Sharing the Gospel with the Indifferent

“SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH THE INDIFFERENT”

An approach to

INTRODUCTION

Let’s read

This verse tells us about some men that told the following to a woman: “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” [i]

What kind of declaration is this? Certainly, a very profound one. This is a declaration that is only made by someone that has genuinely received the Gospel. This is a declaration that was made by people like:

· John, the apostle () The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.[ii]

· John, the Baptist () “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world![iii]

· Jesus, Himself () whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.[iv]

And lastly, by these men who were sinners, outcasts, and blatantly despised by the Jews, but WHY are these people making this Gospel declaration?

-Because of the testimony of one woman, the woman at Jacob’s well.

And HOW did this woman find conversion?

-Because of the testimony of Jesus Himself.

This morning we will study one of the best passages to guide us through understanding how the Gospel is presented to someone that is indifferent to it. We will see again that presenting the Gospel biblically implies to talk about GOD, MAN, JESUS, and also should lead to a RESPONSE (acceptance/rejection) from the hearer.

The first thing we will do is read the passage. I know that it is long, but it will certainly provide us with the best understanding about evangelizing the lost, especially those that are not expecting to hear it.

As you know, there is a few other topics in this passage, however, this class will concentrate only on what relates to the presentation of the Gospel.

Important facts about the passage:

1. Jesus is coming from Judea into Samaria at around noon

2. He has walked approximately 28 miles, which means a journey of around 8 hours (3.1 miles/hour). This means they had left around 4:00 am

3. Jesus is tired from the journey

4. The well is a place were people meet. Women used to come early morning or late afternoon, but this woman is coming at noon, at a time where not many people would be there because this is a woman with bad reputation and therefore, not liked even by her half-pagan Samaritan neighbors.

5. Samaritans were the by product of Jeroboam’s rebellion who created a different worship to prevent 11 tribes from worshipping in Jerusalem. They had mixed with pagans and learned to worship their gods, however, they had been taught the Pentateuch were the only inspired written testament. Therefore, people knew that this woman’s life style was wrong from any angle.

6. Jews were not supposed to talk to stranger women, in fact, Jews could not talk to women of their own family in public. Therefore, a Jew talking to a Samaritan woman was strange, weird even by a woman with a bad reputation.

7. This being said, this is a completely unexpected scenario to present the Gospel. Although Jesus knew what He was doing, she didn’t see that one coming.

I. A WILLFUL INCIDENT

A. Jesus intentionally passes by Samaria. Verse 3 tells us that Jesus left Judea and departed to Galilee. There were three ways to go from Judea to Galilee: Through the East, Through the Sea Coast and Through Samaria. The Jews that wanted nothing to do with the Samaritans preferred to take the East route or the Sea Coast, but Jesus intentionally goes through a land that religious traditions prevented the Jews from going through there.

B. Jesus intentionally sends all the disciples. Jesus wanted to approach this woman alone.

C. Jesus intentionally approaches the well. The perfect excuse is that he is genuinely tired and he can use water but has no bucket to draw it with.

D. Jesus intentionally approaches the woman. “Give me a drink”, he asks. Jesus knows the reaction she will have about a Jew relating to a Samaritan, and especially a woman.

E. Jesus intentionally introduces a weird concept. “Living water” This is meant to motivate her to talk. She completely misunderstands, but the conversation is already going, Jesus got her attention.

II. AN EXPECTED ATTITUDE

A. The woman questions his intentions: “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?”

B. The woman questions the authenticity of his words: “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?[vi]

C. The woman uses sarcasm: “Are you greater than our father Jacob?[vii]

III. AN UNDESERVED MERCY

A. A woman does not deserve for a man to talk to her, but Jesus does it

B. A Samaritan does not deserve for a Jew to address Himself to him/her, but Jesus does it.

C. The woman has a bad attitude in addition to her sinful condition, but Jesus approaches her

D. The woman is ignorant and uneducated, but Jesus speaks to her

E. An immoral woman does not deserve for the Son of God to present the Gospel to her, but Jesus does it

F. Jesus in His mercy, dismisses:

a. The woman’s bad attitude

b. The woman’s ignorance

c. The woman’s immoral condition

Presenting the Gospel to the lost requires to dismiss any sinful action, word or condition. God’s acting mercy desensitizes us to words or attitudes that could discourage us.

I. A PREPARED EVENT

II. UNEXPECTED ATTITUDE

III. UNDESERVED MERCY

IV. UNPARALELLED OFFER

[ii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

[iii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

[iv] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

[v] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

[vi] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

[vii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .