 Yes, so yeah, we will continue from where we had stopped in the last class So I just like to request somebody to pray and then we can get into our time of study today So anyone would you please like to lead with the word of prayer, please? Okay, Dave, would you like to pray? Okay, man having a father we thank you for this day and for this wonderful morning Thank you that you have given us this opportunity to come to that as a class to to learn from your word, but you just pray that you No, it was Nancy as he speaks from when you were as he teaches from your word but he looked at the word that comes out of our mouth be anointed by your by your spirit and and with the wisdom and your knowledge for Jesus so that those words may May give us life in our spirit of Jesus and we can learn so that we can learn it accept it and notice and Lord Lord we can compare everything that you want us to know Lord Jesus We thank you for this time once again. We submit it and every student who are here and Fasculating that in the name of Jesus I pray Amen, thank you. Thank you Dave for leading us in that word of prayer So we'll get back to what we were looking at in the last class. So we said that You know Jesus Initially, we saw the description of Jesus as deity and then how John the Baptist Talked about Jesus being much greater than him and then we went on to Seeing how Jesus did a sign he began doing his signs and miracles in Cana By turning water into wine and then in continuation We saw how the disciples of John the Baptist became the disciples of Jesus Okay, and how Jesus Spoke over the lives of different people. So you had a You know Andrew bringing in Peter you had Jesus speaking over Peter's life Jesus speaking over Nathaniel Knowing that he's a good man and then we went on, you know that way we just went on There was a Nicodemus who came to Jesus. So all kinds of people different class section of society they are coming because they have heard about Jesus and the ultimate Requirement that God puts before the people is to trust in him to know that he is the son of God So again when Nicodemus comes and he tries to ask him certain theological questions His answer is that you must be born again. So it's important to be born again We talked about that and then moving on We saw that, you know, there was a little bit of a Like the Pharisees were not very happy with Jesus So he thought okay, how about I move out of where I am right now and then he started moving towards Judea right and he decides Sorry, he left Judea and departed again to Galilee. So he was going to Galilee and the shortest route was through Samaria But the Jews would not take that route because the Samaritans were people who were considered as half-breed by the Jewish people We didn't go into the details of that. But basically it's something like when the Babylonians Had fought they took away the the cream of the society so there were People who were well to do educated all that, you know, the Samaritan such Samaritan people those people were taken captive by the Babylonians But the in Samaria the people who were left behind whether so-called lower section and nobody really wanted them so they stayed back and In the region as people from other parts You know started coming in these lower class Samaritans intermarried. So for the Jews The people who remained in Samaria. They were already the lower section and They had also intermarried. So they just felt that, you know, they're so mixed up and They no longer No You know the the ways of God or the so they basically thought that Everything has been diluted, you know religion culture Everything has been diluted and so they never liked the Samaritans They looked down on the Samaritans and even though it was the shortest route. They never took that They took some other way to go to Calilee but We see Jesus going through Samaria and we see the humanity of Jesus that he became thirsty If he was not human, how will he become thirsty? But it tells us he was tired and by the third third hour of the day Third hour or six that I Think it's a six that of the dates is roughly about 3 p.m. In the afternoon So you can imagine in the Middle East how hot it would have been So he's thirsty and he goes to the well and at the well It was customary for women to come and collect water and usually They say in the mornings, but for whatever reason one Woman came in the afternoon and she was collecting water and Jesus began talking to her so we saw that whole thing of how Jesus asks her for water and She's surprised that a Jewish man is talking to her and then you know While they're talking Jesus says if you if only you had known that Who is speaking to you? I am able to give you living water So see you see even in the case of Nicodemus Jesus presented that he is the way to life and in the case of the Samaritan woman also the discussion is about Normal things natural things, but ultimately Jesus wants people to know him So he's bringing the conversation to that that point He talks about living water The conversation from there it moves on to She asks a theological question. Oh, which is a good place to worship. So then Jesus tells her look It's not about the place right because the time is coming when the father seeks true worshipers They will worship him in spirit and in truth. So her question was where But you see God chooses to answer what he thinks is important for us to know So Jesus said he answered mainly the why and the who Okay, I will be able to offer true worship to God So in spirit and in truth and of course