TURNING RELIGIOUS RELUCTANCE—John 4:1-26
Turning the Religious Lost
Attention:
When I was a young tween-ager(9-12 yrs.) Daddy bought me a ‘Cox’ brand miniature ‘Baja Bug’ Volkswagen. It was about a foot & 1/2 long & was built to scale. It had fat tires mounted on shiny plastic ‘mag’ wheels. It was orange.
It had a ‘miniature model internal-combustion engine’ which actually functioned. Those engines & the toys that used them(airplanes/cars/boats) put the ‘Cox’ company ‘on the map.’
It was not a remote control car but the front wheels would turn. They could be set in one of three positions. I would pull the string & start the engine(very loud by-the-way). The rear wheels would turn & it had one speed, fast!
Since it was not remote controlled or tethered it would go randomly. Because it was so fast & light, if it hit even the smallest a leaf or pebble or crack in the road, it would turn where I didn’t want it to go or even flip over completely.
But 99% of the time it ended up going in a tight circle!
It was not as much fun as I thought it would be because it was not remote controlled. I was very disappointed with it’s going around & around in a circle.
I would constantly have to pick it up while the engine was ‘screaming’ & reset the wheels only to set it down & have to pick it back up & reset it again within a few seconds.
*The toy car was Reluctant to turn, But turnable nonetheless!
Everybody has a religion—right or wrong!...Everybody has a belief system to which they subscribe—right or wrong. Even atheists have a religion & are religious people.
These may be Reluctant to turn, But they are turnable nonetheless!
*We are all called to serve God in spirit & in truth!
Need:
Jesus divulged/bore witness of/ His Messianic identity to a reluctant/hesitant but religious woman.
God’s people bear witness of Messiah’s/Jesus’ identity to reluctant religious people.
How/When will God’s people turn the reluctancy of the religious?
-OR-What will turn their reluctance?
16 insights received that can turn religious reluctance to God.
1—Turning religious reluctance to God’s way requires...
SERVICE Insight(:1-3)
Explanation:(:1-3)
:1—“Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made & baptized more disciples than John”
John’s testimony was that he regarded Jesus’ ministry as the focus & end point of his own heralding/forerunning ministry(3:25-36). A discussion had arisen with the Jews about purification(3:25-26) due to Jesus’ baptizing more people than John. This called into question the tie between Jesus’ ministry & John’s.
Thru John’s disciples being approached by the Jews(many of whom were Pharisees), Jesus had become well aware that “the Pharisees”(a particular & powerful legalistic/conservative sect of the Jews) were aware of His actions. The “Pharisees” held clout among the Jews because they were adamantly conservative in their acceptance of the Scriptures, yet they were also adamant legalists typically adding to the Scriptures, which additions/hedging they justified, in seeking to protect themselves from violating personal holiness.
“Pharisees” were a Jewish sect or party whose members voluntarily took upon themselves a strict regimen of laws pertaining to purity, sabbath observance, prayer, & tithing. They joined together in”...“Pharisaic communities, to which initiates were admitted after a probationary period,” wherein they would be recognized as “Pharisaic brothers” to one another. “A Pharisee was usually a layman without scribal education, whereas a scribe was trained in rabbinic law & had official status. The Pharisees & scribes observed & perpetuated an oral tradition of laws handed down from their former teachers & wise men of Israel.” “They taught that it had been handed down from Moses & was to be given the same respect as the written laws of the Pentateuch.”—ISBE(‘Pharisees’—Traditional view).
“the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief & life. They sought for distinction & praise by outward observance of external rites & by outward forms of piety, & such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, & alms giving; &, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works.” “In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods & the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy & their country's cause, & possessed great influence with the common people.” “They were bitter enemies of Jesus & his cause; & were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, & affection of piety in order to gain popularity.”—Thayer
“Therefore”—oun—Particle—1) Then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so. Strong—apparently a primary word; adverbially--Certainly, or conjunctionally--Accordingly.
“When”(See :25)—wv—Adverb—1) As, like, even as, etc. Strong—probably adverb of comparative from ov, h, o; Which how, i.e. In that manner(very variously used).
