John 4

Is 49:1-6

Intro.

Todays passage gets us up to speed with the other gospel accounts. The majority of what we’ve encountered thus far in John’s gospel is unique to John. Here however, we can conclude that we are chronologically at the point in this history where John the baptist is thrown into prison and Jesus departed into Galilee.

As we see in:

Matthew 4:12 “Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee;”

And locating us here helps us understand Jesus departure. I believe the Pharisees play a big roll in John’s being thrown into prison. It’s not just the Herod incident. John is ruffling feathers amongst them as we’ve seen so far, so they take care of him. And what is their opinion of Jesus compared to John? Is it any better? How about the temple clearing? Jesus is becoming more famous than John. It’s time to go put out this fire as well.

So Jesus, knowing their ill intent, heads to Galilee.

And we ought to remember that Jesus is not fleeing out of fear, but He is fleeing because his hour has not yet come. He has work to do. He has his Father’s work to accomplish. And again, as we’ve mentioned, Jesus is in sovereign control of his own life. He will give his life over, He will raise up the temple of His own body we are told. I will willingly give it up, and take it up again. This is what we see here.

As for his baptism. We’ve touched on that in a previous sermon. I believe that his disciples are the ones performing the actual baptism. It’s similar to Paul. In the midst of a divided church, Paul thanks God that he baptized no one. Because of the further division and bickering it might have caused. Jesus here doesn’t want any more comparison with his and John’s baptism. No claiming that “Jesus” baptised me but what about you. The actual baptizing is delegated to the disciples. And as we mentioned, Jesus baptism is repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, just as John’s. But it is here in Jesus. The kingdom is here in me as we saw in our previous sermon.

Verse 4.

We are told that

“And He had to pass through Samaria”

“He had to pass through”, what do we gather from this.

Well there were other routes, so geographically he is not strained. Because of the tension with the Samaritans(v.9), there were other routes the Jews would take in order to avoid contact with the Samaritans.

We also can’t say that he had to because it was the fastest and most direct route-which it is- but the language is too strong for that.

The word could be translated “it is necessary” or “must”. It implies what many will label “a divine necessity”.

And that’s what we have here. In the decree of God, and in the marvelous providence of God working out that decree, Jesus “must needs go to Samaria” as the KJV accurately captures. “He must needs go”

Jesus must pass this way because the Father has a people for him. His bride.

He must go because a nameless, and immoral woman is one of Jesus sheep along with many others in that town.

What about us today?

John 10:16 ““I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”

That is us! “I must bring them also”

This divine necessity still speaks to us today, because it’s the same divine providence. The same flock. The same Shepherd. It is the same Jesus that came and got us when we were born again.

Jesus is not an inactive Lord after his ascension. We need to here this again and again. In fact he is even more active today by his Spirit.

Who is the main actor in the Book of Acts? Is it Peter? Is it Paul? The apostles collectively? All wrong answers. The risen Lord Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit that is the main actor in acts. Leading his church, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. And still today he speaks, with power, calling, drawing, pulling men and women out of darkness into His marvelous light. Raising the dead. Turning rebellious heart toward obedience and love for Him and into service in the church.

He did it to you. You are his handy work. 1900+ years after the ascension. He came and preached peace to your weary soul. Wherever you were geographically. Where ever you were in your spiritual darkness, “he must needs go”, and he did, and he got you. “I have other sheep and I must get them, they will hear my voice”

And it was at the right time. This is hard to grasp. In Gods wise providence he brought you when he did. Not a moment to soon or too late. I often think back to what the circumstances were when the Lord drew me. Who was praying for me? What were the moments, messages, comments, and conversations he used to draw me? In many ways its very clear, and in many ways mysterious.

Talk slow

One more implication from this verse. In perfect concurrence with the providential divine necessity is the fact that Jesus is led by the Spirit to Samaria. Just as the apostles were led by the Spirit in acts, so here Jesus. He has the Spirit without measure. He is also in perfect fellowship with his Father. We need to take serious note of this in our own lives. Are we in such communion with God, are we walking in step with the Spirit in such a way that God will prompt us and lead us into those conversations and situations where we can bring the good news to those who need it. So we can counsel and encourage those who need counsel and encouragement that is wise and Spirit filled. The holidays are right around the corner and we all know how that can weigh on us. Especially around unbelieving family. We want a Spirit filled witness. Would we be those who are ready with the right word, the right answer in those times. I don’t mean in a premeditated way, but in a wholly organic way. Were the moment someone begins to converse with us they know that we have been long in the presence of God. Praying and meditating on Scripture. On Christ.

I’m not convinced in the following verses that Jesus is giving us evangelistic tactics. I think we are rather to see what happens when this woman engages in a genuine conversation, and has a genuine encounter with Jesus, with the Father, in a natural( or supernaturally natural way) way. In other words, Jesus is not giving us a lesson on how to win souls to himself per se.

Verse 6.

