John 4.1-9 - Samaria: Necessary not Forsaken

[3.22-23][1-2 when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were)] So, Jesus stays in Judea, gathering and baptizing followers - until He knows that the Pharisees know that He has surpassed John.  Jesus above all.  John himself confesses this [3.30-31].  But why did the Pharisees need to know this? 1) They had been thinking it was about John;  2) But also, for them it was more about the Law.  [Law above all].  So Jesus wants them to understand this basic truth - Jesus above all.  But so now at this point (at least in theory?) they know it’s about Jesus.

[3-4 He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria.]  So, Jesus is heading back to Galilee.  And He HAS to pass through Samaria?  As the crow flies, maybe?  The Greek says, it was NECESSARY for Him to COME THROUGH Samaria, thru this place that Jews came through NEVER.  For good Jews it was necessary to AVOID Samaria [9b] - they would go around, if at all possible.  Samaritans were forsaken - at least by the Jews.  So why is it necessary for the King of the Jews to come through this supposedly [“God-forsaken”] place?  Well, for one, that is the misnomer of misnomers.  God-forsaken is kind of an oxymoron.  First of all, God promises that He Himself will never forsake His people [Heb. 13:5b He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU”][originally made to Joshua but now applied to all who trust in Christ].  Maybe you feel forsaken? [Ps 34:18  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps 145:18  The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.]   

Now, do God’s people go thru seasons of [wandering in wilderness], times when it feels like God is silent and even distant?  Where life is coming up more thorns than roses?  Where questions outstrip answers?  [Yes]  Sometimes the Lord allows these seasons to get our attention.  Or to refine, to purify our faith.  To help us learn to look to and hold on to Him first and foremost.  I am with you always…[Psa. 23:4  Even though I walk through the [valley of the shadow of death], I fear no evil, for You are with me.][“You are with me” - say it!]  Even in the deepest valley, the darkest night, God’s people are never alone.  We don’t put our trust in our feelings; we trust God & His Word which is true.

And what about those who ARE far from God in their hearts and lives?  Much of the time, if God feels distant, guess who moved?  Who forsook who? [Rom 1:21,23 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they…exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.] But people do not come out of the womb as atheists.  Look at the [nations].  All peoples everywhere believe in some kind of higher power, in unseen spirits and forces.  UNbelief is a path I choose out of 1) pride [Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise…][where I say, God - & you - not necessary] and/or 2) disillusionment over the [brokenness] I’ve experienced or see in/around me [Rom 8:20,22 For the creation was subjected to futility, … slavery to corruption …For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.].  Often it’s some of both.  But so more likely, God becomes distant (or “non-existent”) as people reject Him.  They test Him, and find Him wanting [Rom. 1:28  They didn’t think it was important to know God. So God let them go…].  People forsake God - and He lets us have our way [like the prodigal son].

Are you finding God wanting?  Do you feel like God has let you down?  Look to the [Cross].  The gift of God’s only Son.  The One Who lifted up His only Son on the Cross for you will NEVER let you down.  Look to the [empty tomb].  Because He not only came and died for you, but that grave is empty.  There is no denying the truth of what God has done for you.  We are so blindered by the [physical].  And we’re so prone to navel-gazing, we get to thinking that life is all about me and what I’m going through right now, the temporal, when in fact all this, this entire life is about getting ready to meet our Maker, for eternity.  The [Eternal].  And God sent Jesus to make that possible.  The God•send.  That’s what we see in John’s book.  And this is why Jesus is about to go through Samaria.  He HAS to…

Because we COULD say that Samaria WAS forsaken - but NOT by God.  By the Jews.  We touched on this in ch 3.  Samaria was full of “half-breeds” [northern tribes of Israel who had been mingled with filthy Gentiles under the Assyrians, then intermarried w them].  Such that devout Jews vigorously avoided Samaritans like the plague, even though they also traced their ancestry back to Abraham.  They were ethnically AND spiritually impure to Jews.  The Jews avoided them, AND their territory.  Unwelcome.  Unloved.  So the text tells us, for “some reason” it was necessary for Jesus to go right through the middle of their territory.  God so loves the forsaken… 

He sends His Son, right into the heart of Samaria  [5-6 So He comes to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.].  Sychar.  The precise spot where Abraham and Jacob/Israel had lived.  Jacob’s Well.  Where there just “happens" to be a woman - doubly forsaken - who needs a godsend.  She needs to know Jesus.  

