A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY PART II

"I, a Samaritan woman, live in Sychar in Samaria... I went to our well at midday today.... I usually go to the well at that time of the day... It is hot at that time of the day... No one wants to go to the well at that time of the day... I wished I did not have to go there at that time of the day... But I had no choice.... It was safe for me to go there at that time.... For no one else would be there..... I would be the only one there....I tried to avoid people whenever I could.... For they did not treat me kindly.... They gossiped about me.... I wished things were different.... I wished I had friends among the people.... But as it was, people either avoided me or they gossipped about me.... That made me very sad.... .To my surprise there was Someone at the well when I got there.... He was a Jewish Man.... A Rabbi....And He spoke to me... He asked me for some water."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that a Samaritan woman meets Jesus at the well.....

 

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY PART II 

Surprisingly, someone comes to the well. Who can that be? Let's read John 4:7-8 to find out

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food).

A Samaritan woman appears on the scene. But she cannot possibly be the person Jesus has gone to Samaria for to minister to since Jesus, as a Jewish Rabbi, is not supposed to talk to women in public. Moreover, she is a Samaritan woman and Samaritans are considered unclean.But Jesus actually begins to speak to her. Perhaps it is because He is extremely thirsty and His disciples are not around to provide Him with some water. So this may be an emergency and, therefore, Jesus may be willing to forget the proper rules and talk to the woman.

 

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY PART I

"I Jesus, had to travel through Samaria the other day... My twelve disciples were with Me.... We came to a town called Sychar.... It is a well known town in Samaria.... Jacob's well is here... We arrived around 12 o'clock midday.... It was hot... I was tired... So I sat down by the welll.... I was hungry as well... So I told My twelve disciples to get some food for us..... They left for the town centre.... I stayed behind to rest.... It was quiet at the well.... That was not surprising... It was too hot for anyone to come to the well to draw water at this time.... The women of the town will come here either early in the morning or in the evening....But I knew I had to be here ... At that time of the day.... I knew someone would come here... A woman who needed My ministry.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus and His twelve disciples travelled to Sychar in Samaria....

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                          IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY PART I

One day Jesus has to travel from Judea to Galilee and He decides to travel through Samaria as you can read in John 4:4-6

Now He had to go through Samaria. So He came to a town called Sychar, near the plot of the ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

In fact, Jews avoid travelling through Samaria. But Jesus has a purpose to go there, and you may wonder why. What could possibly be of such importance to Him that He has to go there? By the time He arrives at the place of destination, He is tired and need to take a rest. John takes notice of the time; it is the sixth hour, or to put it in our language; it is 12 o'clock midday. No doubt, it is hot at this time of the day, and He will be thirsty. Moreover, He will be hungry for He sends His twelve disciples into town to get something to eat for lunch as you can read a little later on. However, there does not seem to be anyone around who is in need of ministry. How strange. Perhaps Jesus has made a mistake, or at least a miscalculation as far as the time is concerned, for everyone knows that 12 o'clock midday is the hottest hour of the day and no one will come to the well at that time of the day.

 

 

                                 A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             LOVE POURED OUT PART XVI

"We, the sinful woman and Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, wanted to show Jesus how much we love Him... We both did that by pouring perfume on His feet at different times.... We did not know each other... Neither did we know of the same longing in our hearts to show Jesus our love for Him.... And how we tried to express that love to Him... We believe you may want to show Jesus your love for Him as well... You may not be able to pour perfume on His feet as we were able to do.... But you can show your love for Him in your own way... You may like to let Him know how much you love Him when you spend time with Him... You may like to spend time with Him reading His word.... Or praying... Or sharing your faith with others...Or ministering to other people in ways that He has shown you... Jesus loves you and has shown that by dying for you on the cross for you... So you can love Him in return by believing in Him.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that you too can show Jesus your love...

