Change Direction

Urgency of Now

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

The right time to change is when change is needed. Why wait if for tomorrow if it can be done today. Change can be unexpected and may be the cause for immediate change. An example of how change can be unexpected and necessary is following your GPS instructions gives you an update that your current route is closed due to construction and offers you ahead alternate route. You still have to choose to except the change or stay in denial. The choice is yours.

Lead int to text:

Jesus’ choice to go through Samaria demonstrates God’s love for his creation and the opportunity we have to chose to follow after him. Jesus ministry is growing along with his critics. Therefore he leaves Judea and returns to Galilee.

Setting and location

John 4:4-

John 4:4–8 NLT

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

Place is Samaria in village of Sychar.

The specific location is Jacob’s well.

The time is noon.

Samaritan woman comes to draw water.

This location in Samaria is a spiritual sacred place with great meaning. Jacob well is special location and symbolic to the Samaritans. The Samaritans are now regulated as outsiders and rejected people in the eyes of the Jews. This great contrast is implied in the setting of the story.

Contrast displayed.

Things that are out of place in the set up of this text. Jew talking to a Samaritan. Let a lone a man talking to a woman freely in public who is not his wife. This is a lead up into the woman not having a husband. The biggest contrast being set up here in this text is Jesus himself is from heaven living on earth. So let us see what leads into her change.

Do you know what your lookin for?

Jesus asked for a drink.

John 4:7 NLT

7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

The woman does not answer the request but instead responds to the change of behavior she noticed.

Why are you a Jew taking to me?

She is in a bad place and Jesus is looking to change her situation.

Jesus is looking to change misunderstanding into understanding.

Jesus introduces change direction.

John 4:10-

John 4:10–12 NLT

10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

The Samaritan woman is not understanding the gift that is before her. She is not aware that the Messiah is before her this very moment to change her life.

She is blinded by her own limitations.

She understands earthly things and not spiritual things.

Jesus is speaking at a higher level and is looking to bring her along to understand.

Be open to learn from your own blind spots.

She thought she knew the truth.

She could not be told other wise so she thought.

She misunderstands Jesus teaching.

Jesus is greater than Jacob.

Jesus can offer better water than the water in this well.

Jesus is teaching her that a change can happen in her life by coming to know Jesus the Son of God.

Choose Jesus and satisfy your thirst.

John 4:13–15 NLT

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

john 4:13-

When you are open to change you listen with open ears. She receives this truth and is looking to receive this living water.

She no longer wants to be thirsty.

Only Jesus satisfies.

She is open now but she still needs more change.

Change your lifestyle

John 4:16–18 NLT

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

John 4:16-

Jesus points out here way of living needs to change. Her lifestyle is the reason she possibly comes out at noon in the heat of the day. The other women would come early in the day to collect the water. The Samaritan woman possibly is avoiding them coming in noon time when most people would not be out. However this time Jesus was waiting to change her life.

She is close to change and seeking to know more.

John 4:19–20 NLT

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

John 4:19-

She is still not understanding how she could have been wrong all this time. She still thinks her way is better and where they worship is correct.

Jesus always points us the right way!

John 4:21–24 NLT

21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:21-

Where you worship does not matter than how you worship.

God is looking for worshippers who worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

God is Spirit, and we must worship in spirit and in truth.

She is getting closer to the truth.

John 4:25–26 NLT

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

John 4:25-26

Jesus is leading to discovery of the truth. She has been arguing and not accepting the change in her life. Jesus patiently is still speaking truth into her life. Jesus specifically tells her he is the Messiah.

This truth changed her life.

She finally understood the power of the living water from the Son of God!

She changed her direction

She came to the well to get water. She now changes to go tell others of the living water to satisfy their thirst.

John 4:27–30 NLT

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

John 4:227-28