John 4:1–27 Sermon (2)
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ESV1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
John 4
1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
It is important to remember the purpose of this book.
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The gospel of John and the accounts found in them of Jesus performing signs, these are written so that we would believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we would have life in his name.
Our text today is no exception to this intent.
We saw in the previous chapter a man named Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night.
We saw in the third chapter that Nicodemus was a man of the Pharisees.
The Pharisees were a group of particularly observant and influential Jews who lived mainly in Judea.
The meaning of the title Pharisee may have meant “separate ones” in Hebrew, which would have referred to their observance of ritual purity laws.
Or it could have meant “interpreters,” referring to their persistent study and teaching of biblical law.
Nicodemus was a studied man and an influential man who knew the Scriptures.
But in our text today we see someone unlike Nicodemus.
This woman was a Samaritan who was not seeking Jesus and was socially despised and immoral.
Socially despised because she was a Samaritan. And immoral because she was living with a man who was not her husband.
Nicodemus was according to rejected the testimony of Jesus given by the writer of this gospel, John the Baptist and the disciples.
But here, we will see the Lord Jesus evangelizing to someone who many thought unworthy of fellowship and care.
One, who was socially despised and labeled as an outsider, would be found by the One who was sent to save a people from their sin.
And He would put this on display in our passage!
Outline
Outline
Introduction
Introduction
The Setting (v.1-6)
It is important to remember the purpose of this book.
4 Observations (v.7-24)
ESV30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Conclusion (v.25-27)
The gospel of John and the accounts found in them of Jesus performing signs, these are written so that we would believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we would have life in his name.Our text today is no exception.We saw in the previous chapter a man named Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night.We saw in the third chapter that Nicodemus was a man of the Pharisees.The Pharisees were a group of particularly observant and influential Jews who lived mainly in Judea.The meaning of the title Pharisee may have meant “separate ones” in Hebrew, which would have referred to their observance of ritual purity laws. Or it could have meant “interpreters,” referring to their persistent study and teaching of biblical law.Nicodemus was a studied man and an influential man who knew the Scriptures.But in our text today we see someone unlike Nicodemus.This woman was a Samaritan who was not seeking Jesus and was socially despised and immoral.Nicodemus was according to rejecting the testimony about Jesus.But we will see what happens to someone who accepts the truth about who Jesus Christ is.One who was socially despised and labeled as an outsider would be found by the One who was sent to save a people from their sin.And He would put this on display in our passage!
First: The Setting (v.1-6)
First: The Setting (v.1-6)
Read verses 1 to 6
Read verses 1 to 6
1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
The setting of our text has Jesus knowing that the Pharisees had heard about Him making and baptizing more disciples than John.
The concern here may have been over the Pharisees coming to him with accusations and possible arrest.
We know that in the beginning of His ministry in , when Jesus heard of John’s arrest, He withdrew to Galilee. Which seems to be the same here in our text.
The distance from Judea to Galilee which Jesus traveled as noted our text today, was about 70 miles. Which would have been a journey of about 2 1/2 days.
Judea was south from Galilee. And in between the two was the region of Samaria which in verse 4 we see that Jesus had to pass through in his journey to Galilee.
There were other options. Jesus could have traveled around Samaria as many did to avoid becoming unclean from possible interactions with the Samaritans.
But the Scripture says that Jesus had to pass through it. Maybe because it was the fastest route north or it was because He was led there.
I believe it was because He was led.
About Samaritans
About Samaritans
Their origins stem from the captivity of the northern kingdom under Assyria in 721 BC.
Jews of the northern kingdom intermarried with Assyrians after the captivity and produced the half-Jewish, half-Gentile Samaritan people who we now know as the Samaritans.
Their practices were considered impure and their faith was labeled as a pagan religion.
They are first mentioned in the Bible during the time of Nehemiah when the rebuilding of Jerusalem was taking place after the Babylonian captivity. We see this in Ezra and in the book of Nehemiah.
The Samaritans held to the belief that they were the keepers of the Torah.
They believed that they were the true descendants of Israel. Specifically from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. They had a unique copy of the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses).
And they believed that they alone practiced the purest form of the Mosaic religion.
They also thought of the Jerusalem temple and the Levitical priesthood as illegitimate and so they established their primary place of worship at the site of Mount Gerizim.
They were avoided and seen as an impure people.
That is why in the Jews there sought to offend Jesus by calling Him a demon possessed Samaritan. Which was suggesting that he was a half breed only. Accusing his mother of unfaithfulness and calling him demon possessed which showed you their feelings about Samaritans.
