John 4:1-36. The fields are white for harvest.

John 4:1-36. The fields are white for harvest.

Recap: Where are we and where are we going?

Jesus – leads to may coming to believe. (Seeing God – enable us to see our self, Jesus exposes the woman so she can understand who Jesus is). (Gospel for the sinner, outcast, enemy, unclean, the one that worships without knowledge).

A very simplified version of Jesus and the woman’s convsation would be something like this:

J: Give me a drink. W: Why do you speak to me? J: If you knew me you would ask a different question. W: you don’t have a anything to give me. Are you greater that Jacob? J: Yes, because what I give is much greater, that what Jacob gave. W: okay give me that. J: Call you husband (you don’t have). W: I don’t have one. J: You speak the truth, you had 5, and one now is not yours. W: Aha you are a prophet, let me ask about religion. J: Fine but you need a different understanding of God. W: Okay, but I don’t get what you are saying but, Messiah, the Christ will tell us all things. J: I know it is me. The disciples come back– The woman leaves.

In the beginning of chapter 4, there is a short transition where it is stated that Jesus learned that the Pharisees, knew he was baptizing more that John, - and John adds it was his disciples not Jesus himself that baptized. And Jesus leaves and goes towards Galilee. Jesus is going north away from the Pharisees’.

Verse 4 John state Jesus had to go through Samaria, - well that depends, - is he fleeing? Debate short, Josephus, said many Jews would take that route, others would not. What is the problem – PPT. – The Samaritans did not believe in the whole OT, only 5 Frist books – but was looking for a Christ. To rule as king.

Okay so it is not unlikely that Jesus, had to go this way, to meet the woman – and all the people in the story. (like when he found Philip). (Jesus showing that people seen as unclean can be a part of the people of God, and later also in the Church - God loved the world not just one people group).

In Verse 6 we see, Jesus sitting down tired wearied from the journey, it is hot middle of the day, a lunch break. Jesus is alone, the disciples went to buy food. Now the encounter happens: A woman form Samaria, comes out to the well. Jesus simply asks her for a drink of water.

Then all the things I just mentioned before, runs in the head of the woman, so she responds how can you even ask me this question? You are a Jew and I am a woman from Samaria, (John fills in the reader about conflict he wrote that Jesus was alone).

Jesus responds in verse 10: If you knew God’s gift, and who I am, you would have asked for water, and he/me would have given you living water. Jeramiah – God fountain of living water.

Like Nicodemus the woman is thinking about the physical water, and talks about how Jesus does not have a anything to draw the water with. She doses ask the question are you greater that Jacob that gave the well?

Jesus in 13 try to explain what living water is, (normal water leaves us thirsty later), the water Jesus gives will truly satisfy, and become a spring of water that will flow up to eternal life…

That is great give me this water, then I don’t have to come out here to get water, - (Oh she still does not understand).

16). Jesus will now expose here in here need: Jesus said: Go call your husband, and come here.

The woman respond I have no husband. Jesus said right back: You are right, you had 5 and are with a man that is not you husband, - you told me the truth.

A pause: If that was you, how would you respond? (That is a good thing to think about, it is likely that shows our willingness of repentance or our lack?)

The woman responds, with Sir, Lord/ you are a prophet. She does not respond the to what Jesus said, instead starts a religious and debate. She talking about Abraham worshiping on the mountain, and that the Jews said worship should be in Jerusalem.

Jesus going at the core will go on to explain who God is to the woman. – It is not about the place or how it is about who you worship. The father. (my father). 22 Jesus, is stating that the samarins don’t understand who God is, but the Jews do, and that salvation will come from the Jews, (by Jesus). But that the time was now to people were asked to worship the Father in spirt and truth, that is the people that Father is seeking to worship him. With the right spirt, understanding who God is in truth. And not as a religious ritual, because others used to do it or because of tradition. Jesus drawing the woman near and inviting here in to true worship of God.

25) The woman, does not seem to understand what Jesus said, - or it was hard to hear. She then said I know that Messiah (John explains Christ) when he comes, he will tell us all things. – Is this a way to get Jesus away or a theological pause, I don’t get what you are saying but the one coming will tell us all. Even hide her sin?

She is not anticipating, what Jesus is going to say: I who speak to you am he. Jesus clearly states for the woman that he is Messiah, the Christ. (He had been doing it in the whole talk but now responds – you did not know who I am, but now you do). How will she respond?

Right then the disciples come back, and they marvel are confused that Jesus is talking to the woman, but say nothing, - the woman, leaves the well, and here water jar. Is she going to run back to darkness and sin and evil and hate the son? No, it is very interesting what she does. Jesus exposed her, now she uses that to invite others to come see Jesus, Come and see, a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? And many goes out to Jesus. (As she was exposed, she experienced God, and Jesus told her who he was and she believed).

31-38 (Explaining to the disciples what is going on). Look around all the people coming to hear and believe.

Food and true food, Jesus My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

35 look the lift your eyes the fields are white for harvest. 36 the one doing the work, is getting wages and fathering fruit for eternal life, - sower and reaper may rejoice together.

37+38. Jesus sent the disciples to reap, where others have sown, others worked before and you, are now doing the work, or reaping what others has sown. (John and others that have prepared the way, for Jesus).

39. Many believe because of the woman’s testimony: He told me all that I ever did. Her witness about Jesus made many believe – so what we do with Jesus is important, God can use us to bring others near to Jesus. 40. Many come out to Jesus they ask him to say 2 days. And 41 and many more believed, - because of Jesus words.

Then they testify to the woman, that now the believe, because the heard themself. What did they now know? Jesus is indeed the savior of the world. (They did not understand who Jesus was and after one talk one woman – tings he might be Christ, many believe because of her testimony, Jesus stays two days and many more believe and they testify that from not knowing him now they proclaimed Jesus as Savoir of the world. )

The picture that Jesus was using with the fields ripe for harvest – was being done – even the outcasts was trusting in Jesus as the savior of the world the Messiah /Christ.

(Why is this so kind and great of Jesus to expose here? Like with the rich man, and others, what is standing in the way of you trusting in Jesus, you have looked to be made hole and satifyed in men and like the water it does not work, you need living water).

Who is Jesus? Has he exposed you? And what did you do? (And what do you do?) Are the harvest ready? What are you walking in? Who do you think is not worthy to hear the gospel? Who do you not like or despise? Jesus savior of the world.