how they are going to worship the Lord So once this is done you know, it was probably a better thing for a man to talk to a Couple than just the woman in those days because it could have been considered You know, it would have gone down in a wrong way So maybe because of that Jesus said where is your husband? And then, you know, she begins to answer the question. Okay, but Jesus Through the word of knowledge reveals that she has had failed marriages and also right now She is in a relationship where that person is not her husband So when he brings out these things the woman says, oh, I perceive that you are a prophet, okay, I perceive that you are a prophet then Basically, she gets so excited about the Lord Jesus that you know, she goes and she tells everybody that He has told all things about her which again, it's not true But she was so excited that she Exaggerated what Jesus had actually done for her by this point You find that the disciples are back and they have come back with food for Jesus again Talking about the humanity of Jesus if he was not you remember when we talked in one John We said Actually the epistles of John we talked about how there were no sticks at that time who did not believe that Jesus was fully Man they were willing to say that Jesus is fully God But you say it's problematic even if we say that Jesus is not fully man or If we say that Jesus is not fully God either way, he cannot be the perfect sacrifice of the father So it's denying Christ Of who he is right or denying that Jesus is the Christ so it's problematic However, in this case, it's so clear that Jesus is so Dependent on the natural processes. He's asking for water now. His disciples are coming back with food And you know that that shows you that he is just like any one of us. Okay, so that's where we are at so Right now. Let me read from verse 28. Okay So this is about the woman Going into a city and telling the people then the woman Left her water pot 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? Then they went out of the city and came to him Okay, so lots of people came to Jesus in Samaria and they believed in him Now after this is when you know, we will talk about Philip doing ministry in Samaria later in the book of Acts after a few years, you know, Philip will be doing ministry and See how God Loves places he loves People he loves towns. He loves cities. Okay, and Jesus also in his lifetime had done ministry in Samaria so because of the Prophetic word or the word of knowledge which was spoken over this lady many came to believe Right, they came and they believed in Jesus. So every time you find that Jesus Jesus is directing people to know who he is and believe in him So even the sign which we saw the water turned into wine. What happened the disciples believed So belief is coming faith is coming in the hearts of the people as Jesus is speaking to them as he is doing the miracles. So That is what God expects when we read the word when we learn about Christ faith should arise Okay, we should believe we should trust and that is how the journey of faith is So if you read it and then it doesn't change us Then you know something is wrong with the way we are understanding God But you see chapter by chapter that is God's invitation to us Jesus what he said in what he did, you know, the people started believing he did the miracle people started believing so That is how God works and that is what it produces in you know people it should produce in people So now moving forward the disciples brought him food And when they brought him food, you know Jesus had a way of talking he would take the natural things and then he would Speak some spiritual truth. So earlier when water was being discussed He told the lady Okay, you want to give me water if only you knew you know who's talking to you I am able to give you living water or in other words your thirst your longing and We know that ultimately he was referring to her spiritual longing. I Am the one who's able to satisfy it. So that is the point he was making now the disciples They come and they urge him to eat He says to them I have food to eat of which you do not know So he's using the natural Eating and food to explain something spiritual. So then obviously the disciples are shocked. They're saying what is he saying? Why did he send us that he told us to go bring food and now he's saying I already have food What Jesus, you know, what are you trying to say? But it was a spiritual truth with Jesus is trying to bring out. So he says Uh, the disciples asking has anybody brought you food before us? So He explains the point and he says my food is to do the will of him Who sent me and to finish his work? So what is he saying? He's saying see when we eat food What happens? We are nourished We are again satisfied right deeply satisfied and we are strengthened. So Jesus is saying his satisfaction his strength right his nourishment comes from Engaging in the work which God has called him to do so he says my food is to do the will of the father So as long as I am doing what God has called me to do. I am strengthened. I am nourished I am satisfied and it's not just, you know, a little bit of what God had called him to do but He says to do it and to finish his work So that encourages us for us also to lead a fulfilling life We need to fulfill God's purpose for our lives Okay, we could be engaging in different things in our lives and hoping that those things will somehow You know it somehow life Goes on and the journey of life takes place and maybe you know those