Jan | 04 | High in Castle's Keep

Key Word:- OBEY

Title:- High in Castle's Keep

John 4:16, 17 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."

This 'man eater,' (she was on her 6th guy!) is at Jacob’s well and she was there at the hottest point in the day because it was probably the only safe time for her to be there! No doubt, none of the women of the town liked her and I suppose there had been many a jibe and even the odd ‘cat fight’ there, right there, at the well! Surely, she’s a little skittish by now, even over hurt maybe? So, what on earth is Jesus up to when He says “Go call your husband?” What a provocative question! What’s He after here, for after all, it would appear that the unstoppable God is not afraid of a bit of controversy, is not afraid of offending a few people and is certainly not afraid of starting an argument! Just what is Jesus up to here with this woman? With this very provocative question?

You know, there is a polite Christian Fable that says “God would never embarrass us,” and of course, it is a lie, for God will in fact do anything to get our attention. Indeed, the truth is that He will do whatever it takes to get us, and that means even embarrassing us, for God is not at all concerned about our blushes! Therefore, though Jesus seems to go out of His way to push and offend the man eating woman with this question and in such a forceful way as well, maybe so as even to possibly make her hitch up her skirts, turn tail, and run back on home, yes, though He asks the most embarrassing of all questions, even the question at the heart of it all, wonder of wonders, instead of running, she responds; to a man, to a Jew, to a perfect stranger, and makes her confession openly, here it is, “I have no husband.”

You see with the sharp honesty of His verbal intrusion into her affairs, Jesus has here achieved His Royal and redemptive purpose of establishing a ‘bridgehead’ of truth into her very soul. She doesn’t realize it now, but her war is all but over friends, for in a small, small time, Jesus shall gain the heights of her land, and plant his Royal Standard in the castle of her fallen heart. Man, that’s just wonderful!

The redemption of this woman at the well, started with her facing up to her sin before Jesus. How about you today dear friend? What issues will Jesus have you face up to at the beginning of this year’s journey? Don’t worry too much about the pressing in of Jesus into your private affairs; don’t worry about being embarrassed even, for His intent is to fly His standard high in the castle’s keep of your own most valuable and precious heart!

Listen: -But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:24-25.

Pray: - Lord Jesus, come conquer me and make me Your captive right now, amen and amen!