Following The Word 6

You Need Living Water

Text: John 4:1-26

Introduction

In this chapter this is an overarching theme; the Gospel reaches various kinds and classes of people. No matter where you come from, faith in Christ is not out of your reach as longs as the Lord is continuing to draw you to Himself.

As the journey continues with Jesus the Living Word, we come to a spot in scripture where we learn of another way to describe Jesus’ great provision of grace for the lost soul.

Now, this journey to Samaria was prompted by the Pharisees attempting (as they will numerous time) to cause issues in attempt to distract and even dissolve the ministry of Jesus.

Genesis 33:19 “19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.”

Joshua 24:32 “32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.”

(SHOW MAP)

1) Jesus wearied Himself to cross cultural boundaries

A. The culture created boundaries

The Samaritans were a mixed race, part Jew and part Gentile, that grew out of the Assyrian captivity of the ten northern tribes in 727 b.c. Rejected by the Jews because they could not prove their genealogy, the Samaritans established their own temple and religious services on Mt. Gerizim. This only fanned the fires of prejudice. So intense was their dislike of the Samaritans that some of the Pharisees prayed that no Samaritan would be raised in the resurrection! When His enemies wanted to call Jesus an insulting name, they called Him a Samaritan (John 8:48).11 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 299.

It wasn’t customary for Jewish man to speak to a strange woman in public - John 4:27

It is evident that the Jew did have some dealings with the Samaritans due to the disciples going in to the city to purchase food.

B. Jesus Christ crushes boundaries

a) The soul of this woman outweighed acceptance from the culture

Jesus’ schedule was not determined by the world’s standards. He was moved by a divinely appointed schedule.

“It was necessary”

There is a difference in something being culturally accepted and spiritually necessary.

Many of the Jews and Samaritans both allowed their historical grudge to continue.

Jesus’ statement of “needing to go through Samaria,” was direction from Heaven.

APP:

Q — Have you taken any time at all to reconsider what you are currently classifying as “necessary?”

It isn’t necessary that you be liked or accepted by everyone.

It isn’t necessary that you have every comfort that money can buy.

It isn’t necessary that you never deny your children what they want.

It isn’t necessary that you busy your life up so much that you don’t have time to have dinner with your family.

It isn’t necessary...

b) What He could do for her outweighed what she had done to herself

(v6) “being wearied with his journey”

“wearied” = to tire v. — to exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress.

There is without a doubt that Jesus was well aware of who He would cross paths with at the sixth hour (high noon).

One woman who continually gave away her life to sin.

Picture with me Jesus walking at a certain pace to reach Jacob’s well at the right time.

He was walking which says a lot about his love for this person.

He probably had to remind His men several times that going through Samaria is the necessary thing to do.

He faced the heat of the day; He got there at the hottest part of the day.

This was roughly a 20 mile walk to reach the well.

Jesus “wearied” Himself for advancing the Gospel!

APP — Some of you here today are spending more time, energy, resources, and emotion into things that have no eternal weight whatsoever!

Have you ever asked yourself this, “This thing that I am permitting myself, my marriage, my family, or my kids to do, is it beneficial at all to their spiritual wellbeing?”

LISTEN…we know a Savior who’s grace is available and stronger than any amount of sinful history. We must get back to giving back the health and energy God has given us by way of allowing eternal things to propel our lives forward.

Q — When is the last time you tired yourself for the things of God, the mission of the church, the encouragement of the saints, etc?

APP — When do you give up on those who are sinfully different than you?

2) Jesus Interjected Himself To Clarify Truth

A. Jesus disregarded her sinful and cultural status

a) Jesus requested a drink of water from her

It was a woman’s job to get water daily. Water was life!

This was not something she expected! She could tell Jesus was a Jew probably by his clothing.

Men were never to speak with women out in public, even women of their own family.

Example: There were priest who were called the “bruised and bloodied.” This was due to closing their eye while walking when they would unexpectedly come in contact with a woman. They would run in to all kinds of things.

Notice how Jesus set this up to where it would just be Him and her. The disciples went into town to purchase food.

b) Jesus did not classify her as someone to avoid or reject

(v9) “dealings” = more than just avoiding close associations with, but specifically not to even use the same vessels for food and drink.

In other words, she was saying, “Why would you want to use my water bucket since Jews believe that anything we Samaritans use have been polluted?”

The Jews had failed to see the Samaritans as their mission field.

Jesus invaded her life by using a common need they both had (what a great example on how to evangelize).

(v11) In spite of her sarcastic response, Jesus would continue to share with her who He was.

“nothing to draw with” — the well was 100ft deep / He had no bucket of his own and no cup to drink of.

“greater than our father Jacob” — His well continues to this day / It is supplied by an underground stream.

You have nothing to give!

This woman was very ignorant.

B. Jesus describes a far superior water supply

a) He begins by revealing the source (v10)

Romans 5:15 “15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

As you can tell, she really knew nothing of the scriptures!

Isaiah 12:3 “3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Jeremiah 2:13 “13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Zechariah 13:1 “1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened To the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem For sin and for uncleanness.”

She had an appointment with the “Living Word” who would bring clarity to her corrupted and ignorant mind.

(v10) “asked Him…He would have given you living water”

(v13) “that I shall give him”

b) He then describes the impact of the water only He can provide (v13)

The ACCESIBILITY of His water

“Whosoever” — You have freedom to continue with an insufficient water source (or) receive “living” water from Me.

Luke 5:31–32 “31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

The LONGEVITY of His water (v13)

The water associated with the well was an experience of loneliness, shame, regret, and exhaustion.

The water in the well was a source of continual reminder of the rejection from the community and society.

The journey to the well never ceased.

Her greatest need was not physical water, but a water supply that would FOREVER CHANGE her.

“never thirst”

“shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”

Nothing in this world “completely” satisfies your soul.

3) Jesus Leads Her To Real Worship

A. She had to first confront her sin and unbelief

a) The soil of her heart was not ready (v15-18)

Matthew 13:20–21 “20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”

She continued to see Jesus’ offer as something that would help her not have to face the heat of the day and her shameful life.

b) Jesus prepared the soil of her heart by leading her to honesty

LISTEN…salvation for the soul is “impossible” for any who will not come to terms with their sinfulness.

If there is no conviction there will never be repentance.

Jesus was displaying His goodness.

She responded with her shortest answer yet; “I have no husband.”

While she told the truth, she did not tell the whole truth.

A partial repentance is NO repentance at all!

She responded again by way of diverting Jesus to differences in Jewish and Samaritan worship.

It is far more comfortable to talk about religion than your spiritual reality!

B. She had to understand the worship God accepts

a) Salvation came through the Jews

Jesus was a Jew, the Bible is of Jewish origin, and the first Christians were Jews.

b) Jesus was the new economy for worship

No longer limited to Jewish temple

Jesus came to provide: a new sacrifice, new temple, new kingdom, new birth, new water, and new bread.

C. She needed to recognize the “I am”

a) Jesus now reveals Himself to her

She was still under the impression that the Messiah has yet to come.

Jesus then dared to utter the holy name of God; “I AM.”

b) She shares with other who He is (v28-30, 39, 41-42)

After receiving a complete gospel explanation from Christ, you see a “totally different” interest and direction in her life.

She left her water pot and led others to Jesus!

What was thought to be her only lot in life, has now been left behind!

Who she thought she would be for the rest of her light, has been left behind.

What was thought to never be able to be changed, has been left behind.

Jesus the LIVING WATER has now brought her to a whole new position, perspective, purpose, and passion for life!

When the gospel seed falls on “good ground,” good fruit springs up!