things are good enough for us to engage in But look at Jesus's life. It's a life of purpose and that is something you observe the whole time because he says this is happening because it was said or What was said is now being fulfilled. So Jesus is in line with the prophetic word Jesus is very much in line with the purpose that God had for him. You know, he Later, we'll see he'll tell his disciples that I'm going to You know die We saw in fact earlier. He said this temple I'm going to destroy it and then raise it up on the third day So he was always talking about his purpose and that is the life of Jesus even now. He's saying what is satisfying in life ultimately You know the things around us. Yes, they satisfy us a little bit We can't say that oh, I don't want money or I don't want this or I don't want that Yes, all that is to bless our lives But ultimately, you know, he says the fulfilling thing the satisfying thing is for a human being to Live according to the will of God for their life. That is what will satisfy us. So He talks about that and he says and I want to finish and That should be our goal Right, so our goal should be that I must walk in the will of God I must also fulfill the purpose of God for my life and that is An exciting journey to make that is the most Beautiful and rewarding journey for anybody to make and that is the example with Jesus has given us in the word So that is what Jesus was saying to run the race Paul Paul talks about the race, right to run the race and finish the race Okay For the purpose that God has for us. We have to hold on to it and Jesus was telling his disciples purpose is very important Okay, moving forward Then he begins to talk about this purpose, you know, and what is the purpose of God? We know that during his lifetime Jesus preached the message of the kingdom of God So he said the kingdom is here. The kingdom is within you Okay, and he did miracles and said the kingdom is upon you now So his work Was about bringing people into the kingdom of God. So he says look similar to how people say that When you look at the fields after you so There comes a time When there is a harvest So he's telling the disciples look in the when you look at the world around you or the people around you, they are like those those crops which have been planted and You know, when you look at them It's as if they are ready to be collected. So he says Lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest or he's saying People are ready to be brought into the kingdom of God Okay, and he says that that is our duty even that that is what Jesus came to do right, he came to pay the price to initiate the coming into the kingdom of People so he says It's as if people are everyone's ready the harvest Look at the fields. It's white for harvest Somebody has to go and collect it. The season has already come for us to collect the harvest and He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together So once again, you know, he is talking along the same Theme of doing the will of the father, which is work, which is labor So he says when we are doing God's will which is to bring people into the kingdom of God Now we may be doing different things in the kingdom. Okay, somebody is preaching somebody is You know serving somebody is Compassionately ministering to people so different things we are doing in the kingdom of God But when we are doing it with the goal of bringing people to the Knowledge of Christ what happens, you know, there is a reward. So that's also an encouragement people are ready and there's a reward He reaps he who reaps receives reward meaning When people labor for the harvest there is going to be a reward and he says gathers fruit for eternal life And what kind of a reward is this? It's not just when we serve in the kingdom of God It's not just something that will fulfill us right now, but eternally Eternally rewarding eternally fulfilling gathers fruit for eternal life Okay, so it's a very blessed reward and Even right now those who are laboring for the sake of the kingdom. What is the other benefit? We see that, you know, we rejoice together Everyone who's laboring rejoices together. So it's beautiful to serve God one is it is fulfilling Then there is a reward the reward is an eternal reward and we see that While doing this work We are able to rejoice with those who are also serving in the kingdom of God So he's basically talking about serving God and no life purpose and the reward and all that to the disciples Yeah, so then he kind of talks a little bit about you know, it sounds more like a teamwork for in this The saying is true one source and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored Others have labored and you have entered into their labors. So he's also reminding The people that the disciples they are not the first ones to serve in the kingdom of God Because earlier you have had so many people of God, you know, you had the prophets you had Devout and those who have prayed those who have spoken God's word those who have served Israel Okay, and God is reminding the disciples. You are coming after them. They have done their part Now you have to do your part But remember that there are so many laborers in the kingdom of God and together we are all Serving God. So you see how Jesus had a way of he really carried the wisdom of heaven okay and He took every opportunity to Disciple that's why we say disciples because in the Jewish culture a disciple was somebody who Would follow the life of the leader and that is why earlier we saw Jesus said come and