What Jesus Did! 'A Confusing Christ?' — John 4:27

Monday, March 14, 2022

We're Short of Our Goal...Will You Help?

Your support is truly needed. Even small donations makes a big difference!

 Donate Now
Just then [Jesus'] disciples came back [from the village]. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, "What do you want with her?" or "Why are you talking to her?"
— John 4:27 NLT

Key Thought

The disciples returned and found themselves confused and astonished. Jesus was doing the unthinkable - he was visiting with a woman from Samaria. During their journey with Jesus through his years of ministry, they found themselves confused again and again. Why? Because Jesus came to reach the lost, to save the sinner, to heal the sick. He reached out and touched the untouchables and welcomed the outcast and sinners. He broke the religious culture's "rules of engagement" as he broke through every prejudice and every barrier to reach the seeking heart. We may not know how to cross barriers as well as he did, but we know we must try. Jesus' meeting with the woman is not just an example to us of reaching beyond cultural barriers; he also made cross-cultural outreach a command for us to obey in his Great Commission when he said to go to "all the nations." [1] He is not really the confusing Christ; he is the Christ on a mission to reach the world. Let's join him in his quest.

[1] Matthew 28:18-20.

Today's Prayer

Father, please give me a heart for people who are seeking for your life. Give me the wisdom to see the opportunities to touch these seekers that you have placed in my path. Let my love for the lost astonish others to your glory and to the furtherance of the ministry of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Live Like Jazz!
Article by Paul Faulkner
Running an organization and managing your life is a lot like playing jazz! Paul Faulkner reminds us that while we may have plans and ideas on how to arrange and achieve our future, life requires improvisation and adaptability as we keep in step with the Spirit of God.
Leaving the Bucket Behind
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, I surprised My closest disciples at Jacob's well in Samaria. We were traveling from Judea to Galilee, and Samaria was the region..."
A Dry Time
Article by Tom Norvell
Who around you needs more than just a drink? Tom Norvell talks about a spiritually dry time, when there seems to be a void in our souls and spiritual life seems difficult and he reminds us of the woman at the well in John 4 and how Jesus gave her much more than water and how she shared this water wi
As Different as...
Article by Phil Ware
How important are our differences? Phil Ware continues his series on Outside the Walls, looking at Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well and reminding us that they are more alike than they are different: both need Jesus and his truth, life, and love.

Illustration

Illustration of John 4:27 NLT — "What do you want with her?" —— "Why are you talking to her?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, March 14, 2022

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Lloyd John Ogilvie:
"Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'The Song of Moses and the Lamb' (Re. 15:3)
"[They] sang the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Esther 10:3
"Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore, being exalted to the highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of....."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Peter's Parting Exhortations'
"Dear Precious Disciple, Much as 2 Timothy serves as a farewell message for Paul as he nears the end of his life, 2 Peter plays a similar role for the..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!