Food for Thought

Then anwered the Jews and said unto him ‘say we not well that you are a Samaritan and has a devil’. John 8:48

You are a Samaritan…..The ultimate insult had been hurled at Jesus by the Jews. In John 7:20 The people said to Jesus `you have a devil…’ and the insults kept getting worse and in John 8:48 he was accused `you a Samaritan…. Imagine the scene with angry violent men tossing their heads and spitting this out at Jesus.

The Samaritans were a despised ethnic class. The Jews hated them and looked down on them because they were a mixed race and their customs and religious worship was different. They were considered an inferior race. In fact, so deep was their hatred that although the shortest route between Judea and Galilee was through Samaria, the Jews would prefer to take the longer route and go over the Jordan.

To the surprise of the disciples Jesus led them through Samaria when escaping enemy activity in Judea and even took time off to chat with a branded woman.

Carefully consider the reply that Jesus gave to the accusation – You are a Samaritan.` Jesus said `I have not a devil, but I honour my Father, and you do dishonour me’. He never said `I am not a Samaritan’. Why did he not refute the charge that he was a Samaritan. He could not because he never saw a Samaritan. He saw his own image.

Praise God for Jesus the bondage breaker. The Creator created the Samaritans too, every tribe, every tongue, every nation. The Samaritans were made in the image of God and were just as precious to the Father as anyone else. Race, colour, caste cannot separate us from the love of God.

Do you know that mankind is made in the image of God. ?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female, and may I add Sinhalese nor Tamil, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

He is our peace who has broken down the secret middle wall of color,race,culture we have erected in our hearts. Let those ugly walls come tumbling down in the Name of Jesus. Enmity was nailed to the cross and Jesus reconciled us to our Heavenly Father. Jesus sees the color of love, speaks the language of love and his culture is love because God is Love. Every man, woman and child is made in the image of God yes, including that beggar on the street.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus, so that everyone who believes in Him will be saved.

(Excerpt from the inspiring book ` Spiritual Nuggets' with author's permission)