48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
This also brings to light Jesus’ use of the parable of the Good Samaritan which would have been extremely offensive.
Jesus used the parable to make the point of who reall
So Jesus traveled in a land that was considered to be full of unclean people.
Read verses 5 and 6.
Read verses 5 and 6.
5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Outline
Outline
These verses recall what happened in .
We know that Jacob gave a section of land to Joseph which was purchased from the “children of Hamor” (cf. ).
And we know that Joseph’s remains were buried in that region and the region became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.
We do not know exactly where Jacob’s well was but what we do see is the weariness of Jesus from His journey.
The sixth hour would have made it at about noon our time.
Here, we see Jesus. The God man. Wearied from His journey because He was in fact truly man!
Here, to be weary meant that Jesus was fatigued, jaded and worn-out. He was fully man.
fatigued, jaded, weary, worn, worn-down, worn-out
But this man was the Savior of the world. He was also fully God and He would interact with someone who was considered unfit and unclean for fellowship.
But this man was the Savior of the world who would interact with someone who was considered unfit and unclean for fellowship.
In their interaction I want to make 4 observations.
Second: 4 Observations (v.7-24)
Second: 4 Observations (v.7-24)
1. The Savior (v.1-6)2. The Sinner Saved (v.7-27)
Third: The Conclusion (v.25-27)
Third: The Conclusion (v.25-27)
Observation 1 (v.7-10)
Observation 1 (v.7-10)
Read verses 7-10.
7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Notice in verse 7 that it was Jesus who initiated the conversation.
He was by Himself according to verse 8 because his disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.
The Samaritan woman might have been surprised since Jews had no dealings with Samaritans for reasons that we’ve covered already.
She asked why would Jesus ask her for water since Jews have no dealings (meaning no business) with Samaritans.
The answer Jesus gave, will give us the motive for Jesus asking her for a drink. His answer can be found in verse 10.
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Notice two things.
Notice two things.
First, Jesus said “If you knew the gift of God”
First, Jesus said “If you knew the gift of God”
Which meant that she didn’t know of the gift of God. She didn’t have the gift of God.
This is the only time Jesus would speak of a gift in the gospel of John.
In the gospels this is the only time Jesus speaks of the gift of God.
In the Pauline epistles we see gifts as:
1. A spiritual gift
Grace as a gift
2. Grace as a gift
“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
3. Free gift
4. Gift of righteousness
5. Gifts in the church
6. In we see that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Gifts in the church
7. And in , we see that being saved by grace through faith is a Gift of God.
In Pastoral epistles, Timothy was told to fan into flame the gift of God ()
Timothy was told to fan into flame the gift of God ()
And in the General Epistles, we see that every good and perfect gift is from above ().
Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:7)
In our text I observed that this is the only time Jesus would speak of the gift of God in the gospel of John.
And in the gospels this is the only time Jesus speaks of the gift of God.
Question: So what exactly is the gift of God?
The answer is found in this very gospel.
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:
The Holy Spirit is the living water.
She didn’t know of the Holy Spirit. She didn’t have the Holy Spirit which means that she didn’t know (couldn’t know) who Jesus was.
Second “and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Second “and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
The gift spoken of in , of being saved by grace through faith is what she needed.
She needed grace and Jesus said that if she knew who He was she would have asked Him for living water. Namely, the Holy Spirit which points to New Covenant realities.
Remember ?
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
If she knew who Jesus was she’d be wanting this which can only happen by the work of the Holy Spirit!
We see here that she did not know of her need for Jesus Christ.
She didn’t know of the gift of God and she did not know who Jesus was.
Observation 2 (v.11-13)
Observation 2 (v.11-13)
11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,
Verse 11 shows us that she has no clue as to what Jesus was talking about.
This happened with Nicodemus. Remember ?
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Her response is showing us her inability to see what Jesus was speaking of.
Jesus knew that this was the case.
Not only did she not know what Jesus was speaking of, she proves that she did not know who Jesus was in verse 12.
12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
She responded like this because this was Jacob’s well. It might have been taken as disrespect to talk about the well the way Jesus spoke.
She responded like this because this was Jacob’s well. It might have been taken as disrespect to talk about the well the way Jesus spoke.
He spoke of living water which would have made the water in the well as less than the water He offered.
She asked: “Are you greater than our father Jacob?”
