Announce Jesus

Announce Jesus (John 4:7-10, 13-15, 28-30, 35-36, 39-42) Jesus did not allow the prejudice of His day to be an obstacle to His reaching out Remember that it’s not the color of the skin that matters, but the color of the blood. We all bleed red, and so did Jesus. What’s your comfort zone? Jesus treated the Samaritan woman with politeness & respect Despite knowing her history/condition (John 4:29-30) Jesus can read the heart What about us? How can we know what’s in the heart of others? Ask, listen, pay attention to, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit We need to meet people where they are, regardless of their circumstances. We need to hate the sin, but we need to love the sinner.

•Respect: To give particular attention to, show consideration for, or hold in high or special regard (Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 10th Edition)

•“Every man is to be respected as an absolute end in himself; and it is a crime against the dignity that belongs to him as a human being, to use him as a mere means for some external purpose.” - Immanuel Kant, Prussian geographer and philosopher (1724-1804)

•“Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.” - Jesse Jackson

•What about tolerance? •"Our culture has fallen into a kind of moral vertigo – we value tolerance so much that we don't know how to talk to each other about what is right and good,” - Rev. Kevin Phillips, director of the Business Leadership and Spirituality Network (BLSN) quoted in “Competing Values”, by Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor, August 1, 2002.

•Did you know that the term “ tolerance” (or in some translations “sufferance” Gk. eao) is rarely used in the New Testament, and that where it is used it is generally used in a negative sense? For example: –“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who

calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Rev. 2:20 By contrast, the New Testament uses the term “ love” Gk. agapeo nearly 150 times in a positive sense.

So what’s the difference between love and tolerance?

•Tolerance: Demonstrating sympathy for, indulging, or making allowances for, beliefs or practices differing from, or conflicting with, one's own.

•Love: In the Christian context, from the Greek, agapeo, an active and beneficent interest in, and concern for, the well-being of another. It is given unconditionally and unselfishly. It involves a clear determination of will and judgment (i.e. a responsible choice). A loving person, honestly (Rom. 12:9) gives respect and demonstrates compassion. Demonstrating such love often requires courage. The source of such love comes “from above” (James 1:17). Would you rather be loved or tolerated? Jesus indicated that He was greater than Jacob (4:13-14) In what sense is he greater? Many rabbis teach that Jacob represents the way of the Torah, and the day to day struggle against evil in life (just like drawing water from the well was a daily struggle) Yet His people still thirst "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God"(Psalm 42:1-2a). “God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1). "I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land" (Psalm 143:6). How is this thirst satisfied in Jesus? Jesus represents ultimate, final, eternal victory over evil The woman left her water jar (John 4:28) After an encounter with the Living God, our focus and our priorities should change The time to reach out to others for Jesus is now! (John 4:35-36) We have only give the invitation “Come and see”, based upon our own personal witness. (John 4:29) Jesus himself will be the one to change the hearts (John 4:42)