see the people who want to Become Jesus's disciples those who are John's disciples, they've become Jesus's disciples So he says come come with me stay with me learn from my lifestyle and Every now and then any opportunity he gets, you know, it's like a teacher who really wants to build up the student okay, so in Like anything any subject actually you would find that the teacher would Train the student to tell all the small details Okay, off, you know, whatever the procedure or You know the the the subject so any incident the teacher will say okay look now it happened like this Why did it happen now tell me and then the students will give the reason so he's trying to help them get The the hold of the subject right in and out and that's a real teacher and that is how Jesus is He wants to disciple these people. So any and every opportunity natural opportunities He's taking to reveal spiritual truth and even us as leaders elders in the church Pastors it can be something simple, but we can speak the word of God through it, you know parents do this right when children are At home it can be something very simple like, you know, I don't know Cleaning the room the room is a mess and you have to clean the room So you just help them do that, but at the same time, you know teach them something about discipline teach them something about Like, you know order so Basically, it's about the heart of the teacher. How well do you want to equip your student or your disciple and Jesus is taking every Opportunity I'm sure he knew that he had roughly about three and a half years here on the earth But he had to impart all the wisdom which he had With him or if not all whatever he needed to write he was doing his best to give it over to the disciples, okay, so As I told you earlier in Samaria When Jesus had spoken to that woman and she went and told everybody We see that many believed right many Samaritans believed Jesus and You know that was kind of The way in which Jesus had done his ministry in Samaria So again, you notice sometimes we minister to one person Okay, and we think what can happen, you know, maybe God has called us to some cities and We don't know how we are going to touch the city. Yes, we can pray prayer is very important You know, we have studied about it in about when we talked about building the local church About Intercession how it's a spiritual engagement. So prayer is important In addition to that after praying for the city You know God sends people for us to minister to and in this case in Samaria only one lady now, how do we if we if we are Thinking in the natural way we may feel that This is not how the breakthrough will come God I will preach in a crusade then a lot of people will be saved in the city But you see how God is working for Samaria through one lady one lady at the well and Jesus ministering to her is touching the entire city because we read in verse 41 Many people came and verse 41 and many more believe because of his own word So she came she told everybody many others came and you know Jesus ministered to them And it's also says Jesus stayed two days. I told you earlier That the background of the Samaritans was not something That Jews liked so they never even wanted to go through Samaria But look at the Compassion of Jesus His heart for equality. He's not looking at class. He's not looking at, you know background But human beings because Christ died for us, right for mankind So that's all which mattered to him even man woman didn't matter Jesus did not wait for a man to come to the well or you know something else But there was a woman. It's okay. No bias. So he ministered So what are we saying? We are just saying that Every human being we may share the gospel with one person, but don't underestimate it Right, who knows that might that one person might be the open door for the gospel to spread to the entire city and we have seen this in the book of Acts Ethiopian eunuch Philip never knew spending some time with the Ethiopian eunuch means Gospel is going to touch the continent of Africa. So we don't understand God's design from the highest level, but we have to be obedient and Every soul is Important in the kingdom of God. We must not Think that God works the way we work So Especially, you know, if you have a ministry where you're still building right and one by one people are coming into a God's house Never feel bad that what is this only one person? What is going to happen through one person? Jesus didn't think like that The city of Samaria was touched by through or it started through the lady one lady So any person that God sends our way We can be excited to minister to them and we really never know how That can touch multitudes of people later on, right? So do your best for every single person who got sense Okay Okay, so these people who believed we're also told that they told the woman now We believe not because of what you said for we ourselves have heard him And we know that this is indeed the Christ the saviour of the world So the people of Samaria, they believed in Jesus With their own faith So it was not the woman's faith But they needed their own faith to put their trust in Jesus, you know, this is true even in families The parents can be very good believers But that doesn't help the children Because the children have to accept Christ as their saviour as their God Okay, so somebody said, you know God does not have grandchildren meaning every single person has to respond in a fresh way Personally to the message of the gospel. That's when they can be saved the way