The answer is yes. Jesus was offering something that Jacob and all the prophets could not offer. In fact it was what they were looking forward to!
If she only knew who was asking here. Clearly she did not know.
This is a good example of the problem with us who do not see Jesus for who He is.
Many live like Jesus is not greater
Many live like relationship with others is greater than Christ
Many live like their own lives are greater or more important than Christ
Many live like Jesus isn’t enough
They live without knowledge that they are in need of not something but someone. And because of this they will only know of an earthly thirst that needs continual aid to be satisfied.
She did not know that Jesus was greater and that the offer of living water (The Holy Spirit) would eternally satisfy anyone who drinks from this water!
Observation 3 (v.15-18)
Observation 3 (v.15-18)
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
Her responses again show the natural mind at work.
She said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
Her condition which includes not having the gift of God and not knowing who Jesus was, is clearly shown to us in her response.
She only thought of the water in the well. She did not understand her need of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus would go even further to display this in verses 16-18.
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
She asked for water but Jesus said, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
She asked for water but Jesus said, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
Because she didn’t understand what Jesus meant by living water which was her core problem, He would tell her to go and call her husband.
Her reply
She said she had no husband. And it was because the man she was with was not her husband.
After Jesus follows with going into her history of having five husbands.
She was in sin for not being with her husband. And even with the Samaritans she would have been considered immoral.
Her not having the living water that Jesus spoke of is what produced this.
It was because she did not have the gift of God and she did not know who Jesus was.
Without the Holy Spirit we are left with a continual need to be satisfied.
At the core of everyone’s pursuit for their thirst to be quenched is not having the gift of God and not knowing who Jesus is.
That is why it is a great evil for a Christian to act as if God isn’t enough.
Israel fell into the trap of other gods and idols
Kings fell into sin and disobedience
David fell with Bathsheba
Peter fell for the fear of man
Churches tolerated the sexually immoral
We are not exempt of making this mistake.
This may offend our reformed sensibilities but Holy Scripture is full of warnings to believers.
The warnings in Scripture are to sober the true believer into being watchful and they will expose those who never knew Jesus.
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
2 Peter 2:
We are to remain sober about our calling in Jesus Christ! We have been satisfied!
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:
The Christian cannot live as if Jesus is not enough!
We do not pursue life in this life! We have Jesus Christ who is life! And we have the Holy Spirit who has satisfied our need.
She did not have the Holy Spirit. So what she was left with was worldly/earthly thirst with no idea that she needed eternal life!
We who have been given eternal life in Christ should live like it.
What drove her to seek husband after husband was her not having the living waters that come from the work of the Holy Spirit that shows us who Jesus is!
Observation 4 (v.19-24)
Observation 4 (v.19-24)
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Jesus, who revealed special knowledge of her situation, proved to her that He was a prophet. But that was not enough.
But that was not enough.
Notice that she tried to draw the differences between a Jew and a Samaritan.
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
In His response, Jesus shows that the differences do not matter.
She tried to bring up the differences but Jesus would show her the New Covenant reality of worship in verses 21-24.
Verse 21 shows us that location will no longer matter!
Verse 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
For the Samaritans it was Mount Gerizim. For the Jews it was Jerusalem.
The Samaritans had it wrong since verse 22 shows us they had it wrong and the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed in 70 A.D.
Jesus said in verse 22,
Verse 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Showing us of course that the Jews did have the proper commands for worship.
But in verse 23 Jesus says,
Verse 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Notice that Jesus says true worshippers.
Question: What is a true worshipper?
Answer: Jesus answers this in His response to the Samaritan women’s problem.
She didn’t have the gift of God and she didn’t know who Jesus was.
A true worshipper of God is one who:
Has the gift of God (Spirit)
Has the knowledge of who Jesus is (Truth)
This is who the Father seeks. He seeks those whom He has chosen to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
The only way to approach the Father favorably is by the work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating us and in doing so He gives us the saving truth of who Jesus Christ is!
This is how one can come to God.
Verse 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Which cannot happen apart from saving grace that comes through faith.
This is what she needed. She needed Jesus Christ and a saving faith in Him as who He is.
Third: The Conclusion (v.25-27)
Third: The Conclusion (v.25-27)
Sermon
Sermon
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
1. The Savior (v.1-6)
1. The Savior (v.1-6)
Jesus gives her what she needed most.
Read Verses 1-6
Namely, that He was the Messiah. The Christ. The One greater than Jacob.
