Sun,
Feb 23
1. NEW LIFE, NEW PRIORITIES
a. Upon recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, what did the Samaritan woman immediately do? John 4:28, 29.
“The woman had been filled with joy as she listened to Christ’s words. The wonderful revelation was almost overpowering. Leaving her waterpot, she returned to the city, to carry the message to others. Jesus knew why she had gone. Leaving her waterpot spoke unmistakably as to the effect of His words. It was the earnest desire of her soul to obtain the living water; and she forgot her errand to the well, she forgot the Saviour’s thirst, which she had purposed to supply. With heart overflowing with gladness, she hastened on her way, to impart to others the precious light she had received.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 191.
b. What did the inhabitants of Sychar do when they heard the testimony of their fellow citizen? John 4:30.
“[The woman’s] words touched their hearts. There was a new expression on her face, a change in her whole appearance. They were interested to see Jesus.”—Ibid.
Mon,
Feb 24
2. THE HARVEST AND THE REAPERS
a. As Jesus saw the inhabitants of Sychar coming, what did He say to His disciples? John 4:35–38.
“ ‘He that reapeth,’ He said, ‘receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.’ Here Christ points out the sacred service owed to God by those who receive the gospel. They are to be His living agencies. He requires their individual service. And whether we sow or reap, we are working for God. One scatters the seed; another gathers in the harvest; and both the sower and the reaper receive wages. They rejoice together in the reward of their labor.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 191, 192.
b. What was the effect of the woman’s testimony about Christ—and what can we learn from the impact it had? John 4:39.
“When we are united to Christ, we have the mind of Christ. Purity and love shine forth in the character, meekness and truth control the life. The very expression of the countenance is changed. Christ abiding in the soul exerts a transforming power, and the outward aspect bears witness to the peace and joy that reign within. We drink in the love of Christ, as the branch draws nourishment from the vine. If we are grafted in Christ, if fiber by fiber we have been united with the Living Vine, we shall give evidence of the fact by bearing rich clusters of living fruit. If we are connected with the Light, we shall be channels of light, and in our words and works we shall reflect light to the world. . . .
“By beholding we are to become changed; and as we meditate upon the perfections of the divine Model, we shall desire to become wholly transformed, and renewed in the image of His purity. It is by faith in the Son of God that transformation takes place in the character, and the child of wrath becomes the child of God. He passes from death unto life; he becomes spiritual and discerns spiritual things. The wisdom of God enlightens his mind, and he beholds wondrous things out of His law. As a man is converted by the truth, the work of transformation of character goes on.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, pp. 337, 338.
Tue,
Feb 25
3. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN SAMARIA
a. What petition did the Samaritans make to Jesus—and why? John 4:40.
b. Describe the result of Christ’s time in Samaria. John 4:41.
“In the words spoken to the woman at the well, good seed had been sown, and how quickly the harvest was received. The Samaritans came and heard Jesus, and believed on Him. Crowding about Him at the well, they plied Him with questions, and eagerly received His explanations of many things that had been obscure to them. As they listened, their perplexity began to clear away. They were like a people in great darkness tracing up a sudden ray of light till they had found the day. But they were not satisfied with this short conference. They were anxious to hear more, and to have their friends also listen to this wonderful teacher. They invited Him to their city, and begged Him to remain with them. For two days He tarried in Samaria, and many more believed on Him.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 192.
“Christ revealed God to His disciples in a way that performed in their hearts a special work, such as He has long been urging us to allow Him to do in our hearts. There are many who, in dwelling too largely upon theory, have lost sight of the living power of the Saviour’s example. They have lost sight of Him as the humble, self-denying worker. What they need is to behold Jesus. Daily we need the fresh revealing of His presence.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 302.
c. What did many Samaritans declare after having accepted Jesus as the Messiah? John 4:42.
“The Pharisees despised the simplicity of Jesus. They ignored His miracles, and demanded a sign that He was the Son of God. But the Samaritans asked no sign, and Jesus performed no miracles among them, save in revealing the secrets of her life to the woman at the well. Yet many received Him. In their new joy they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.’ ”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 192, 193.
Wed,
Feb 26
4. THE POWER OF PROPHECY
a. Upon what prophecy did the Samaritans base their faith in the promised Messiah? Genesis 49:10.
“The Samaritans believed that the Messiah was to come as the Redeemer, not only of the Jews, but of the world. The Holy Spirit through Moses had foretold Him as a prophet sent from God. Through Jacob it had been declared that unto Him should the gathering of the people be; and through Abraham, that in Him all the nations of the earth should be blessed. On these scriptures the people of Samaria based their faith in the Messiah. The fact that the Jews had misinterpreted the later prophets, attributing to the first advent the glory of Christ’s second coming, had led the Samaritans to discard all the sacred writings except those given through Moses. But as the Saviour swept away these false interpretations, many accepted the later prophecies and the words of Christ Himself in regard to the kingdom of God.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 193.
b. What can we today learn from the fact that the Samaritans were amazingly open to the truth? Ecclesiastes 11:4, 5.
“All over the world men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 109.
c. What do individuals become when they truly receive Christ? Give examples. Mark 5:18–20; 7:31–37.
“[Christ’s] Spirit will develop in man all that will ennoble the character and dignify the nature. It will build man up for the glory of God in body and soul and spirit. . . . And souls that have been degraded into instruments of Satan are still through the power of Christ transformed into messengers of righteousness, and sent forth by the Son of God to tell what ‘great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.’ ”—The Desire of Ages, p. 341.
Thu,
Feb 27
5. CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES
a. What lessons do we learn from the Samaritan woman? 1 John 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 5:14 (first part).
“As soon as she had found the Saviour the Samaritan woman brought others to Him. She proved herself a more effective missionary than His own disciples. The disciples saw nothing in Samaria to indicate that it was an encouraging field. Their thoughts were fixed upon a great work to be done in the future. They did not see that right around them was a harvest to be gathered. But through the woman whom they despised, a whole cityful were brought to hear the Saviour. She carried the light at once to her countrymen.
“This woman represents the working of a practical faith in Christ. Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish eager to drink of the water of life.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 195.
b. How is this experience to motivate us today? Ecclesiastes 11:6.
“We need not go to foreign lands to become missionaries for God. All around us are fields ‘white already to harvest,’ and whoever will may gather ‘fruit unto life eternal.’ God calls upon many in Battle Creek who are dying of spiritual sloth to go where their labor is needed in His cause. Move out of Battle Creek, even if it requires a pecuniary sacrifice. Go somewhere to be a blessing to others. Go where you can strengthen some weak church. Put to use the powers which God has given you.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 187.
Fri,
Feb 28
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What did the woman do when she saw Jesus as the only Saviour?
2. Explain what is meant by fields being white already for the harvest.
3. How many days did Jesus remain with the Samaritans?
4. What testimony did the Samaritans give concerning Jesus?
5. What happens to people as soon as they receive Jesus into their lives?