Jesus gets to said well at the sixth hour —> Noon. i.e. nobody comes to the well at noon (they’ve already come)(plus this is some time after Passover, probably summer, and this is the hottest part of a hot day).  And since He’s likely been walking for 5-6 hours, Jesus is parched and exhausted.  He really could use a drink of water.  So let’s consider this: from a human perspective, THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED!  The odds were so stacked against it.  First of all, nobody should even be at the well.  Also, He IS [exhausted].  Plus, a Jew would never want to talk to a Samaritan (much less come thru Samaria in the first place).  On top of all this, in that culture, a man would never talk to a female stranger [much less THIS woman - who is coming to the well at a time when nobody else would be there because she is neck-deep in immorality].  She is a filthy filthy Samaritan woman (doubly forsaken - by Jews AND her own people).  So, talking with devout Jewish Rabbi?  It should never have happened.  BUT it was necessary.  From God’s perspective, it HAD to happen.  Necessary.

This fallen woman probably felt filthy.  She probably felt forsaken.  But Jesus is going out of His way to tell her that she was necessary.  She needed to have a conversation with the God•send.  With Jesus.  She needed to know that He made her.  She was fearfully and wonderfully made.  Designed in heaven by the Creator of the universe Himself.  He made her special, and made her to enjoy life in a relationship with Him.  He made her with a purpose, a divine calling, a heavenly reason to be alive on earth - she was necessary.  You and I are necessary.  If you’re alive today, you are necessary.  Regardless of what you or anybody else thinks… [SAY IT!]

[7-8][agorazo] So Trend-buster Jesus [everyone else does this: keeps to themself, goes with the crowd], breaks w social convention, ignores the cultural stigma, goes straight into the heart of Samaria and speaks to this filthy forsaken Samaritan woman.  Give Me a drink.  And she calls Him on it. [9]  Wait, you’re talking to me?  What are you doing?  Why are you talking to me? And Jesus is like, Sam, you don’t realize it, but you are necessary.  I love you.  Let Me show you... To be continued...

Referenced verses

Psa. 34:18  The LORD ^ais near to the ^bbrokenhearted 

And saves those who are ^1ccrushed in spirit.

Psa. 145:18  The LORD is ^anear to all who call upon Him, 

To all who call upon Him ^bin truth.

Psa. 23:1    The LORD is my ^ashepherd, 

I ¹shall ^bnot want.

2  He makes me lie down in ^agreen pastures; 

He ^bleads me beside ^1cquiet waters.

3  He ^arestores my soul; 

He ^bguides me in the ^1cpaths of righteousness 

For His name’s sake.

4    Even though I ^awalk through the ¹valley of the shadow of death, 

I ^bfear no ²evil, for ^cYou are with me; 

And a random funny thought on the difference between dogs and cats:

A German Shepherd, Doberman and a cat all die.

All three stand before God, who wants to know what they believe in.

The German shepherd says: "I believe in discipline training and loyalty to my master."

"Good," says God. "Then sit down on my right side. Doberman, what do you believe in?"

The Doberman answers: "I believe in the love, care and protection of my master."

Ah," said God. "You may sit to my left."

Then he looks at the cat and asks, "And what do you believe in?"

The cat answers: "I believe you're sitting in my seat."

John 3.31-36 - “The Confession of Aenon”

John the Baptizer (aka John the Witness, or JTW) is in Aenon, doing what God had called him to do.  Baptizing.  Witnessing about the coming Messiah.  But he is being out-baptized by the Messiah.  How does he feel about that?

[31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”]  The One coming from above.  The same place where the second birth originates.  Remember, Jesus told Nic twice, you must be born from above.  And one might think directionally (i.e. vertically) in this case, but this “from above” is about an entirely different [realm][Tozer- see below].  [The Word was God], with God - in that realm, in the beginning, before the beginning, always was.  And this Word became flesh - and “came down” to this temporal, physical realm which He made - and He tented among us.  But make no mistake: He was above all, always - and always will be above all.  First confession: You are Above All.  You are the True Eternal God.  This is not spatial.  This is universal spiritual reality.  True truth.

