After the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus at the well she went quickly to tell the people of her town about him, and the scripture tells us that many believed because of her testimony, and so they then came out to hear him for themselves. (John 4:7-42) My fear is that many of us Christians today have not taken the time to listen to Jesus, the Word of God, for ourselves, but have instead put our trust in what someone else has told us about him. We seem content to settle for second hand knowledge. How sad!!

    Yet it is very clear to me at least that Jesus emphasised his desire for us to come to him (the Word of God) personally, saying in Matt 11:28 “Come to me all you who labour and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest.” And again in John 7:37 “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

    Another scripture on this point, which is very precious to me, tells us about Peter’s response to a question posed by Jesus on this subject of coming to, and staying with him, personally; it is found in John 6:68-69, “To whom shall we go but to you Lord? You have the words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to KNOW that you are the Holy One of God.” (Read John 6:56-69) 

    If we are ever to come to really know the Lord Jesus in the intimate way he desires, then we must learn that the only sure and safe way to do so is by focusing our full attention on what he is saying to us, especially in the scriptures, trusting the mighty Spirit of our God to guide us into all truth, just as Jesus promised. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things which are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-14) And may I ask, what can Jesus have meant when he said, “He will take what is mine”, other than that the Spirit would take his words, as he is the Word of God, and reveal to us exactly what he meant.