She Wasn’t Expecting to See Jesus
(Three Unexpected Encounters With Christ)
Often there is something in our lives or in ourselves that puts us in a position where we are not expecting to encounter Christ. But thankfully God loves us more than we can ever understand and will find the appropriate way to reveal Himself to us. Today we are going to study the experiences of three different women with Jesus.
1. The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-26)
A woman not expecting to see Jesus because of Society.
2. The Adulterous woman caught in the ACT (John 8:1-11)
A woman not expecting to see Jesus because of Sin.
3. Mary Magdalene after the crucifixion (John 20:11-18)
A woman not expecting to see Jesus because of Sorrow.
The Samaritan Woman
· Why did the Jews hate the Samaritans?
· When the northern kingdom fell to Assyria, many of the Jews were taken away and foreigners were brought in to settle and maintain the land. These foreigners and the Jews left remaining began to intermarry and became known as Samaritans (after the capital city of the northern kingdom – Samaria). The Jews hated the Samaritans because they felt they had betrayed the Jewish nation by marrying non-Jews.
John 4:13-15
13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
· As the Samaritan woman talked with Jesus, she had no idea who He was. But then Christ told her very personal things about her life.
· So, despite the societal separation between the Samaritans and the Jews, the Samaritan woman came to know Jesus as the Messiah because He revealed Himself to her in a very personal way.
The Adulterous Woman
· What was the penalty for adultery under The Law?
· Leviticus 20:10
10And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
· What was Christ’s response to the situation?
· John 8:5-7
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
· What led Christ to say this?
· Deuteronomy 17:6-7
6At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
7The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Beyond requiring more than one witness to put someone to death, The Law required the witnesses to throw the first stones.
Christ was not only convicting each person there of their own sin, He was teaching them not to be judgmental (we answer to God for our actions, not man).
So, despite the obvious sin of the Adulterous woman, Christ forgave her and revealed Himself to her by showing great mercy.
The Sorrowful Woman
· How did Christ first touch the life of Mary Magdalene?
Luke 8:1-2
1And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
· Do you think she believed that Jesus was the Messiah?
· Mary loved Jesus greatly. She was one of the faithful followers at the crucifixion.
John 19:25
25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
As a Jew, Mary was taught that the Messiah would not die. Also, many Jews did not believe in bodily resurrection. So when Mary went to the tomb of Jesus, she was expecting Him to be dead. When she found the tomb empty, she thought His body had been stolen.
John 20:1-2
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
But despite her doubt and misinformation, in great love and with grace, Christ revealed Himself to Mary as the risen Lord.
John 20:14-18
14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Under three very different circumstances, we have seen Christ reveal Himself to people that were not expecting to encounter Him. He knew exactly what they needed to believe in Him. And that is exactly what He gave them!
How has Christ revealed Himself to you?
PRAYER
Dear Lord, may my heart always be receptive to You. Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy. Thank You for touching my heart and changing my life. Amen.