John 4:6 “and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”

Slow slow slow

Gill says:

, and this is emphatical; and signifies, that he sat like a weary person, glad to set himself down any where; and not caring how, or where, he sat to rest his weary limbs:

Slow slow slow

James, Fasset, Brown commenting:

wearied … sat thus—that is, “as you might fancy a weary man would”; an instance of the graphic style of St. John [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. In fact, this is perhaps the most human of all the scenes of our Lord’s earthly history. We seem to be beside Him, overhearing all that is here recorded, [[I love this]] nor could any painting of the scene on canvas, however perfect, do other than lower the conception which this exquisite narrative conveys to the devout and intelligent reader. But with all that is human, how much also of the divine have we here, both blended in one glorious manifestation of the majesty, grace, pity, patience with which “the Lord” imparts light and life to this unlikeliest of strangers, standing midway between Jews and heathens.

This is the Lord. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord of Isaiah 40.

Isaiah 40:28–30 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,”

This one was wearied so he sat down.

The same One who said:

Matthew 11:28 ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

Sits down weary.

What an amazing thing. The gospel that displays the loftiest portrayal of Jesus divinity, also portrays the most vivid displays of his true humanity.

When you are weary dear believer. Weary of physical, mental , and emotional toil where do you go? When you are weary with the sin of the world, the temptation to sin, the trials and tribulations, who is your help? . Are you weary with your own sin, how it loves to cling, ensnare, trap, and make you to go down into the pits of dispair, into the shadow of death? To whom can you turn?

In light of the election, could an entirely Christian government, giving prosperity, setting in place all of the just laws, regularly curbing wickedness, could that ease you of all of this despair and weariness? Could it make your pilgrim journey of greater ease? No.

But, right here in front of us we have one who can first; sympathize with us in all our weariness. To the uttermost. He was wearied and tempted and tried as we were in every way, except sin. He knows it all dear Christian, he walked it.

What of your struggles can you not come to your savior for one to sympathize with? None. Temptation to sin, temptation to escape trial and suffering, Temptation to cease from doing the good work God has given you to do. He can sympathize.

Listen to the weariness of our LORD in Isaiah 49:4 The Son says in Isaiah 49:4. “But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the Lord, And My reward with My God.””

Jesus has just been largely rejected by his own. He came to his own and his own did not receive him. He is wearied, more than physically wearied he is in despair…..and what does the Father say to him:

Isaiah 49:6 “He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

He must needs go to Samaria, for the salvation of the Lord must go out to the world. Go to Samaria says God, there is a reward for you there!

We have our great sympathizer

……..but again, not only that, but in the most majestic and glorious way we also have the One who can give you rest from your weariness, from your labor and toil. The all powerful, all knowing, LORD. “one and the same Christ, eternal Son, Lord, Only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.”

Slow Slow

Children, would you just give this Jesus one moment of your meditation during the day and he would fill up that longing for fulfillment that you spend every waking hour chasing. Chasing that lasting pleasure that always seems to flee away. Jesus is that great lasting pleasure that won’t elude you!

What heights of glory are on display for us here! What else is worthy of your morning and evening meditation above this consideration of Jesus Christ, the God-man. The incarnate Lord. We will praise the Lamb who was slain for ever and ever, would we give a little time outside of Sunday to commune with him??? To meditate on his person and work.

John Owen is dying and he thinks, what can I leave my congregation with? So he writes his 4-500 page volume on The Glory of Christ. As he is approaching face to face conformity to his Savior, he thinks, what could be greater than encouraging my people to begin to see and long for Jesus by faith, right now, more and more each day.

The whole of world history all exists for this. That God would glorify himself in the exultation of Jesus Christ, that he might bring fallen image bearers to share in his eternal goodness and love. There is none greater than God. No greater good than our triune God who is infinitely good. If you can conceive of the greatest possible good, raise your thoughts higher because God in Christ is greater than that. And for the creature, there is no greater goal or good than to participate in the eternal goodness, fruitfulness and love of God. Jesus is moving out into the world now to get his people. The people the Father gave him from all eternity. If you are in Christ this morning, you already participate in that ineffable Goodness that eternal life, that quality of life. The cosmic reality of the New Creation has come, already. Yet its fulness awaits. But even now, grow in the knowledge of what you already possess. What you are in Christ. Eternal life is not entirely distant.

If you don’t know that Life, then come to Jesus. Come sinful, weary, messed up and broken, and he will take your sins, he will give you rest, set the crooked straight, and bind up what is broken.

In closing, It’s always, all about God in Christ Jesus for us.

We didn’t mention all of the people and places mentioned in this passage. What’s going on with these details? I think there is a simple but yet profound explanation. Jesus is greater than all OC types, shadows and places. We’ve seen this pattern so far in John. He is greater than the old creation, he is greater than the sacrificial ceremonial system, greater than Moses, greater than the temple, so great that he is above all. And now in our account, as one writer puts it, Jesus transcends all holy geography. Whatever sacredness was held to certain places because of the work God had done in and through his people and the patriarchs, Jesus transcends all. He is the greater Moses, and he is the greater Jacob, and the greater Joseph. Even greater than their Father Abraham as we’ll learn later on. There is no more tracing of lineage, “do not say for yourselves, we have Abraham as our Father.” No more land. We inherit a greater land. No more holy place, for we are God’s temple. All OT history is yes in Christ. Amen in Him who is above all. Christ is all.

And as we’ll see in the weeks ahead, the woman and her city give the hearty amen to this, they concur with the Fathers amen to his only begotten Son’s work and worth. They in the Spirit believe on Jesus. Let us do the same. Let us find in Jesus our all today.

Lets pray.