 

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                        LOVE POURED OUT PART XVI

These two stories of two different women pouring perfume over the feet of Jesus help us to see that Jesus cared deeply about both of them by receiving their ministry to Him. One of the women, as we know, was considered a sinful woman. Yet, Jesus did not reject her. Instead, He accepted her and her ministry to Him as a way to express her love for Him. He knew she was repentant of her sinful lifestyle so He forgave her of all her sins and enabled her to begin a new life empowered by Him. The other woman was Mary. She was a disciple of Him and had great understanding of who He was and what He had come to earth for because she had spent much time sitting at His feet. He received her ministry to Him because He knew by pouring perfume over His feet she was not only showing Him her love and devotion, she was in fact preparing Him for His death and burial. Like these two women, Jesus welcomes your ministry of love and devotion to Him because you matter to Him as much as these two women did even though Jesus is not physically with you. But you can show Him your love and devotion by giving Him your time when you read the Word of God or pray as well when you share your faith with others or when you serve Him in other ways that He has shown you. And you too will sense His love for you and His approval of you as these two women did for He came into the world to die for you as He did for these two women as we know from John 3:16

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

God loved not just these two women but He loves you and has shown that by sending his Son into the world. All you need to do is to believe in Him. 

 

P.S. Please accept my apologies for quoting the wrong passage in my last blog post when I quoted from John 12:7-8, not from John 4:8-7 in the Attachment.

In my next post I will begin to share the story of the Samaritan woman.

 

                                   A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                       LOVE POURED OUT PART XV

"I, Jesus, had gone to the home of my close friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus with My twelve disciples...We had gone there to celebrate the return of Lazarus to life... Martha had cooked a delicious meal...I knew she did this to she Me her great love for Me... Mary decided to show her love for Me in a different way.... She fetched a bottle of very expensive perfume...She poured it on My feet....I knew what she was trying to do.... She was trying to show Me her love for Me.... Moreover, she prepared Me for My burial....All My disciples looked on as Mary poured the perfume on My feet.....Did they understand why she did what she did?... Most probably not.... One of them, Judas Iscariot, most certainly did not understand it....In fact, he complained saying the money had been wasted on Me... So I told him off....For I know the real reason behind his complaint.... He is nothing but a thief.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus comes to Mary's defense....

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              LOVE POURED OUT PART XV

However, Jesus knowing that Judas does not really care about the poor, rebukes him for his words as we know from John 12:7-8

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will always have Me."

Jesus then discloses Mary's reason for pouring perfume over His feet. For Mary has sat at the feet of Jesus and has learned from him that the reason for His coming to earth is to be crucified. She knows the time of His death is neat and has anointed Him for that moment.

 

                            A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              LOVE POURED OUT PART XIV

"I, Judas Iscariot, am one of Jesus' disciples... We went to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus for a meal... Martha had prepared a special meal.... We were all enjoying our food... But then something happened.... Mary appeared behind Jesus....I have to say I had not noticed she had left the table....When she came back she had a bottle of perfume in her hand.... It was very expensive perfume... It was worthy a lot of money.... I know the value of money....I am the keeper of the money bag for Jesus....I wanted to tell her to give the perfume to me so I could sell it... But before I could say anything she did something unthinkable... She broke open the bottle of perfume... She then poured it on Jesus' feet... What a waste!!... I did not only think that.... I said it."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Judas Iscariot's objection to Mary's expression of love towards Jesus....

 

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                         LOVE POURED OUT PART XIV

For a moment everyone around the table will have been in such a shock over what they see happening in front of their eyes that they dare not speak. It is too much to take in for they realise that Mary is throwing away her life's saving. Such extravagance. it is good to show care and love for Jesus. But to give away her life savings might just be a little too much of a good thing. And then to loosen her hair in public! Mary ought to know that a proper Jewish woman never loosens her hair in public. It is simply not the thing to do. One of them expresses this thinking in words as you can read in John 12:4-6

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Judas Iscariot speaks up. He is indignant by what has happened. After all, this perfume is worth a lot of money, which has now been wasted. 

