Pausing a movie or an episode on Netflix is easy. You get up, get another cup of popcorn, run to the restroom… Pausing in life is something that must be practiced, but it is so beneficial. I was just reading recently how important pausing to rest is. We learned that Jesus was tired and weary. Do you feel tired and weary? You have a Savior who understands that feeling, and to me, that is so comforting.
Today, you and I are going to study the power of pausing to rest. Jesus did this beautifully over and over in the gospel, so join me in John chapter four, beginning in verse one, and we’ll find out more.
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Pausing a movie or an episode on Netflix is easy. You get up, get another cup of popcorn, run to the restroom. Pausing in life I think is something that must be practiced, but it is so beneficial. Hi, it’s the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica, and we’re talking about the power of the pause this week. There’s a Hebrew word that we see most often in the Psalms, in the Bible, and it’s called Selah. It might have indicated a musical rest or a moment of silence in the songs that were written. We actually don’t know. It’s kind of a mystery as we were talking about last time, but it makes you pause. See what I did there and wonder, why? Because last time when we read through a couple of Psalms, it was so wonderful to pause and consider what God was telling us in His Word, right, to ponder his greatness and his faithfulness. Today, you and I are going to study the power of pausing to rest. Jesus did this beautifully over and over in the gospel, so join me in John chapter four, beginning in verse one.
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus,
I want to put these words in bold,
tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.
I was just reading recently how important that one verse is. We learned that Jesus was tired and weary. Do you feel tired and weary? You have a savior who understands that feeling, and to me, that is so comforting. Verse seven now.
Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
What an incredible story. And it started with Jesus realizing He needed to sit down and take a rest. He sat by the well. He asked for some water. He engaged in a very fruitful conversation. I am sure that this was somehow arranged in some divine way. Jesus wanted to meet this precious woman. God knew her story. He knows your story and my story. He knows all of the hurts that keep us locked up in fear and rejection, and he wants to give us the key to set us free. He has come to rescue us, to let us know how loved we are, how precious we are to him. Jesus paused to rest, and in doing so something really beautiful happened. He offered rest to a woman whose heart was so weary and so heavy from all the years of feeling unloved. I want to point out a verse to you, something Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, beginning in verse 28, in case your heart is heavy today and you are feeling unloved…
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Pause today and remember how precious you are to God. You are loved.
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