ESV1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
This is the first time Jesus does this. He’s giving here what she needed most!
Third: The Conclusion (v.25-27)
Third: The Conclusion (v.25-27)
She needed living water (The Holy Spirit) and it would be given through faith in Jesus Christ as the Christ!
Verse 1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
Verse 1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
This is a passage about faith.
Verse 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),
Verse 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),
Jesus showed a special knowledge of her situation that exposed her core issue. Which was that she did not have the gift of God and a saving faith in Him.
Verse 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.
Verse 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.
After sharing this with her verses 28-30 says,
The setting of our text has Jesus knowing that the Pharisees had heard about Him making and baptizing more disciples than John.The concern here may have been over the Pharisees coming to him with accusations and possible arrest.We know that in the beginning of His ministry in , when Jesus heard of John’s arrest, He withdrew to Galilee. Which seems to be the same here in our text.The distance from Judea to Galilee which Jesus traveled as noted our text today was about 70 miles. Which would have been a journey of about 2 1/2 days.Judea was south from Galilee. And in between the two was the region of Samaria which in verse 4 we see that Jesus had to pass through in his journey to Galilee.
She believed. And because of faith in what Jesus said, which is granted to her, she would go back and share what she was given!
Verse 4 And he had to pass through Samaria.
Verse 4 And he had to pass through Samaria.
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
She was full!
About Samaritans
About Samaritans
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
Their origins stem from the captivity of the northern kingdom under Assyria in 721 BC. Jews of the northern kingdom intermarried with Assyrians after the captivity and produced the half-Jewish, half-Gentile Samaritan people who we now know as the Samaritans.Their practices were considered impure and their faith was labeled as a pagan religion.They are first mentioned in the Bible during the time of Nehemiah when the rebuilding of Jerusalem was taking place after the Babylonian captivity. We see this in Ezra and in the book of Nehemiah.The Samaritans held to the belief that they were the keepers of the Torah were themselves the true descendants of Israel. Specifically from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. They had a unique copy of the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses).They believed that they alone practiced the purest form of the Mosaic religion. They thought of the Jerusalem temple and the Levitical priesthood as illegitimate and so they established their primary place of worship at the site of Mount Gerizim.They were avoided and seen as an impure people.That is why in the Jews there sought to offend Jesus by calling Him a Samaritan. Which was suggesting that he was a half breed only. Accusing his mother of unfaithfulness.This also brings to light Jesus’ use of the parable of the Good Samaritan which would have been extremely offensive.So Jesus traveled in a land considered full of unclean people.Read Verses 5-6
She left her water jar and shared what she had seen and heard.
ESV5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Question: Have we shared with such awe and abandonment?
Question: Has Jesus fully satisfied us to the point of leaving things that we thought we needed behind?
Verse 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Verse 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Question: Is Jesus enough?
Verse 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Verse 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
My prayer is that we become true worshippers. Where location and preferences do not matter.
These verses recall what happened in .We see that Jacob gave a section of land to Joseph which was purchased from the “children of Hamor” (cf. ). Joseph’s remains were buried in that region and the region became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants. We do not know exactly where Jacob’s well was but what we do see is the weariness of Jesus from His journey.The sixth hour would have made it at about noon our time.Here, we see Jesus. The God man. Wearied from His journey because He was in fact truly man!But this man was the Savior of the world who would interact with someone who was considered unfit and unclean for fellowship.We see the interaction taking place in verses 7 to 27.
True worship is preoccupied with Spirit and Truth. Anything else attached to that is just mere preferences and traditions from men.
He is seeking only for those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
2. The sinner saved (v.7-27)
2. The sinner saved (v.7-27)
Close in prayer
Read verses 7 to 9.
ESV7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Verse 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
Verse 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
Verse 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)
Verse 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)
Verse 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Verse 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Notice in verse 7 that it was Jesus who initiated the conversation.He was by Himself according to verse 8 because his disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.The Samaritan woman might have been surprised since Jews had no dealings with Samaritans for reasons that we’ve covered already.The answer Jesus gave will give us the motive for Jesus asking her for a drink.Read verse 10
ESV10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Verse 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Verse 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
2 Things we see here.
2 Things we see here.
First, she didn’t know the gift of God.This is the only time Jesus would speak of a gift in the gospel of John.In the gospels this is the only time Jesus speaks of the gift of God.In other passages we see grace and eternal life being called gifts. And spiritual gifts are also mentioned.But here we read Jesus speaking of knowing the gift of God as the way that would have enabled her to ask for living water instead of water from the well.Question: So what is the gift of God that Jesus is speaking of here in our text?Answer: I believe Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit.