Jesus told Nicodemus. You must be born again Okay, if your father is born again, it doesn't help you If your father is born again, that's good for him But you must be born again and here in Samaria the woman accepted Jesus, but others also accepted Jesus personally. That's what we say, right? Personal saviour not just like a community One person believed in the community. So already all the people in the community are fine It doesn't work like that each one has to respond and the people are telling her look It's our own faith now Because you told us we are not believing we have already Tested tasted and we have believed so it is a personal faith now So Jesus has now Travelled and he comes to Galilee. Remember that's where he wanted to come. So he comes to Galilee So after the two days he goes out of Samaria comes to Galilee and Over there it feels like You know the Galileans they received him and you know, they they Jesus continued to do his ministry. So they receive him Because of whatever he had done. So having seen all the things he did in Jerusalem at the feast For they also had gone to the feast. So based on his works. They also kind of believe him Now from Galilee Jesus goes back to the place called Kena Kena, you remember the place where first time he turned water into wine Over there Now another man comes to see him and we are told that he's a noble man this person His son is very sick. Okay, and we are told that he comes from Kaepernum So, you know people are coming from other cities They've heard about Jesus and they're coming from other cities and also notice Jesus is traveling Right. So Jesus went from Judea through Samaria to Galilee from Galilee to Kena So Jesus is traveling. So obviously people have an eye on this Jesus and this man His son is dying. So somebody would have told him follow that Jesus. He's going here. Oh today He's here tomorrow, you know, he will be in this city So he understands the identity of Jesus and he's following. So he goes to Kena because finally That's the place where Jesus is at right now It's like a desperate father. If you see any anyone who is desperate They are ready to Go after the solution So this man Why was he desperate because his son was sick So sick that it's actually, you know at the point of death So he come when he heard of Jesus. He came out of Judea to Galilee And then, you know, he finally found Jesus in Kena And he kind of approaches Jesus and he tells him look I am in this situation Jesus But Jesus tells him Unless You people see signs and wonders you will by no means believe So by now as Jesus is doing his ministry, he realizes a lot of people were following him You could say You know for based on their own mindset They wanted to see signs and miracles and only then they would trust Now nothing wrong with signs and wonders and miracles, but it is as if that's all they wanted They did not even want the person who did the miracle. So Jesus understood, you know, if for example, you know Breaking the the bread and feeding the people. So a lot of people followed him because they thought oh free lunch If I go join Jesus ministry every day, you will get food. Don't worry. He will say, thank you. He'll break it We'll all get food. So they were following. So you see Jesus, he understood He knew the hearts of the people obviously by the discernment Through the Holy Spirit that these people are not after me They are after the food that I can give them. So the same way By now he had realized people were following him for signs and wonders not necessarily for him. So When this man came and he asked My son is very sick. Jesus at the point of death. So Basically, he's saying can you heal him? But Jesus is responding sternly And he says you people see signs and wonders you will buy no unless you see you will buy no means believe So it's also like a rebuke, right? But you see the desperation of this man the noble man He's saying you say whatever you want Jesus, but you know, I really need you You come and you heal my son before he dies Yes, so he's a very desperate father is a very desperate father. So Jesus understands that okay fine You know the this this man. There is some faith in him So what does Jesus do? He doesn't minister in a way Which is easy? Okay, I'll tell you why So Jesus tells him go your way your son lives Do you think it takes more faith to believe when Jesus wants to heal like this Jesus is saying You know, go your way your son is healed What do you think? Is that is what what is easy for us if Jesus says, okay, the sun is not well, I'll come with you Is that easy to believe or to believe? Go go your way your son is healed meaning. I'm not coming with you What do you think what is easy Jesus going with them or Jesus not going with them? What are your thoughts? No thoughts, sir. Not going would be just picking out Is it okay Okay, fine there. So that is Dave's point of view. What about the others? Suppose you're that parent and you say come my child is very sick Jesus What will make you feel better? Jesus coming with you to your house or Jesus saying, okay, I can't come you go your way Your son lives What will give you more faith? Jesus going will be better, I think isn't it. Yeah, even I like I feel that way if Jesus comes with me to my House to see my dying child. I'll have more trust. Wow. He's coming with me. He will touch the child Okay, my child will be well. Jesus says, okay Nancy. I don't have time You go your child is healed. It's more difficult for me to believe really. You're not coming My child and you're saying my