This is what Jesus does and what is required in order to have a relationship with him. We must let him deal with our sin problem. Is there any secret sin in YOUR life that, like the woman at the well, you try your best to keep hidden? How might this sin be holding you back in your relationship with Jesus? What would it look like for you to confess this sin to someone close to you, and who might that be if you did?
Pray:
- That you would strive to be full of grace and truth.
- That you would be quick to confess sin and move on with Jesus.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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