Untitled Sermon

Intro: Story of the woman at the well.

Woman getting ready

puts on a shawl, trying to cover her face

She know’s its going to be hot, but she also knows that, more likely than not, she won’t see anyone who knows her.

Anyone who will stand in the circle and stare at her; make he feel more judged that she already feels.

She will say goodbye to the disinterested man at his house.

She’ll do her best to avoid being put in a position to be seen, flitting from shadow to shadow, trying to keep her face covered.

Finally, when she gets to the well, she sees a man there, lounging and looking thirsty.

And then she sees that He’s a Jew, and she gets nervous.

You see, Jews and Samaritans don’t hang out, they’re sworn enemies.

But she knows that she needs this water, and she knows that it’s got to be now, and so she goes over to the well, hoping this guy doesn’t talk to her.

John 4:1-26.

Jesus Gives us New Life.

Jesus gives us life in two different ways.

Jesus frees us from shame

This woman was stuck.

Typically, when women went to draw water from a well, they would go in the early morning or in the evening. It’s significantly cooler, and other people were there, so they could talk and hang out with their friends.

This women goes in at the heat of the day.

We find out why she’s so eager to stay away from people. She’s a social outcast for having a questionable past.

She has had 5 husbands (which was unheard of) and she was living with a guy who wasn’t her husband (also, pretty crazy)

She was the bottom of the social ladder. She wasn’t well liked, and people probably knew about her as the one that you didn’t look at or talk to.

When she goes to the well and sees Jesus, she must have been nervous.

Jews and Samaritans hated each other. Jews wouldn’t go near a Samaritan because they thought being around them made you unclean. They were dogs to the Jews.

Beyond that, she’s a woman, which meant that she would be treated as essentially a living piece of property.

And she’s unmarried and has a past! She’s less than scum in the eyes of the culture!

And yet, Jesus talks to her.

This woman must have been used to people looking down on her, but Jesus talks to her, and does it kindly.

Jesus doesn’t address her as a single woman, or someone with a past, or a Samaritan; Jesus addresses the woman as a human

He doesn’t guilt her or shame her, in fact, He engages her.

She was the first person in the Book of John who He told directly that He was God.

He inferred it or hinted to it previously, but this is the first time that He tells someone directly.

In a culture where shame was common, He gives her honor.

Jesus doesn’t define you by shame.

Maybe you think that you’re not good enough, pretty enough, handsome enough, athletic enough, lovable enough, smart enough, or just enough, but God doesn’t see you that way!

Jesus looks at you as beloved, wonderful, and He wants to spend eternity with you, even if you have a past!

Jesus didn’t hold the woman’s shame over her head, and He doesn’t do it to you either.

God forgives, so you should too! He doesn’t heap guilt on your head, and neither should you.

But, Jesus doesn’t just leave you where you’re forgiven, there’s more to it!

Jesus satisfies your thirst

If all Jesus did was not shame this woman, that wouldn’t be enough.

She was defined by shame, but that was because she was searching for something.

That’s why she had 5 husbands and another guy! She wanted something or someone to fulfill her need to be loved.

Jesus gave her that satisfaction!

He offers her living water.

That has a couple of meanings.

It’s a never ending source of water, meaning you never have to be thirsty again.

It also means flowing water, which was the only water that could be used for ceremonial washing in judaism to make someone clean.

He gives her a new life, and then purifies it.

God satisfies your needs.

Whatever it is in your life that you keep searching for, it is found in God.

Love

Purpose

Friendship

Being Liked

We look to the world to solve our problems, but they are never going to solve our problems! Only God can truly fulfill you.

Then, Jesus the woman to respond.

Jesus Calls us to Worship.

The woman moves from the topic of herself to a discussion of worship

Jews believed that you worshipped God at the temple, whereas the Samaritans believed that you could only worship at their temple.

She’s uncomfortable that Jesus knows everything about her, s she moves to a theology discussion.

Jesus changes the question completely.

It doesn’t matter where you worship, it matters that you worship and how you worship.

Jesus tells her that the Jews were right, but that the system was abolished now. You don’t need a temple or a special location, because God is Spirit, so we worship in spirit.

We don’t respond by just working to get better. We do it by worshipping.

“We please Him most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections and believing that He understands everything - and loves us still.” Towzer

What does that mean?

We are supposed to worship authentically. We don’t need a special place, type of worship, or song; we have God, and if you love God, you will worship Him.

Jesus ends this conversation with her by telling her that He’s the One that she’s looking for. He’s the One we’re built to worship.

Worship the God who loves you like Jesus loved the woman.

Questions.

Would you rather eat the same thing every meal or have to eat something different for every meal?

Read v. 10. What is the “gift” that Jesus is talking about here?

Do you ever find yourself defined by shame? What would Jesus say to you about that?

Why is it easier to worship in a special place? What can you do to worship authentically normally?