[32-34 “What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”]  JTW says that the words Jesus speaks are the very words of God.  First-hand truth straight from heaven above, from the mouth of God [not just red letters but all Scripture, heaven-speaking not just earth-speaking, 2Tim 3.16].  So many are loathe to receive His Word - we question it, we doubt it, we ignore it [Did God really say…?] - but just as Jesus is above all, His Words are above all.  They’re true and worthy to be received/trusted.  Yes, they can be difficult to understand sometimes, much less apply - but that’s why the Lord gives His Spirit [WITHOUT MEASURE].  Because these are spiritual words.  From this other realm, straight from heaven.  They are spiritually appraised [1Cor. 2:14  But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.].  They must be examined with the help of the Holy Spirit.  He helps us to understand them [John 16:13 “But when the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.].  We need the Spirit to help us understand God’s Words - and He gives His Spirit as much as we need.  And then some.  Without measure.  How much Holy Spirit do you need?  Here you go - and have some more.  And what we understand is not that we get more of the Holy Spirit but that He gets more of us.  Which becomes a question of surrender…  2nd Confession: Your Words are true.  I trust them.  [Like a document we receive from a Notary] 

Our God Who is Above All, What does His Word say?  Then (we ought) listen [pay attention] to it, receive it (we take it in as true), and we trust it, we believe it —> we do it.  We obey it [36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”]. [The Holy Spirit - The Helper helps us to do this!]

[35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”] The Father loves the Son.  Let’s not miss this.  We observe multiple things about God in this passage: He is true, He exists in another realm, He is generous, He gets angry, but John also reminds us that the Father loves.  And He loves the Son.  Let that sink in.  The eternal union between the Father and the Son is characterized by love.  Amazing, everlasting love.  And when we receive the Son, we are brought into this same height and depth and length and breadth of bottomless limitless love [Eph. 3:14-19  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge…].  Who wouldn’t want that?

And this surpassing incomprehensible love gives.  Love gives.  For God so loved that He did what?  In this case He gave all things into Jesus’ hand —> which is an ideal example for us.  Exactly what He wants from us [open hand].  And in the Greek, “all things” means all things.  Every last one of them.  So what JTW is also saying here - everything we have, that we think we own - it all comes from Jesus.  Heaven above.  [Surrender/Moody - see below].  All things.  Everything we have.  It is all His, and He distributes it to us.  To put to use in ways that magnify the greatness of Jesus.  All our time.  All our talents.  All our treasures.  All of it.  Open hands.  He must increase.  Third Confession: All things are from You.  All things are for You.

[36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”]  This is an unfortunate translation.  The word here is not disobey.  Obey is the word, hup-akouo, which means to listen under [akouō = to hear, as in acoustic, and hypō, as in hypo-dermic=under skin].  But THIS word is a-peitho.  It is the negative of peitho, which means to be persuaded or confident about something/someone.  So this verse is talking about someone who is NOT confident about Jesus.  Not at all persuaded.  This is disbelief (which of course is why we disobey).  It is about persuasion.  And this person is NOT persuaded.  Not enough to trust in Jesus.  Not yet.  Although it’s never too late - until it is.  

Because… wrath.  God’s wrath is real.  People don’t like to hear about this.  We don’t like to talk about this.  Wrath is so negative.  Obviously, we’d all very much like to avoid wrath as much as possible.  But not talking about it doesn’t eliminate it; it only ignores the inevitable [like when we ignore cracks & weeds, they don't go away, they multiply].  This IS the only verse in John’s book (or even his letters) that mentions wrath, but the modern mind is mistaken in its contention that only the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath and that the God of the New Testament is a God of love.  God is in fact both.  And He is the same.  Always and forever.  His wrath is directed against everything that raises itself in rebellion against Him - it’s real and it is terrifying.  But this isn’t the turbulent, agitated anger that people often feel and burst forth onto others.  It’s a different word in the Greek.  It’s not an anger of passion.  This is anger of character.  It describes a gradual, deeper, more settled disposition.  And John is saying that God’s wrath is [abiding], or remaining, on those who are not trusting in Jesus.  It’s already on them.  That’s what Jesus was telling Nic - people have already been judged.  The wrath, the judgment of God rightly falls on those who live in rebellion against Him.  And the truth is, we are rebels from birth.  Right out of the womb.  It’s unavoidable.  That cute little [baby] looks so innocent - but he’s gonna grow up and learn to be selfish/lie/live w God out of mind all by himself.  Wrath is real - but God’s love is greater.  That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus - to defeat death.  To rescue us.  There’s still wrath in the NT, but now God has sent the Rescuer.  The God•send.  It’s judgment AND love [we see examples in parents who love their kids enough to give them consequences].  In this case, it DOES literally hurt our heavenly Father more than it hurts us.  Sadly, not everybody receives this.  These folks, many people are not persuaded.  And our job as His witnesses is to help people change their minds about Jesus [2Cor. 5:11  Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men][2Cor 4.4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.][1Cor 9.22b I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.]  But so, the Fourth Confession: You are the only source of Eternal Life.  I trust You.  

It is not yet too late for you to affirm these truths if you haven’t already.  You still have time.  Time to allow the truth of Jesus’ Word persuade you about Who He is.  You still have time - but I can’t tell you how much.  Nothing is certain - tomorrow is never guaranteed.  You have at least a few minutes - don’t put it off.  Don’t put off trusting in Jesus.  

The Confession of Aenon:

You are Above All.  You are the True God.

Your Words are true.  I trust them.

All things are from You.  All things are for You.

You are the only source of Eternal Life.  I trust You.

Referenced verses:

2Cor. 4:4 in whose case ^athe god of ^bthis ¹world has ^cblinded the minds of the unbelieving ²so that they might not see the ^dlight of the gospel of the ^eglory of Christ, who is the ^fimage of God.

2Cor. 5:11a   Therefore, knowing the ^afear of the Lord, we persuade men

1Cor. 9:22b …I have become ^ball things to all men, ^cso that I may by all means save some. 

John 16:13 “But when He, ^athe Spirit of truth, comes, He will ^bguide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

2Tim. 3:16 Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. [CEV]

When D.L. Moody was just starting in the ministry, he heard a preacher make this statement, “the world has yet to see what God can do with one man fully surrendered to Him.” Moody that night said, “By God’s grace, I’ll be that man!”

Tozer, “A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, all together within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality” 

John 3.22-4.2 - “Jesus Above” (things that surpass…)

[22] We come to this curious section where the Passover Feast has concluded, Jesus has cleansed the temple (first time) and done a bunch of signs right there in Jerusalem.  While there He taught at least one of the Pharisees to follow Him, but has managed to tick off most of the rest of them in the process.  Now He’s left the city, somewhere in [Judea].  And what we understand from this section is that Jesus is in Judea to surpass John the Baptist (aka JTW) [4.1-3].  He leaves Judea when He hears that the Pharisees know that He has “surpassed” JohnTW.  Jesus above.  And JohnTW is all in for this [3.30-31].

But first, what is Jesus is doing in Judea?  Baptizing, yes.  But (more importantly?), He’s spending time with His disciples.  Do you notice a pattern?  He went to Capernaum and spent some time with His disciples (AND His family) there.  Now we see Him spending MORE time with His disciples. The word here means to rub [make a path] thru - so a lot of time.  The Christian life is about relationships [i.e. the new command] - and relationships require time.   Love is a choice, a commitment that I put into action with regularity.  How does God love us?  Is it just a feeling?  No - we just saw: God so loved that He gave… God shows, He DEMONSTRATES His love toward us [Rom 5.8].  Love is a verb.  It consists of actions directed toward the beloved, actions that reinforce the relationship.  Love requires an investment of time.  What is Jesus doing?  He's loving by spending time (with disciples).  This is mission critical.

Why point this out?  Because, thru disuse paths will grow over.  [Heb 10.24-25]  Hebrews reminds us that there is a danger that we can take this simple act of spending time with disciples for granted.  We can take each other for granted.  We think we have a lifetime, but the weeks and years fly past like a bullet train.  AND, spending time can also be strategic.  Spend time with a few - help them do the same with others, and so on.  With disciples who can even take over the work.  Jesus here at the outset knows that the harvest is plentiful, the workers are few, AND the days are few.  Love - and making disciples - requires time.

[23-24]  Now, even as Jesus is baptizing, JohnTW is in a different location [Aenon/Samaria], but he’s still baptizing, doing what he had been doing all along.  Which is interesting, cuz Messiah has shown up and gone public.  Doing what Jesus does, right?  Calling people to follow Him - AND miracles.  Which sort of puts (or could put) John out of a job, doesn’t it?  John has “fulfilled his mission”, hasn’t he?  Prepare the way, right?  He could even “retire”, couldn’t he?  But John keeps right on serving.  He keeps right on going.  And what we see is John occupying HIS proper place.  Cuz really, the Mission - John’s proper place AND ours, for as long as He gives us breath - is to help all people everywhere put Jesus in His proper place in their hearts and lives —> JESUS ABOVE ALL [31](2x!).  Such that whenever there is a heart or a life where Jesus is not above all, there is (still) a mission.  The mission is to increase worship (the exaltation of Jesus above all else)(that's the Great Command!) —> i.e. wherever worship does not exist there is a mission.

[25-26]  A curious discussion takes place in Salim.  Two discussions, actually.  The first discussion is about cleansing.  Some of John’s disciples have a discussion with a Jew (I.e, none of them are actually following Jesus).  What makes a person clean, pure, in God’s eyes?  Water?  IS IT baptism?  Can baptism make even Samaritans clean?  There’s lots of water there in Salim, and plenty of Samaritans are being baptized. [cf water for purification in 2.6] What would a Jew say makes you clean? Circumcision - and obeying the Law.  Also they’d say that either way, there’s no way that just baptism could make Samaritans clean.

Remember, to Jews, Samaritans are filthy half-breeds, an ancient mix of Jews and foreigners. Assyria forced them to intermarry when they conquered them in the 8th c. BC.  Even though Samaritans could trace their ancestry back to Abraham, marrying filthy Gentiles made them both ethnically and spiritually filthy.  IMpure - definitely to the Jews.  Such that devout Jews want nothing to do with them.  At this time devout Jews avoid Samaritans AND their territory [map] like the plague.  John is a God•send for even baptizing in that region [but as for our real imperfections? for the record 1Pet 3.21 - water/H2O does not/cannot make us clean in God’s eyes - it’s the blood of Jesus].  

But so, I think this Jew tells John’s disciples, if anything, you all should be baptizing Jews.  At least that’s what the Nazarene is doing.  Yeah, the same guy that was with John beyond the Jordan.  He’s baptizing tons of Jews down in Judea.

This sets up our 2nd discussion. John’s disciples relay the distressing news about the Nazarene (who John baptized).  Not only has he co-opted John’s method but apparently he’s out-baptizing the Baptizer!  All are coming to him!, they tell John.  They’re all distressed.  Rabbi, that guy you witnessed about, we just heard what he’s doing.  You DID say he is the Lamb of God - but we stayed with you.  We were with you first.  And at first, everybody was coming to hear you, they were being baptized by you.  But now all these Jews are coming to him.  And we’re stuck in Samaria.  Doesn’t that discourage you?  Cuz it discourages us.  I love John’s response…

[27]  First of all, everything that comes our way, every blessing, all the fruit, and the increase - it all comes from heaven.  Not our own doing.  [Providence].  God is our great all-sufficient Provide-er.  It’s all a gift.  LIFE - is a precious gift.  The pursuit of happy things, the liberty to pursue those things?  That’s a gift.  Yes, Thomas Jefferson wrote that those things are inalienable rights.  And boy, we Americans - we’ve embraced this in spades, haven’t we?  Things/people who don’t make us happy? - we cancel them.  Cuz why should I have to deal with anything/anyone that doesn’t make me happy?  We demand the right, the liberty to do & say & buy and possess whatever I want (and nothing I don’t).  Some of us, we earn what we want, the sweat of our brow (or ingenuity).  Some people expect the government to give it to them - or take that from others.  But we ALL get this idea that whatever I have - even in ministry - whatever IT is, it’s mine.  And maybe I’ll give a little bit of it to God.  But John is saying, nothing, none of this was/is EVER mine to begin with.  His is the life/heart of the [open hand].  All things are from You, Lord.  All things are for You.  To You be the glory, now and forever.

[28-29]  I TOLD you guys, I am not the Messiah.  I was sent ahead of Him, to get people ready for Him.  And now He’s here.  HE is the Bridegroom.  I’m just the friend of the groom.  This is not about me.  THIS is NOT about ME.  This is about bringing others to Him.  [26]  All are coming to Him?  Then YES!  That’s exactly as it should be… This is about Him, because Jesus is above all.

[30] Jesus MUST surpass all - because He DOES surpass all.  Have you ever been in the presence of [true greatness]?  You get caught up in the greatness.  You either feel self-conscious or you quit your navel-gazing altogether.  And the greater the greatness, the more you want to be in that Presence.  You want to be around it.  You want to follow it.  You are willing to commit your life, your heart to it [politicians/rallys].  The decrease in self is not about how small or insignificant you are.  It’s about how great the greatness is.  This is exactly what John is describing.  All of life is an exercise, a journey of learning to put Jesus above all.  Because [31] He Who comes from above is “above all”!!! (2x)  [True greatness] - if only we have eyes to see it.  This One Who WAS, Who is God Almighty, Who spoke all things into existence, and Who came to save us… Jesus above all.

Referenced Verses

2Cor. 4:4 in whose case ^athe god of ^bthis ¹world has ^cblinded the minds of the unbelieving ²so that they might not see the ^dlight of the gospel of the ^eglory of Christ, who is the ^fimage of God.

2Cor. 5:11a   Therefore, knowing the ^afear of the Lord, we persuade men

1Cor. 9:22b …I have become ^ball things to all men, ^cso that I may by all means save some. 

John 2:6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there ^afor the Jewish custom of purification, containing ¹twenty or thirty gallons each.

John 16:13 “But when He, ^athe Spirit of truth, comes, He will ^bguide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.