“Knew”—ginwskw—Verb—1) To learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel—1a) To become known; 2) To know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of—2a) To understand, 2b) To know; 3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man & a woman; 4) To become acquainted with, to know. Ginwskw denotes a knowledge grounded on personal experience. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb; To "know"(absolutely) in a great variety of applications & with many implications.
“Pharisees”—Farisaiov—Noun Masc.—1) A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief & life. They sought for distinction & praise by outward observance of external rites & by outward forms of piety, & such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, & alms giving; &, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good & evil angels, & to the expectation of a Messiah; & they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, & be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods & the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy & their country's cause, & possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus & his cause; & were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, & affection of piety in order to gain popularity. Strong—of Hebrew origin [compare vrp paw-rash’(to separate, literally--to disperse or figuratively--to specify); also by implication--to wound)]; A separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.
“Heard”—akouw—Verb—1) To be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; 2) To hear, 2b) To attend to, consider what is or has been said, 2c) To understand, perceive the sense of what is said; 3) To hear something—3a) To perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence, 3b) To get by hearing learn, 3c) A thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn, 3d) To give ear to a teaching or a teacher, 3e) To comprehend, to understand. Strong—a primary verb; To hear(in various senses).
“Jesus”(See :2, 6, 7, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21, )—Ihsouv—Noun Proper Masc.—Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation”—of Hebrew origin [ewvwhy Yeh-ho-shoo'-ah; or evwhy Yeh-ho-shoo'-ah]; Jesus(i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord & two(three) other Israelites.
“Made”—poiew—Verb—1) To make—1a) with the names of things made--To produce, construct, form, fashion, etc., 1b) To be the authors of, the cause, 1c) To make ready, to prepare, 1d) To produce, bear, shoot forth, 1e) To acquire, to provide a thing for one's self, 1f) To make a thing out of something, 1g) To (make i.e.)render one anything—1g1) To (make i.e.)constitute or appoint one anything, to appoint or ordain one that, 1g2) To (make i.e.)declare one anything, 1h) To put one forth, to lead him out, 1i) To make one do something—1i1) cause one to, 1j) To be the authors of a thing (to cause, bring about); 2) To do—2a) To act rightly, do well—2a1) To carry out, to execute, 2b) To do a thing unto one—2b1) To do to one, 2c) with designation of time--To pass, spend, 2d) To celebrate, keep—2d1) To make ready, & so at the same time to institute, the celebration of the passover, 2e) To perform: to a promise. Poiew denotes "to do", prassw - "to practise"; poiew to designate performance, prassw intended, earnest, habitual, performance; poiew to denote merely productive action, prassw definitely directed action; poiew to point to the action result, prassw to the scope & character of the result. These words are often used interchangeably. Strong—apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; To make or do(in a very wide application, more or less direct).
“And”—kai—
“Baptized”(See :2)—baptizw—Verb—1) To dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge(of vessels sunk); 2) To cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe; 3) To overwhelm. Strong—from a derivative of baptw; To immerse, submerge; To make overwhelmed(i.e. fully wet); used only(in the N.T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically)--Of the ordinance of Christian baptism.?Later Addendum:—Baptizw is not to be confused with baptw. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizw is a text from the Greek poet & physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles & is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped'(bapto) into boiling water & then 'baptised'(baptizw) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change.
“More”—pleiwn, neuter pleion, or pleon—Adj.—1) Greater in quantity—1a) The more part, very many; 2) Greater in quality, superior, more excellent. Strong—comparative of poluv/pollov[Much, many, largely]; More in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural)--The major portion.
“Disciples”(See :2, 8)—mayhthv—Noun Masc.—1) A learner, pupil, disciple. Strong—from manyanw[to learn (in any way)]; A learner, i.e. Pupil.
:2—“(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),”
Jesus Himself was not the physical baptizer(Cf.-3:22). However He was the condoner & authorizer of the baptisms that took place. Jesus’ “disciples” actually performed the baptisms. These “disciples” who “baptized” were probably the twelve, as they were closest to Him & His teaching.
