Bible study on the Samaritan woman (bonus post by Sandra Oliver)
Last week I witnessed a moving event between two ladies. One of the ladies was using a walker and trying to maneuver her way between the aisles of a classroom to get to a friend she hadn’t seen in a long time. As she pushed her walker along, the other lady said, “Wait there. I’m coming to you.” The lady with the walker replied, “I’m coming to you, too.” When they reached each other, they embraced and visited for a while before the class started. It was so moving to see them, it brought tears to my eyes.
As I thought back on the situation later in the day, I thought how much like this the Father is with us. We see it in the story of the Prodigal Son. A selfish young man decides he wants his inheritance. He wants to take what is his and leave home. Luke says that from a pigpen, the son determined that he wanted to go home. He wanted to just be a hired servant in his father’s house. As the boy arrived home, his father was watching for him and ran to meet him. The father didn’t forget about his son while he was away living a life of sin; he was waiting, watching for him, ready to welcome him home.
Our heavenly Father sent His only son into the world to offer Himself for our sins. He provided us with everything we need to know how to please Him. All we have to do is obey Him. When we fail, He watches, and He waits for our return.
I think about how many times Peter failed in his eager attempts to please Jesus. When he saw Jesus walking across the Sea of Galilee, he wanted to go to Him. Yet, when he got out of the boat and started toward our Lord, he started to sink. He took his eyes off of Jesus.
When Jesus taught the disciples about forgiveness, Peter was the one that tried to set a limit on the number of times we are to forgive a brother.
When Jesus told the disciples that they would all betray Him, Peter assured Jesus that he would not. Yet, Peter ran with the other disciples when the soldiers came to take Jesus prisoner.
When the women visited the grave of Jesus and found that He had been resurrected, Peter doubted. He had to run and see for himself.
When Jesus cooked breakfast for the disciples at the Sea of Galilee, He offered Peter forgiveness for his three denials. Peter affirmed that he loved Jesus, and the Lord gave Peter specific instructions of what he was to do. “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. But when Peter saw John following them, he wanted to know what was going to happen to him. He couldn’t be satisfied with the assignment Jesus had given Him.
In every case, when Peter came to himself, Jesus was there for him. He took his hand in the Sea of Galilee; He taught Peter that there is no limit on forgiveness; He forgave Peter’s betrayal; and He took away Peter’s doubt.
He will do the same for us. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yolk is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Sandra Oliver