Living Water pt. 1 (John 4:1-15).

Introduction

The last time we were together, we saw the Supremacy of Christ.

We ended our time noticing that we either have the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ, or the ever abiding wrath of God upon us (v. 36).

Christ is either exalted in our lives as supreme, as above all, or we exalt ourselves. There is no other way that it could be.

By receiving Christ’s testimony, we see and believe in the one true God. If we reject what Jesus has done, we reject the only true God. Remember Christ has “explained” the Father. He has revealed exactly who God is for He Himself is from God and is God.

This brings us to today’s text in John 4:1-15. Before we read it, we need to remember what the main purpose of the Gospel of John is. Do you remember?

John 20:30–31 ESV

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

As we read John 4:1-15, we need to be looking for what in this account points us to Christ as the Messiah, and the Son of God. This chapter is going to take us 3 or 4 weeks to get through. It is packed full with detail that we need to take in so that we can grasp the entirety of what is taking place.

We are going to see two main things today about Jesus that point to Him being the Messiah and the Son of God:

The Sovereign Move (vv. 1-6).

The Living Water (vv. 7-15).

The Sovereign Move (vv. 1-6).

We see from verse 1 that Jesus moved because the Pharisees knew He was making more disciples than John.

John the Baptist wasn’t the Pharisees favorite person.

When someone calls you a “brood of vipers” like John did in Matthew 3:7, you wouldn’t like him very much.

He interrupted the Religious monopoly in religion that the Sanhedrin had.

And they took notice of Jesus outgrowing John’s popularity.

Because of the increasing attention that Jesus was receiving from those that would eventually kill him, He moved north to Galilee.

It wasn’t time for Jesus to be crucified yet.

John 7:6.

John 8:20.

There would be a time that Jesus would head to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51.

At this point however, Jesus did not want to draw enough attention to get the persecution to ramp up to the point of murder.

Acts 2:22-24.

Romans 5:6.

It is important to see God’s sovereignty in the working out of the plan of salvation, because, as we are going to see here, He had a sovereign plan for even going through Samaria.

John 4:4.

Geography did NOT hinder Christ and his disciples to one path to Galilee.

Jews would travel through Samaria only to get to Jerusalem during a holiday week, because it was the quickest route.

But that is always north to south.

The coastal route.

The “Trans-Jordan” route.

But Jesus HAD to go through Samaria.

Jesus had a “divine appointment” with a woman at a well in Sychar.

This place is still well known today. There is an orthodox church built on the well near Mount Ebal.

It is about half a mile away from the city.

Jacob gave this well and land to Joseph in Genesis 48:22.

Seems to be the OT City Shechem.

Nabulous in Israel today.

Jesus was wearied (v. 6)

The path from Judea to this place is about 20 miles, but it is a very strenuous and mountainous path.

We see Jesus’s humanity!

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

We have a God who knows us.

Hebrews 4:14-16.

Jesus experienced everything we have, other than sin.

This is important because Jesus is about to encounter a woman who is very human, and needs a savior who knows her.

The Living Water (vv. 7-15).

Jesus’s words shattered all preconceived notions between Jews and Samaritans.

There was much animosity between the Jews and Samaritans for a variety of reasons.

2 Kings 17:24-41.

The original kingdom of Israel split after King Solomon died.

2 tribes, Judah and Benjamin were one, and the Northern 10 tribes were the other.

Assyria eventually came and dropped off people from other parts of the Assyrian Empire.

These intermarried with the Northern Tribes, bringing along their false gods and worship.

The Capitol city of the northern kingdom was Samaria, which eventually the entire region became known as that.

Secondarily, Jewish men did not talk to women in public.

In verse 8, we see that Jesus sent his disciples to go and get food from the Samaritans.

A woman comes to get water.

She came in the heat of the day. The sixth hour is around noon.

Women would usually go in the cool of the evening to get water, in groups, both for protection and to socialize.

This woman is alone, in the heat of the day. Why?

John 4:17, 18.

She is an adulterous Samaritan.

She doesn’t even fit in with her own people.

Why then is Jesus talking to her?

The woman is aware of the prejudices (v. 9).

The Gospel fulfills the hearts desire (vv. 10-15).

Jesus offers the gift of God to her.

She was able to give him something that satisfied his need for a moment. Jesus was able to give her something that satisfied her need for eternity.

Eternal life = Living Water.

Sin often takes form of things that we desire most.

For her (vv. 17, 18) she likely desired companionship and intimacy, and for whatever reason she didn’t have that.

For example:

Perfectionism.

People-pleasing—the desire to have people like you.

Lying.

Theft.

Greed.

None of these satisfy, there is always more to have.

This is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5.

A desire for a good thing becomes a bad thing when it is a ruling thing.

Jesus offered eternal life, which satisfies eternally.

Living Water is a OT term that helps us see what Jesus is talking about.

Jeremiah 2:11–13 “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Ezekiel 36:25–27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

The woman at the well didn’t immediately understand what Jesus was saying, but I want to help you see it.

Titus 3:4–7 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Eternal life is NOT just something that we look forward to in heaven.

Eternal life is something that we experience here and now.

Eternal life is NOT just simply quantity of life.

Eternal life is quality of life.

From zombies to the Temple of God—> Ephesians 2:1-3; 2:19-22.