Just a comment…?
Today I want to connect some dots and help you see a remarkable truth about the Bible. The gospels are full of Jesus making doctrinal foundations that later are expounded on by the disciples. This is important to understand so that you can see how Jesus will make a comment and, in doing so, bring out a massive truth that will define a theological mountain. A great example of this is found actually in John chapter 4. In short, Jesus travels through Samaritan country and has a rather remarkable discussion. This discussion with the Samaritan woman establishes a characteristic of the Church before it was announced.
John 4:19-26 “19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you [Jews] say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 “God [is] Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am [He.]”
She wants to know where we should worship, and Jesus rightfully brings the discussion to the source. He first identifies that the Jewish laws set down by Moses were correct, but that a day was coming when people would worship by the Spirit. He leaves the location purposefully vacant. In doing this, He foreshadows an intrinsic characteristic of the Church; we are everywhere and anywhere at any time. There is no place that the Gospel of God cannot reach, no place that the Church is off limits to go and proclaim God’s good news. Jesus later would expound on this with:
Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Mark 16:15-16 “15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Luke 24:44-48 “44 Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 “And you are witnesses of these things.
Acts 1:4-8 “4 And being assembled together with [them,] He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” [He said,] “you have heard from Me; 5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
These commandments make Jesus’s simple discussion with the Samaritan woman that much more important. It is why when we study the New Testament, we need to recognize that Jesus will plant a seed of doctrine which will later on be brought to fruition by the disciples in their writings. It is why Jesus states in John 16:5-7 and John 16:12-15 “5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you…. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear [them] now. 13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority,] but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare [it] to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare [it] to you.”
This simple discussion, later on expounded on by Jesus Himself and the disciples, first reveals itself in a simple conversation by the well that Jacob would be at. The symbolism is too instrumental to pass on. Here we see Jacob having a life-preserving source, and yet through his bloodline, a savior who would be the true source of life would come, and He (Jesus) would talk about His followers being able to worship God in Spirit anywhere. Jesus is defining that the preserving truth was about to go global! What a declaration that He simply states while in conversation with a Samaritan woman discussing salvation with her. Is Jesus not the most incredible person in history?
So, as you read through the Gospels and Jesus makes a comment, try to identify where the disciples would expound and build on the foundation that Jesus had created. How ironic that Jesus, who is identified as the “cornerstone,” would also be the theological cornerstone to everything discussed later on past the Gospels. I would encourage you to seek to understand every part of what Jesus says and watch how His words will guide and comfort you.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL