Sermon 04 - John 4 - February 1, 04
INTRODUCTION:
1. ((illus)) This past week I felt like a SPIRITUAL CHIEF.
a. Chiefs seek to prepare healthy, attractive meals.
b. They use a variety of ingredients.
i) Some meals come together easily.
ii) Some tike a little more time.
iii) And there are some you have to really work on right up to the presentation.
c. Today is one of those kinds of sermons that you have to keep working on.
2. Our text is John 4 (page 896)
a. In our continuing study of Jesus in John’s Gospel.
b. Remember John’s purpose?
c. John 20:31 - But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.
i) Who is Christ?
ii) What is faith?
iii) What is life?
d. John presents Jesus in an intimate way and this is seen in this story of the Woman at the Well.
i) Some of you are familiar with it, some are not.
ii) It’s the longest conversation of Jesus with an individual recorded in the Bible.
iii) Interestingly enough this occurred in an area of Palestine that today we call the West Bank.
John 4:1-30
Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John” 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea to return to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the parcel of ground 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 I am, 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 is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?”
13 Jesus replied, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. 14 But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul 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.”
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, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know so 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 and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone 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 will come—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 arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing. 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, 29 “Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
3. We look at this woman and realize she had some BIG ISSUES
a. Issues that are all around us today.
b. And we’ll come back to that in a moment.
4. As I read this woman’s story, I couldn’t help but notice JESUS INTERACTION WITH HIS DISCIPLES which followed.
a. He is using this occasion as a teaching opportunity.
b. From what follows, all that they are living for THE MOMENT
i) :31-33 – they’re concerned about lunch and what he’s eating.
ii) :34-35 - Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest.
5. That :35 is as a favorite verse for evangelism in the church.
a. I’ve heard it all my life.
b. But I had FORGOTTEN THE CONTEXT until rereading it in preparation for this Sunday.
c. It’s John 3 and 4
6. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT AS A CHURCH.
a. Looking out for people like:
i) John 3 – church-going sinners
ii) John 4 – non-church going sinners
7. Why?
a. Because everyone could identify with one, if not both of these individuals.
8. ((illus)) Twice a year, we have always taken a Sunday to remind ourselves about who we are as a church and what our purpose for existence is.
a. I had skipped Jan. because we covered the same ground during the 40 Days of Purpose.
b. But God is bring us back to this today.
9. Jesus said:
a. for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
b. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32
c. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19
10. The church is not to be an aquarium for the saints but a hospital for us sinners.
a. We are all cripples and we all need Jesus.
b. Jesus was not looking and seeking the beautiful people.
11. In fact, if I were TO USE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE CONDITION OF THIS WOMAN IT WOULD BE EMPTY
a. And guess what? There’s a lot of empty lives around today.
i) And your time to time, we all get that way.
b. ((illus)) She was like Sammy Sosa’s bat
i) Remember the his corked bat?
ii) It looked great on the outside but was empty on the inside.
iii) But how many lead lives that, like a beautiful Louisville slugger, look good on the outside but there’s cork in the soul.
iv) Some would admit it, some would not, and some are too afraid to look
c. ((illus)) I don’t know if you realize it or not but today is supper bowl Sunday. Whether you’re a football fan or not, you would have to admit that it would be quite an accomplishment to win the supperbowl. But after the Dallas Cowboys had won their first Super Bowl under Tom Landry, he made this observation. "The overwhelming emotion--in a few days, among the players on the Dallas Cowboy’s football team—will be how empty that goal was. There must be something more."
d. Emptiness and while the disciples were in town looking for food, Jesus was waiting for this woman.
i) :4 – He had to go through Samaria.
ii) Jesus had a divine appointment with this outcast whose life was running on empty.
iii) What an awesome, moving glimpse into the heart of God as we see Jesus, the Creator of the heavens and earth, the Son of God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, sitting by himself on the stone wall encircling Jacob’s well, bone weary after his long walk.
iv) And guess what – today, Jesus still waits beside the well of water to meet with those who will come to him.
¨ I wonder if you ever considered that you have a divine appointment when you get up in the morning for your time alone in prayer and Bible study? - That Jesus is patiently, personally waiting to meet you there?
¨ Have you ever thought of going to church as a divine appointment – that Jesus is waiting to meet you here?
¨ Have you ever thought of that Bible study group you belong to as a divine appointment?
¨ What a difference in our attitudes if these were true.
12. Sometimes we’re so EMPTY and we don’t even realize it.
a. ((illus)) I ran across some interesting figures.
b. All of this may seem dull to you but multiply these numbers by 365 and you begin to get the idea that there’s a lot of money, energy, trauma, and activity going on in America.
i) And that’s just in America.
ii) Multiply that times the nations of the world.
iii) No wonder we often describe our society as a zoo, or a circus.
iv) And it explains some of the emptiness going on.
13. LET ME ASK YOU THIS MORNING:
a. Are you running on empty?
b. Are you someone who just endures life?
c. Are you someone whose greatest goal is just to make it through another day?
d. Are you someone to whom life has been unkind or unjust for whatever reason?
14. Jesus wants to meet with you
a. To bring relationship with Him
b. understanding.
c. Comfort.
d. Forgiveness
e. Love
f. And Jesus is waiting
15. HER EMPTINESS IS SEEN IN HER:
a. Emptiness seen in DISSATISFACTION
i) It is sumbolized by her request in :15 - “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.”
ii) There was an intense thirst that was never satisfied.
¨ Spiritual thirst
¨ Emotional thirst
iii) She had tried to fill it with a cheap religious substitute and with multiple marriages and now a live in.
iv) But she kept coming up empty.
v) Are you aware of someone in your world like this?
vi) Maybe this describes your life?
¨ You’ve come to church but you’ve settled for a religious experience rather than a personal relationship with God.
¨ You’ve never studied the Bible but have let others decide what you should believe.
¨ Mixed God’s Word with traditions and rituals or popular opinions and cultural ideology?
vii) And Jesus is patiently waiting for you to come and drink from Him.
b. Emptiness in DISTORTION
i) Without Jesus, life was distorted to cultural labels and predjudice.
ii) :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?”
iii) Centuries before, The nation of Assyria had invaded her land and had deported the Jews living there.
¨ They brought in their own people.
¨ A false religion was instituted.
¨ Jesus was a Jew and Jews would always skirt Samaria because of their animosity toward these half-breeds.
(a) But the feelings were mutual.
iv) On top of this, Jesus was a Rabbi and it was forbidden to a Rabbi address any woman in Public, even if it was a relative.
v) The beautiful thing is that Jesus did not get defensive but began to sharpen her focus and whet her appetite for more:
¨ :10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
¨ But she is so preoccupied with herself, what she did and what she didn’t have that she totally missed the point
vi) People are out digging their own wells.
¨ Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT) For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all
¨ Wells of pleasure, popularity, position, possessions, power, finances, family, friends, fame, career, children, clubs, sports, sex, religion, education, health, hobbies, entertainment, etc.
vii) Emptiness.
¨ :13 - Jesus replied, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. 14 But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
c. Emptiness seen in DISCOURAGEMENT
i) From the failure of 5 marriages
ii) But Jesus doesn’t condemn her.
¨ She was already condemned
¨ Because she was a sinner, just like the rest of us.
iii) And as Jesus looks at our hearts, what does He see?
iv) What is the greatest sin in our lives?
¨ Murder, theft, adultery, some other gross act?
¨ Jesus said that the greatest commandment was “to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, min, soul and strength.
¨ If that’s the greatest commandment, then the greatest sin is breaking this commandment
v) This morning Jesus says, come, come to the well, come to Me and confess your sin – there is cleansing in the cross.
d. Emptiness seen in DISILLUSIONMENT
i) After talking about her marriages, she was getting irritated.
ii) He had gotten too close.
iii) ((illus)) I see it all the time in sharing my faith. People will change the subject.
¨ Where did Cain get his wife?
¨ What about all the people in India or China who have never heard the Gospel.
iv) :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?”
¨ “I’ve tried religion. It doesn’t work for me. I’m sick of all the bickering and fighting and splitting of hairs going on in churches. I’m sick of all the differences and rivalry between church denominations. I’m sick of all the hypocrites. It’s of no personal benefit to me. I’ve been religious, but I’m still EMPTY.”
¨ My question is “Can you sort out truth from tradition?
(a) You might be ignorant like this woman.
(b) Jesus eye balled this woman and told her that she had to worship God as He prescribes or He won’t accept it.
(c) Worship that is indwelt by God’s Spirit
(d) Worship that is in truth – transparent, honest.
e. :25-26 - The woman said, “I know the Messiah will come—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
i) This is the point of faith and filling for this outcast
ii) She leaves her water pot and introduces the city to Him.
i) A revival takes place and many believe.
CONCLUSION:
1. :4 - He had to go through Samaria
2. Jesus is by the well, waiting for you.
3. Maybe this morning you are dry and thirsty
a. Come and drink - Trust him
b. Come and drink - Come back to Him
c. Learn from Him
4. You will never be the same again.