“For he himself did not personally baptize any, but left it to his disciples, himself attending to the greater work of preaching the gospel, by which men & women were made fit for the ordinance of baptism.”—Matthew Poole(1700)
This brings a reminder as to how we can be guilty of separating laity from clergy & vice-versa. Yes there are stern warnings thruout the New Testament as to how certain giftedness of the Spirit is to be approached appropriately(Eph. 4:11-12, 16; 1Cor. 12:27-31; Eph. 2:19-22; Js. 3:1; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1Pet. 5:2-4; 1Tim. 5:17-20). There are definite upper hierarchical roles for certain of the gifts.
But let’s not forget that the pastor, associate pastor, elder, deacon, committee head is bottom-line, no ‘better’ a Christian than yourself. He is only gifted differently! It is a matter of being faithful to minister in the way God wants him to.
Eph. 4:11-12, 16—“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, & some pastors & teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”.....“from whom the whole body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
1Cor. 12:28-30—“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”
Eph. 2:19-22—“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers & foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints & members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles & prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Js. 3:1—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
Heb. 13:7, 17—“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”.....“Obey those who rule over you, & be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy & not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
1Pet. 5:2-4—“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; & when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
1Tim. 5:17-20—“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word & doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” &, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”
“Though/Although”—kaitoige—Particle—1) And yet, though. Strong—And yet indeed, i.e. Although really. Used 3X.?From—kaitoi—And yet, i.e. Nevertheless—&—ge—1) Indeed, truly, at least; 2) Even; 3) If indeed, seeing that. Strong—a primary particle of emphasis or qualification(often used with other particles prefixed).
“Himself”—autov—Pronoun—1) Himself, herself, themselves, itself; 2) He, she, it; 3) The same. Strong—from the particle au[perhaps akin to the base of ahr[air] through the idea of a baffling wind]--Backward; the reflexive pronoun--Self, used(alone or in the comparative eautou) of the third person , & (with the proper personal pronoun)of the other persons.
“Not”(See :18)—ou, ouk, or ouc—Particle—1) No, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. Strong—a primary word; the absolute negative [compare mh] adverb; No or not.
“Baptize”(See :1)—baptizw—Verb—
“But”—alla—Conjunction—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[else, i.e. different]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations). RWP—Perhaps, "nevertheless," in spite of the difference just noted.
“Disciples”(See :1, 8)—mayhthv—Noun Masc.—1) A learner, pupil, disciple. Strong—from manyanw[to learn (in any way)]; A learner, i.e. Pupil.
:3—“He left Judea & departed again to Galilee.”
The Pharisees(:1) were now aware that Jesus’ baptisms were gaining more attention than John’s(3:26). Jesus knew that these ‘religious power brokers’ would turn their attentions to Him rather than to John. These “Pharisees” disdained any(thing) that did not conform to their own theological leanings, & their leanings did not include Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus was a threat to their life commitments(educational, teaching, lifestyle).
The center of the Pharisee’s greatest radiation & influence was “Judea” as an extension of the capital Jerusalem(1:19). Pharisaical belief denied any Messianic attachments to this Jesus of Nazareth.
Due to John’s testimony regarding Jesus’ ministry as the supernatural focus & fulfillment of his own fading ‘heralding’ or ‘forerunner’ ministry, Jesus concluded that it would be better for His ministry’s sake to leave “Judea.”
It is also very likely that Jesus did not want a rivalry to develop between His & John’s ministries.—MNTC
Jesus “left Judea” in order to return “to Galilee.” Jesus’ ministry must continue, being currently unfulfilled, so for safety’s sake(?), He left the area most given to Pharisaical doctrine & suspicions. Jesus had come to Judea by means of Galilee, where He had been ‘raised’ in Nazareth(just west of the Sea of Galilee)(Mat. 2:22-23). He had gained His disciples(1:37--2:2) & performed His first miracle(2:1-11) in Galilee. Thus Jesus went “again” “to Galilee.”
In your service to God/Commitment. Where has God taken you & Where is God taking you now?