ESV13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
What greater gift could anyone have than the Holy Spirit who gives us saving knowledge?
ESV37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
This makes sense since we need to Holy Spirit in order to know Jesus.If she would have had the gift of God (namely the Holy Spirit) she would have known who Jesus was. And instead of giving Jesus something to drink, she would have seen her need for a Savior.This is what people need who do not have saving faith!The Second thing we see: if she did know who Jesus was she would have asked for living water instead of the water in the well.Her response proves that she did not have the gift of God and that she didn’t know who Jesus was.Read verse 11 and 12
ESV11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
Verse 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?
Verse 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?
Question: Jesus was wearied when at the well. Why was He there?He didn’t have anything to draw the water with. That was the observation made by the Samaritan woman. The well was deep and Jesus had nothing to draw the water.Question: So what was Jesus doing there?I believe it was for her. He did start the conversation and it was the woman who had the means to get the water.He didn’t have anything to draw the water. But she did.Jesus asked her for water from the well. But if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for living water.In verse 12 she asks,
ESV12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
Verse 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
Verse 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
Question: Is Jesus greater than Jacob?Answer: Yes.
ESV36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
They asked him in
ESV53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”
In short, Jesus would say yes!In Jesus said,
ESV41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Question: Is Jesus greater than Jacob? Answer: Yes!She would have known this by the grace of God. Which is given by the gift of the Holy Spirit who reveals this truth to those who come to saving faith!But apart from this saving truth one is left thirsty and in need of living water which only Jesus can give.Jesus says in verses 13 and 14,
ESV13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Verse 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,
Verse 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,
Question: What water leaves one with a continual thirst?Answer: The water that everyone knows they need to live an earthly life.Jesus points to the obvious. Namely, to the temporal and familiar need that everyone has.But He would transition to something far more significant.Read verse 14.
ESV14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Verse 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Verse 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Remember what Isaiah said?
ESV3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
ESV37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Jesus is speaking of the gift of the Holy Spirit!This is the water that Jesus gives! Living water that will become a spring welling up to eternal life.Without this, one is left with earthly thirst. Water that can only satisfy temporarily.This is what the Samaritan woman had.Read verse 15.
ESV15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
Verse 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
Verse 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
She asked for the water that Jesus spoke of but still she didn’t have the gift of God. She didn’t know who Jesus was.So Jesus knowing this goes into what the living water would satisfy.Read verses 16 to 18.
ESV16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
Verse 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
Verse 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
Verse 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;
Verse 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;
Verse 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
Verse 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
This is what the earthly cannot provide.This is similar to what Jesus said to Nicodemus in
ESV2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus is not giving her what she thinks she needs. Which was water that would quench her physical thirst.I would add that she didn’t know that without the Holy Spirit she was left with pursuing men. Leaving her with having husbands.She didn’t see this.Jesus is giving her what she needs. Namely, the reality of her need for a Savior! Which is always the root cause to our sin.This is why we seek satisfaction in relationshipsThis is why we seek satisfaction in worldly successThis is why we seek satisfaction in lust and in the things of the worldThis is why we seek satisfaction in positions in society and workThis is why we seek satisfaction in ministryThis is why we seek satisfaction in a worship experiences rather than in ChristThis is why we seek satisfaction in the applause and accolades of menThis is why we seek satisfaction in people and in their acceptance of usIt comes from our need for a Savior! Without Him we will always be thirsty!This is what Nicodemus needed. This is what the Samaritan woman needed. And this is what everyone needs who has not come to saving faith in Christ.They need Jesus Christ and His seal which is the Holy Spirit!It is a great evil to know Jesus Christ and act thirsty!We should all repent for acting like Jesus Christ isn’t enough!What she needed is what we still need even after salvation.We need to know and remember who Jesus is!Read verses 19 and 20.
ESV19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Verse 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
Verse 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
Verse 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Verse 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Just as what a Samaritan would believe she believed that true worship only happened at Mount Gerizim.She did admit Jesus to be a prophet but that was not enough.Jesus would speak of something greater than what the Samaritans and the Jews believed.Read verses 21-24
ESV21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Verse 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
Verse 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
Verse 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Verse 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Verse 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Verse 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Verse 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Verse 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Verse 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
Verse 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
Verse 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Verse 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Verse 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
Verse 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”