The Women at the Well

Introduction:

John 4

Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee and had to pass through Samaria - vv.3-4

While in a town called Sycar he sat down next to Jacob’s well

While at the well a woman from Samaria came to draw water

1. Description of the Women

A Women of Samaria (V.7) or The Samaritan Women (v.9)

The Samaritans were a mixed race created by the Israelites intermarrying with deported Assyrian captives - 2 Kings 17:41

There Had Long Been A Strained Relationship Between Jews and Samaritans

Jew and Samaritans

When Ezra Went To Build The Temple Samaritans Were Not Allowed to Participate in the Building of the Temple - Ezra 4:1-3

Samaritans Opposed Rebuilding of the Wall Around Jerusalem - Neh. 4:1-2

When Nehemiah returned from being cup bearer to the king he tried to rebuild the wall for protection

The main discouragers and oppositions were the samaritans

Samaritans Rejected Jesus Because His Face Was Set toward Jerusalem - Luke 9:51-56

Samaritans Were Foreigners - Luke 17:18; Matt.10:5

Calling Someone a “Samaritan” Was An Insult - John 8:48

They Avoided Having Dealings With One Another - John 4:9

An Immoral Woman (16-18)

She had been married five times - v.18

She was living with a man who was not her husband - v.18

She was likely treated as an outcast

She came to the well alone at a time when other women were not present

“It is possible that a pressing need caused here to make the trip, but more likely  that she chose a time when other women would not be present to shun her or reproach her for the questionable deeds of her life. It probably suggests that she was considered an outcast” - Dan King

She was a religiously wrong woman - John 4:19-22

“You worship what you do not know” - v.22

“We worship what we know” - v.22

“Salvation is of the Jews” - v.22

2. Lessons from How Jesus Dealt With the Woman and the Well

The Gospel Crosses Racial and Cultural Boundaries

Remember Who the Samaritans Were - Yet Jesus offered her living water - Jn.4:10

The Gospel is for All Men

We all need it - Rom.3:23  

Christ died for all - Heb.2:9

Gospel was to be taken to all - Mark 16:15-16

Gospel is power to save all - Rom.1:16

No difference - Rom.10:12-13

He Did Not Allow Her Sinful Past to Keep Him from Teaching Her

The Gospel is For Sinners

1 Timothy 1:15  

Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Matthew 9:9-13

 Isa.61:1-3 (Lk.4:18-21)

 Luke 19:10

Nicodemus vs Woman at the Well

Jew - Man - Learned - Morally Upright - Wealthy/Upper Class - Sought Jesus

Samaritan Woman - Ignorant - Sinful/Immoral - Poor/ Likely - Outcast - Curious - Traveler

He Confronted Her Sins

He Confronted Her Sin of Adultery - John 4:16-18

This demonstrated his omniscience - Heb.4:12

Can’t Convert the Sinner Unless Their Sins Are Confronted

Peter - Acts 2:23  

Stephen - Acts 7:51f  

Jesus - Matt.23:1ff

He Confronted Her Sin: False Religion - John 4:22

Jesus showed this woman clearly that what she practiced was wrong

One is wrong when they do not agree with scriptures - Matt.22:29

One can never turn to God until they recognize they are on the wrong path

Saul of Tarsus - Acts 23:1

He Transitioned a Secular Conversation to a spiritual Conversation

3. The Results of The Teaching

Progression in The Woman’s View of Jesus

Jew asking for water - John 4:9

A Prophet - John 4:19

The Christ - John 4:29

Many Believed in Jesus - John 4:39-42