In our study of John at Bible Study Fellowship our attention has been drawn to empty jars twice. The first time being the empty jars at the wedding feast in Cana. (John 2:1-11). The second time was the empty jar left by the Samaritan woman at the well. (John 4:1-30) What's with all these empty jars?!?
I have to say, I've never taken much notice of them. I mean in the wedding feast story, I've seen them since they are pointed out, but never have I taken noticed the jar left alongside the well in the story of the Samaritan woman. But yet it's right there in John 4:28.
And there is another set of empty jars we are told of in the Bible. Way back in 2 Kings 4 where we are told about Elisha and prophets widow.
I've been thinking about these empty jars for a few days now and I believe the Lord is speaking an analogy to my heart regarding the emptying of self and the filling of new life by Jesus Christ. In two of these examples the jars were supernaturally filled by God. In the other example, God supernaturally filled a heart.
In the case of the woman at the well, we see the ultimate filling, the real filling of a human heart with the new life promised through Jesus Christ. She completely left her old empty jar and excitedly ran to tell the good news she had heard from Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." New water. New life, overflowing, spilling everywhere we go.
At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus transforms water that had been poured into previously empty jars into top of the line wine. Wine was a symbol of joy in the Bible. It is the Lord that fills us with joy. John 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! How many beautiful blessings from God can we count that will fill up our hearts with joy? Starting with God and salvation itself, the list goes on and on.
In the case of Elisha and the prophet's widow crying out for provision: She and her son had nothing and were on the brink of being sold into slavery. Much like our condition before we have an encounter with God and let Him fill our lives. (We are slaves to sin until He sets us free). In this case God filled the jars with oil. Vessel after vessel, she continued to fill with oil from the first jar...a seemingly an unending supply of provision. And that is our God. His anointing and provision never ends when we start with a heart that is empty of everything. A heart that is open to being filled by Him and not the world.
As we work with the Holy Spirit to empty ourselves of selfishness, pride, worldliness, He fills us more and more with Himself, with His limitless love. We grow closer to God when we have less of the world in our jar. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. The more God fills us the more we are ...being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) How utterly amazing what our Father can do with some empty jars!
Lord, thank You for You!! You are amazing and wonderful, miracle working, glorious and go beyond anything we can imagine when we submit ourselves to You. Fill our empty jars with Your love and power and holiness. Anoint us with the oil of Your Spirit and use us for Your glory. Let Your unlimited love spill out wherever we go. Father, some times we hold on to the gunk at the bottom of our jars. The anger, unforgiveness, needs, bitterness, etc....Help us to empty ourselves completely before You. And then as You fill us, let us, with eagerness and joy tell all about Your loving grace and salvation. Fill us also with Your boldness and let us not shrink back from sharing how much You have done for us. It's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
1 Peter 1:18-19 It was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
John 2:1-11 2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” 11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him
John 4:1-30 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” 16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
2 Kings 4:1-7 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. 3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” 5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7 When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”
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