I AM the Messiah King

Today, we are going to look at the next two names in our list of names that Jesus is given in the introduction to John. But really, we are NOT looking at two names, but really one for the Messiah was always meant to be the return of the line of David. So, John in chapter one establishes that Jesus is the WORD. That he was with God and was God and is God. He is the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John testifies about him, setting the stage for those who will interact with his gospel to understand that Jesus is the Messiah King. Here is how he sets the stage:

John begins by denying that he is the Messiah, a claim many were making.

He then baptizes Jesus and is a witness to the Holy Spirit resting on Jesus , claiming that Jesus is “God’s Chosen One.” ()

John 1:34 NIV

I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Andrew and other disciples of John, leave John to follow Jesus. Andrew, refers to Jesus when he goes to get Simon and says “We have found the Messiah...”

When Nathaniel arrives to see what good can come from Nazareth, he declares, “you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.”

Remember, the word Messiah and the King of Israel were used interchangeably. So, in his first chapter John has Jesus identified has established with his readers that Jesus is the Messiah, but it is not till chapter 4 that we see Jesus declare this title on himself and it is not to the RELIGIOUS LEADERS in Jerusalem. It was not to HIS DISCIPLES, although many had already confessed that he was the Messiah, but it was to one hated by the Jews, one who had many failed relationships but had kept trying and someone who was looking for something or someone. Someone she found that day.

John 4:1–14 NIV

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 4:1–13 NIV

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

So, in order to avoid CONFLICT with the Pharisees, Jesus and His disciples left Judea and travelled back to Galilee. The phrase he had to go through Samaria is of interest. Why did he HAVE to go? It might be because of the threat of conflict or this could hint at His need to accomplish the divine will of the Father.

Let us also make note of the theme of water that has been used in the last few chapters. John baptizes in streams of water. At the wedding feast Jesus changes water to wine. In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus says “No one can enter the Kingdom unless you are born of water and The Spirit. A discussion between John and his disciples about ceremonial washing and here in 4, water from the well is contrasted with the LIVING WATER that Jesus can offer.

Jesus offers to her the living water, SALVATION.

This is a big deal. For here, Jesus offers someone out side of the Jewish community, SALVATION.

This is a big deal. For here, Jesus offers someone out side of the Jewish community, SALVATION. Not only someone outside of the Jewish community, but a Samaritan woman was ALWAYS considered unclean.

The scandal. the outrage that the JEWISH COMMUNITY would be in to hear him make such an offer. Yet, I wonder are Christians today any different? I want to be.

TELL STORY OF TEENAGER DROPPING F-BOMBS.

Are we willing to be a little uncomfortable to see people come to Jesus? Let’s look at this woman’s life and as we do ask ourselves how the church would judge her today?

John 4:15-

John 4:15–26 NIV

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

This is a woman that many churches today would turn away from their doors! I work with some foul mouth individuals, but everyday is see the goodness in their beings. I see the tragedies that brought them to where they are today. We do not know why this woman has had so many relationship failures. We do not know why the man she is living with now has not married her. But what we can see is a woman

SEARCHING FOR A WAY TO WORSHIP HER GOD.

In the world we live in today,

LET US NOT BE THE CHURCH THAT TURNS PEOPLE AWAY FROM JESUS BECAUSE WE TAKE GOD’S PLACE AS JUDGE.

There is something about this woman that allows Jesus to open up to her and share that he is THE MESSIAH. Let us look at the result.

John 4:27–30 NIV

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

John 4:27-

John 4:39

John 4:39–42 NIV

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

So, her response is to share Jesus with the people around her. Remember, she is probably seen as an outcast in her own town, as evidenced by her late arrival at the well and her relationship status. But when she encounters Jesus she cannot help but to share Him with everyone, even those who may have shunned or spoke bad about her. THE RESULT?

John 4:42 NIV

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

John 4:42

What is the take away for today? I want to remind us that

OUR MESSIAH KING LOVES EVERYONE AND WANTS TO SEE ALL COME INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

So, don’t let stereotyping or hard exteriors, shyness or worldliness keep you from helping others to know Jesus.

We have a great event coming up soon to do that. Our Easter service at the Sherlock’s, two weeks away. This will be a great opportunity to invite someone to come and encounter Jesus. It promises to be a special event.

Also, don’t forget your cross. We are asking each family to bring a cross that will go out in our entry way and we will tell you on Easter the purpose of these crosses.

Today, we are going to offer an invitation. We don’t do this enough. I don’t offer this enough. The invitation is not just about doing something wrong. It can be about doing something right, asking for help with something you cannot do on your own, asking for prayers and the like. So, this morning if you have a need, come forward as we stand and sing.