“Left”—afihmi—Verb—1) To send away—1a) To bid going away or depart—1a1) Of a husband divorcing his wife, 1b) To send forth, yield up, to expire, 1c) To let go, let alone, let be—1c1) To disregard, 1c2) To leave, not to discuss now, (a topic) 1c21) of teachers, writers & speakers, 1c3) To omit, neglect, 1d) To let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit, 1e) To give up, keep no longer; 2) To permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person; 3) To leave, go way from one—3a) In order to go to another place, 3b) To depart from any one, 3c) To depart from one & leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned, 3d) To desert wrongfully, 3e) To go away leaving something behind, 3f) To leave one by not taking him as a companion, 3g) To leave on dying, leave behind one, 3h) To leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining, 3i) Abandon, leave destitute. Strong—To send forth, in various applications(as follow).?From—apo—Preposition—a primary particle; “Off,” i.e. Away(from something near), in various senses(of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative).—&—ihmi—To send; an intensive form of eimi, to go.
“Judea”—Ioudaia—Noun Proper Locative—Judaea = “He shall be praised”—1) in a narrower sense--To the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan & the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, & Idumaea; 2) in a broader sense--Referring to all Palestine. Strong—feminine of Ioudaiov(with gh implied); The Judaean land(i.e. Judaea), A region of Palestine.
“Departed/Went back/Went away”—apercomai—Verb—1) To go away, depart—1a) To go away in order to follow any one, go after him, to follow his party, follow him as a leader; 2) To go away—2a) Of departing evils & sufferings, 2b) Of good things taken away from one, 2c) Of an evanescent state of things. Strong—To go off(i.e. depart), aside(i.e. apart) or behind(i.e. follow), literally or figuratively.?From—apo—a primary particle; “Off,” i.e. Away(from something near), in various senses(of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)—&—ercomai—1) To come; 2) metaph.—2a) To come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence, 2b) Be established; 3) To go, to follow one. Ercomai denotes motion or progress generally, & of any sort, hence to “come” & arrive at, as well as “to go.”
“Again”—palin—Adverb—1) Anew, again—1a) Renewal or repetition of the action, 1b) Again, anew; 2) Again, i.e. further, moreover; 3) In turn, on the other hand. Strong—probably from the same as palh(through the idea of oscillatory repetition); adverbially--Anew, i.e. of place--Back, of time--Once more, or conjunctionally--Furthermore or on the other hand.
“Galilee”—Galilaia—Noun Proper Locative—Galilee = “Circuit”—1) The name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais & their territories & the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria & on the east by the Jordan. It was divided into Upper Galilee & Lower Galilee. Strong—of Hebrew origin [lylg Gal-eeyl'; or (prolonged)--hlylg Gaw-leey-law']; Galiloea(i.e. the heathen circle), A region of Palestine.
Argumentation:
Mat. 28:18-20—“And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
?How do each of these three job descriptions give us spiritual insight for reaching others?
Lk. 12:42-48—“And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful & wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ “& begins to beat the male & female servants, & to eat & drink & be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, & at an hour when he is not aware, & will cut him in two & appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, & did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; & to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
Rom. 16:17-20—“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions & offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, & avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, & by smooth words & flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, & simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
Deut. 11:16, 17—“Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, & you turn aside & serve other gods & worship them, lest the LORD’S anger be aroused against you, & He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, & the land yield no produce, & you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.”
Deut. 30:17-20—“But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, & are drawn away, & worship other gods & serve them, “I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in & possess. I call heaven & earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life & death, blessing & cursing; therefore choose life, that both you & your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, & that you may cling to Him, for He is your life & the length of your days; & that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, to give them.”
Isa. 65:14—“Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit.”
1Cor. 7:35—“And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, & that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”
Col. 3:22-24—“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord & not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Gal. 6:7-10—“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Illustration:
Our dog Hershey/When he does not listen to our commands we are frustrated/If we cannot trust him, he has no freedom, having to stay inside when he really wants to be outside/SERVICE Insight
Serve faithfully!
Application:
?Your SERVICE Insight readily Turn others to Christ/God’s way?
?You Turn Religious Reluctance into a Confident Relationship with God?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
My toy Baja Bug Volkswagen—around & around in a circle—Reluctant to turn but turnable nonetheless!
Action:
Turning religious reluctance to God’s way requires...
1. SERVICE Insight(:1-3)
Pt# 1 only! presented 03/04/2018pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave.(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
