A Testimony in Action: John 4:27-38

Steve Martin Scripture reading

Welcome, story of Pastor Josh telling me about Horchata, Telling everyone about Horchata.

When you encounter something life changing, you can’t keep it to yourself.

Let’s get that 15sec recap of this text from last week,

Jesus HAD to go through Samaria

Jesus meets an outcast woman at the well

He reveals to her that he knows her better than anyone, all of her sin, he knows. He offers her living water.

She asks about where to worship and he shows her that He is the Messiah.

Now, as Jesus and the Samaritan woman are still conversing it says the disciples make their way back the town with food.

1. Beware of being a barrier to belief. v. 27

This verse is so movie-esque, you can almost see it. The disciples are walking up and talking, laughing, joking around, like most teenagers would. They are also probably complaining that their sandals were touching Samaritan soil.

THEN they see Jesus alone with a woman, not just a woman, but a Samaritan woman.

v. 27 says “...They marveled that he was talking with a woman...”

They marveled, not in a WOW I can’t believe this! But rather WOW I can’t believe this.

Their talking and laughter turns into silence, maybe some murmuring, but John writes “no one says ‘why are you talking with her?’” but it is what every single one of them is thinking.

But wait a second, aren’t the disciples to be the leaders, the forerunners for Jesus and seeing the Kingdom of God advance.

Sometimes those who are physically closest to Jesus, create a barrier to Jesus.

At least 7 other instances in the NT where the disciples wanted to keep people at bay or away from Jesus.

Mark 10:13-16 keeping the children away “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God”

Feeding masses, 5,000. John 6:5-9

Sometimes it was a ethnical reason (Samaritans), social class (Blind man), judgmental, social status (children) or sometimes a practical reason (Jesus haven’t we been ministering long enough with no rest, let us rest!)

How have we, the church, created barriers to belief today?

We’ve been hearing for quite some time from people who don’t follow Jesus “I love Jesus, but I don’t love the church.”

Next Generation, Revival and Retreating.

Kara Powell says specifically in loving and seeing the next Generation come into a relationship with Jesus, that we as the church will need to tangibly loving young people through trust that is built on everyday acts.

“When adults slow down, care, listen, remember, pray, follow up, and show up. That builds bridges with young people.” Kara Powell. and not being barrier to belief.

Text a young person you know and ask “How can I pray for you?” then in a week follow back up. Text Zach, Text Trevor Bowman

2. Changed people testify. vv. 28-30

After the disciples arrive, the woman jettisons back into town!

How do we know she leaves in a hurry? Because the text says she left something behind, she left her water jar. The thing she walking about a mile to come do in the heat of the day, she LEFT there because God changed her perspective, he changed her priority.

I came to get water to quench my physical thirst, but I got living water that quenches my souls longing.

She goes back into town doing what? Look at v. 29:

John 4:29 ““Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?””

Her life has been changed, maybe nothing externally yet, but Spiritually YES!

Notice she doesn’t hide from how Jesus splayed her life open, revealing the darkest, deepest, dirtiest parts of her life.

You know what’s most intriguing to me in this section? How the people in the town responded. Look at v. 30

John 4:30 “They went out of the town and were coming to him.”

This woman, who the town would’ve known about actually listen to her.

Maybe you have a family member who you can’t trust, they have burned one bridge after another, after another, and when they speak, you just let it go in one ear and out the other.

Yet, I can see the Spirit doing something here, supernaturally opening their ears to her story.

Maybe you are the one that you think, “No one will listen to me, I’ve burned too many bridges, my sin is too much, or my story isn’t powerful enough” let me tell you something, the Spirit is who moves and opens the heart of a person to the Gospel.

Is the focus of your story about Christ or about you? So, when we think about testifying, How did Christ do it?

“How did Jesus witness? He was friendly; he asked questions; he showed concern for human need; he faithfully explained the Scriptures; and he emphasized good news for thirsty people. Witnesses are not responsible for converting people; their task is to tell the truth about what they know.” Kenneth Gangel

When your life has been changed, when you understand your salvation isn’t just for a place to go to when you breath your last breath, but that the Kingdom of God is here an now, it restores relationships, it heals broken hearts, it quenches the thirst of consumerism, it gives back what the enemy has stollen, Jesus gives us LIFE, then you can’t help but to tell others.

You as a Changed People, testify.

I have seen many shy from sharing the Gospel because they see it as a “presentation to memorize and word vomit on people” but in reality, sharing the Gospel is telling others how the Kingdom of Heaven has changed your Every Day life!

I struggle with Gossip, now the Spirit tames my tongue.

I struggle with wanting other to think I am someone I am not, now I am confident in who I am in Christ.

I struggle with bitterness, now I see how the Truth has set me free.

I struggle with over spending, now I see how God has designed me to manage my finances.

I struggle to have patience with my kids, now I see how My Father shepherds me and how I am to shepherd my kids.

When you’re in conversations with people, but transparent, relatable, and know how the Gospel changes your Every Day Life.

Changed People Testify.

3. Kingdom work is shared work. vv. 31-38

As the disciples bring their snacks, sandwich’s, or whatever they got in town, they offer some to Jesus in v. 31 and say “Here Rabbi, eat this”

Jesus responds in a very strange way. If the disciples weren’t already perplexed by Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman, this one certainly got them.

John 4:32 “But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.””

What? Jesus, where did you get this food from? Why did you not then offer us some.

I imagine if Judas were there.

Jesus never misses an opportunity to connect Kingdom of Heaven living with our every day lives.

I am all the time thinking “Man I missed that opportunity to connect how the Gospel connects”

So he states here John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

Is Jesus saying he would never eat? No. Just like his conversation with the Samaritan Woman isn’t “You will never drink water again”, but that to keep the main thing the main thing.

Some theologians believe that what Jesus was getting at here was “My hunger pains resided when this conversation with this woman came up.”

I remember when Katie and I were in the hospital and she was delivering Genevieve, she had been induced at night time and was up most of the early morning hours with contractions, and when it was time for Genevieve to enter into the world at 10:13AM, I didn’t have even a hint of “You know what, I hungry right now, Katie can you put this delivering thing on pause while I go get some breakfast and then you can continue.”

No, the joy, the excitement, the reality at hand overtook any hunger I had.

That’s why he gives them this sowing and reaping agricultural analogy.

You know that if you plant seeds, then in 4 months, it will be time to gather the harvest.

But I am telling you, either the seeds were planted 4 months ago, or supernaturally God has sped this process up, and the harvest is ready now!

The sower will rejoice, and the reaper will rejoice together. v. 36

I want you to think about your life. Ask the Spirit to open you eyes that is your task around you to be “Sowing seeds” or has the Gospel door opened for a reaping of those seeds sown by yourself or others before you.

Think about your family, think about your neighborhood, think about your coworkers, think about the families of those your kids play sports with, think about those you workout in the gym with, think about those people you are around. Is it a sowing season? Or a reaping season?

It takes a all of us working together.

v. 37b “...one sows and another reaps.”

Pray