child is healed and you want me to believe that You know It's hard. It's very hard. How to believe? He's only saying something But look at this noble man. Jesus said He's begging. He's saying, sir, please come my child. My child is dying Before my child dies meaning I'm at the end of the rope For that. What is Jesus response? Go your way your son lives, you know, it's like that Nehman in the old Old Testament Then he goes to the prophet He wants to be healed of his leprosy and He expects the prophet will do something. He will call down fire from heaven Something amazing something dramatic will be done. Then I'll be healed. But what prophet says go go to the river Dip yourself seven times. You'll be fine. And Nehman is shocked. What? So simpler You're asking me to just dip in the water seven times and I should believe this You know, sometimes This is how God works. He wants us to take him at his word and it's as simple as that but the simple can be hard to believe because Sometimes people want, you know, some drama something great, you know, Jesus Imagine if it would have said then Jesus went with the noble man to Cappanum He traveled and he traveled on a donkey and many people followed him and so much Very dramatic. He went to his house and there he did this. He told that Jesus made it very simple. He said, okay, let me see. Do you really believe? Okay, you go your son lives finished case closed And see the faith of this man The Bible says so the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and he went his way I don't know in many places in the Bible. It says Jesus Said oh great is your faith and all How come here Jesus didn't say anything But great is this man's faith it simply says The man is desperate and Jesus says I mean, he didn't say I don't have time or anything, but it's like that. I Can't come You go you go to your house your son lives. How beautiful it says so the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him That's all Okay, so this is This is how you know, God wants us to trust in him. This is how God wants us to believe in him, right? So This if you want to learn how what kind of faith to have the noble man is a great example He's a great example of faith Then let us see how faith works So faith works on the basis of the word of God in this case Jesus said Jesus spoke your son lives so faith comes from God's word your son lives Faith arose in that man's heart and what should be the response? believe the man believed and He went his way and it was Gapernaum was not close to Galilee. It was little far. Sorry close to Kena It was far away. So he's going back to Gapernaum and the whole way he went his way You think about it these days we have phone, you know, somebody would have immediately called up and said Yeah, your son is really healed Maybe he never knew what happened, but he continued to believe and he went And as he was going down his servants met him and told him saying your son lives Okay, so his faith Had seen him through and the word of God had already touched Somebody in Kapernaum. So see there is no distance in the word of God sometimes when we pray for people No, people also expect us to pray long prayer quote lot of scriptures This one, you know, Isaiah 53 By the stripes of Jesus, but let's say inspired by the word of God, we are praying we say, okay There's this this We pray that your your son be healed And after the prayer we just say brother, don't worry your son is healed Sometimes it's very simple how God's power works. We don't we should not complicate it Right one sentence Jesus said one sentence and what do we see here? The servants are telling your son lives. So then he tries to find out little more. Okay, okay Tell me tell me more. How did this happen? He inquired when he asked them and He understood, you know the same time when Jesus told him It says the hour when he got then he inquired of them the hour when he got better And they said to him yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him Your son lives and he himself believed and his whole house household. Wow, isn't that amazing? When God speaks right In this case like we see that word was released in the same hour The son was healed the fever left him and earlier also I told us that when Jesus performed miracles performed signs wonders What is the result of that? The disciples believed The Samaritans believed now the normal man He believed that his son will be healed But now it says he himself believed so now he believes in Jesus. Oh wow this man Something special about him. He's the Christ. So he believed in Jesus and not only he but his household believe Okay, so Everything that God is saying and doing what what should be the response of the people believe faith Okay, and faith is arising in the hearts of the people and The Bible records that this is the second sign which Jesus did in Kena Okay, all right. So what we'll do is we will take a break. We are kind of Done with the first session. We will have to look into the next chapter Which is chapter 5. So let's take a small break and then we will come back to proceed with chapter 5 Okay, so y'all are doing okay. So far. Is it making sense? Whatever we are discussing. Is it helpful? Okay, that's great. That's great Okay, I see something here on the chat going with them. Did I miss something? Is it a question? He was trying to answer the question. Okay. Okay. Got it. Got it. Okay. Got it. All right. Yeah Okay, fine class. Let's take a break and we will come back soon in 10 minutes. So 10 o'clock We will start again. Thank you