New Beginnings

Introduction

Everyone who meets Jesus is changed somehow. Those who choose to reject Him become rooted in rebellion against God. But for those who accept Him and believe that He is the Lord they are changed for the better, they have a new beginning.

This is the beginning of a journey, a lifelong pursuit, to become more like Jesus. We enter eternal life because of our faith in Him. Our faith leads us to seek Him in every aspect of our lives.

Outline: A New Beginning for… I. Many Jews (vs. 1-3), II. A Samaritan Woman (vs. 3-38), III. Many in the City of Sychar (vs. 39-45)

I. A New Beginning for Many Jews (vs. 1-3)

A. Jesus’ disciples were immersing Jews in Judea

1. This baptism was not in the name of Jesus for salvation. That does not come until after Jesus’ death and resurrection

a. The baptism here is the same as that of John, for repentance and forgiveness of sins

b. It was in preparation for the Messiah’s redemptive work

2. Jesus’s disciples immersed more people than John had

a. Jesus was preparing His disciples for the mission He would send them on after His resurrection, making disciples of the world (Matthew 28:18-20)

b. Only the disciples baptized, for their own training and to prevent anyone from saying, “I was baptized by Jesus, so, I don’t have to do anything else”

B. When the Pharisees heard of Jesus’ work through His disciples, they moved on

1. The Pharisees were most likely an obstacle, considering the rejection they faced from John the Baptist and the regular rebukes from the Lord Himself

2. So, Jesus left to go to a place where people would listen, thus, He headed to Galilee

C. The Jews who were baptized by Jesus’ disciples were exposed to a snippet of who He was and what He was going to do

1. They met the Messiah and were given the opportunity to follow Him, repenting of their sins with forgiveness

2. We know not many followed Jesus from this instance, but it prepared the way for them to receive the gospel after the resurrection

3. You never know what fruit a planted seed will produce later

II. A New Beginning for a Samaritan Woman (vs. 4-38)

A. Jesus and His disciples came to Sychar (O.T. Shechem, Genesis 12:5-7)

1. Most Jews tried to avoid Samaria at all costs, but Jesus did not discriminate (vs. 4)

a. He saw all people as made in God’s image and never shied away from an opportunity to minister to these people

b. Samaria was the most direct route to Galilee and it was a good place to rest and recoup (vs. 5-6)

2. The disciples went into town to buy food while Jesus, wearied from the trip and the hot sun, sat by Jacob’s well

B. It was at noon, the hottest part of the day, that the unnamed Samaritan woman came to draw water (vs. 7-9)

1. Of course, we learn later that she has had 5 husbands and is living with a man who she is not married to (vs. 16-18)

a. This promiscuous behavior and sin would not have gone unnoticed by the village, she probably would have been seen as a prostitute and outcast, a flagrant sinner

b. It was common for women to go early in the morning and late evening to gather water, while it is cool. But she came in the heat of the day. Perhaps it was to avoid the crowds of shame

2. Jesus crossed all sorts of cultural boundaries:

a. He talked directly to a woman he did not know, willingly went through Samaria as a Jew, and asked a foreign woman for help

b. Clearly, public opinion did not matter to Jesus if good was being done

3. The woman was taken aback by this and questioned how Jesus could justify doing something so unheard of

C. Our Lord’s focus was not on cultural norms, but her status with God (vs. 10-14)

1. Jesus asked the woman to give Him a drink and used the opportunity to teach about eternal life

a. Jesus hints at two important truths: God’s gift and the importance of His status as Messiah

b. What is the gift God gives? Living water

2. Now the woman is confused. How can this man draw water when he doesn’t even have a bucket to draw with? In fact, He is asking her for a drink!

a. The Samaritan woman is thinking of taking a drink of physical water to quench her physical thirst

b. Jesus cannot draw this physical water because He has nothing to draw with. Where would he get this water? It can’t just appear out of thin air.

c. Again, Jesus, having read her heart, sought to bring her to God. So, He is not talking about physical water but spiritual water (vs. 13-14)

1. The key is the contrast Jesus makes: “Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again.” vs. 13 and “the water I shall give him shall become a well of water springing up to eternal life” vs. 14

2. This is a gift given by Jesus. The living water is a metaphor for the gift of grace that He causes eternal life to spring up in us

3. How can Jesus provide living water that brings eternal life? In answer to the woman’s question, He is greater than Jacob and He goes on to prove it

D. The Samaritan woman still doesn’t get it, she still thinks Jesus is referring to Jacob’s well (vs. 15)

1.She would love to never have to come to this well again, permanently avoiding the judgment of the crowds

a. So, she wants this water from Jesus and He is about to show her how to get it

b. He begins by calling out her sin (vs. 16-18). As mentioned earlier, she has been divorced 5 times and is sleeping with someone she is not married to

2. Naturally, she wanted to change the subject away from her sin, so she asked something that had been on her heart (vs. 19-20)

a. Having proved He was inspired of God, she sought information about the appropriate place of worship. Who was right? The Jews or the Samaritans?

b. Jesus’ answer was simple, yet, He did not let her leave the crucial topic of her salvation (vs. 21-24)

1.First, Jesus answered where the proper place of worship was, at that time it was the temple in Jerusalem

2. But after that time is past (when the Messiah does His redemptive work on the cross) then worship would be in spirit (anywhere and anytime with sincerity) and in truth (through Jesus, John 14:6)

3. Of course, the woman did not like that answer, but she believed in the Scriptures and was pleased to wait for the Messiah to declare all things. Jesus then declared “I who speak to you am” (vs. 25-26)

a. The woman was immediately convinced: the prophetic message and miraculous knowledge of her life was all she needed to know Jesus was truly the Messiah

b. She dropped everything and ran to tell people. She had a new beginning after meeting Jesus and that prompted her to share her faith with other (vs. 28-30)

c. Many believed because of her testimony (vs. 39)

III. A New Beginning for the Sycharians (vs. 40-43)

A. When the Samaritans heard Jesus for themselves they begged Him to stay longer

1.Once they were in His presence, many believed because of His word (vs. 41-42)

2.

As He heads back to His home base of Capernaum He cuts through Samaria. Galilee was a 6 day walk from Judea.

Application: Jesus wants to make a change in you. (discuss process of Samaritan woman for repenting). And now, be the vessel of change for others to make a new beginning with Jesus.