 

 

 

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             LOVE POURED OUT PART XIII

"I, Mary, am the sister of Martha and Lazarus... Our house is filled with dinner guests.... Jesus and His twelve disciples have come over...This is not their first time to come to our home for a meal... But this time we are celebrating the return of our brother Lazarus to life... I hear Martha in the kitchen cooking.... She sounds very happy... No doubt, she is in her element doing what she is best at.... I am sure she wants to show Jesus her love by preparing some special dishes for Him... I want to show my love for Him as well.... But I am not a good cook.... Martha knows that and has not asked me to help her in the kitchen this time... However, I know what I can do.... I have saved up some very special perfume for a special occasion.... I know that occasion is now... I will pour this perfume on Jesus' feet when we are eating our meal as a sign of my love for Him... And afterwards our home will be filled with the fragrance."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what Mary did to show Jesus her love for Him...

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                     LOVE POURED OUT PART XIII

In a way Marthat is right for Mary is doing something special for Jesus even though Jesus has not specifically asked her to do so. Let's read on to see what Mary is doing in John 12:3

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

While Martha is busy serving the dinner, Mary goes to her bedroom and goes to her secret shelf to fetch something she has kept all these years; a bottle of special perfume. This perfume represents her life's savings and may well be all that she has as far as any financial security for herself. But today she has come to the decision that this perfume is not to be saved up for the day that she may be in financial need. No, it is to be used for the One who has met her eternal needs by giving her eternal security. So with the perfume in her hand she returns to the room where the dinner is being held, walks up to Jesus and without saying a word, she opens the bottle and pours the perfume over His feet. She then loosens her hair and wipes His feet with her hair.

 

                                  A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           LOVE POURED OUT PART XII 

"I, Martha, remember one time when Jesus came to our home... I had been busy in the kitchen preparing the meal for Him and His disciples.... I realised I could do with an extra pair of hands... Where was Mary?... I did not see her.... She should be here in the kitchen with me.. Did she not know that was her place as a Jewish woman?...I looked for her and discovered that she was sitting down listening to Jesus' teaching...Did she not know that a Jewish woman never sits down with men and certainly not with a rabbi to be taught by him?... I decided to talk to Jesus.... He would know that Mary's place was with me in the kitchen.... But Jesus did not agree with me...He showed me tht Mary had chosen what was better... I have never forgotten.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about another meal that Jesus attended at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus....

            ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                          LOVE POURED OUT PART XII

Martha remembers a time when she was busy in the kitchen and Mary completely forgot to help her because she was listening to Jesus. Luke tells us this story in Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that  my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me." "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."

Remembering that event, Martha decides that perhaps Mary is doing something Jesus has specially asked her to do, so she better not get upset with her.

     

                       

                      WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY EASTER MONDAY

                                          

                                                        CHRIST IS RISEN!!

 

                                                     HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

                   

                                

 

 

                                  A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                                   LOVE POURED OUT PART XI

"I, Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, have prepared a delicious meal... I have prepared this meal for Jesus and His disciples... They have just come over to our house... They do come over regularly.... However, this time it is for a special occasion... We are celebrating the fact that Jesus has raised by brother Lazarus from the dead.... Mary and I are just so grateful to the Lord that He has given us back our brother... I want to show my gratitude to the Lord... The best way for me to do so it by cooking Him some of His favourite dishes.... I wonder where Mary is...  She is not here with me in the kitchen... I know that the kitchen is not her favourite place.... Perhaps the Lord has something for her to do... Anyway, I need to start serving my food before it gets cold."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Martha has been preparing a special meal for Jesus and His twelve disciples....

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             LOVE POURED OUT PART XI

The story of the sinful woman reminds me of another story when another woman pours perfume over the feet of Jesus. You can find it in John 12. Let' begin reading John 12:1-2

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.

The dinner mentioned in this story is held at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus and takes place a few days before Jesus' crucifixion. Martha has been cooking a wonderful meal and she has begun to serve the meal. She is looking for her sister Mary to help her with the serving of the food but Mary is nowhere to be seen. Where has Mary gone? She always seems to be doing other things when she is needed in the kitchen.