An Unlikely Choice
Notes
Transcript
An Unlikely Choice
An Unlikely Choice
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
The women at the well had a lasting impact
She brought news about Jesus and it transformed the entire area
She was the unexpected conduit that God would use:
She had many husbands
She was an outcast to the religious system
She was a known sinner
Illustration - a person changing a town or community
She was the last person that most would have picked to bring the gospel to the community of Samaritans
This area would change because this one women had a divine conversation with Christ and she told others.
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Illustration of unlikely choice
Joseph - God’s Plan to save His people - selfish youngest son
David - a young shepherd boy
Jonah - a bitter man that disliked His enemies
Johnathon - a man that did want to be king
Esther - called out of comfort to dave a people
Mark and Onesimus - both were runaways
God will bring the right person into your life at the right time. Always believe that! If they are not there, God isn't finished yet!”
God will bring the right person into your life at the right time. Always believe that! If they are not there, God isn't finished yet!”
Illustration of unlikely choice - Tom Brady 2000 draft
199 pick in the draft and the sixth quarterback
Twenty years ago, the player who would go on to become the greatest quarterback of all time
Most notably, Belichick is credited with drafting quarterback Tom Brady with the 199th pick in the 2000
Bill saw something in Tom Brady that others did not...
God see something in you that other will never see
The unlikely choice of The woman at the well was a home run look what impact she had!
Christ uses unlikely people
The unlikely choice was excited!
I The Excitement
I The Excitement
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
vs 27 - When the disciples returned from Sychar they found Jesus talking with this woman.
Why her !
They were surprised that He would speak with her, for she was a Samaritan. Also, they could possibly discern that she was a sinful woman
vs 28 She was o excited she left her water pot !
In her joy ignored why she came to the well
She not only left her waterpot but she went her way into the city.
Whenever a person is saved, he or she immediately begins to think of others who are in need of the water of life.
J. Hudson Taylor said, “Some are jealous to be successors of the Apostles; I would rather be a successor of the Samaritan woman, who, while they went for food, she forgot her waterpot in her zeal for souls.”
Illustration - locked my keys in the car while running on new years day 1983 - so excited
The Tiantic - ran to the deck of the ship leaving jewelry behind - so terrified
We forget that which is not important
Chist
leave behind - friends
leave behind - sinful ways
leave behind -
vs 29-30 Her witness was simple but effective. She invited all the townspeople to come and see a Man who told her all things that she ever did.
Why would they follow her back to Jesus
She was proclaiming something they wanted to see and the fact she was doing it was a shock
Also, she aroused within their hearts the possibility that this Man might indeed be the Messiah.
In her own mind, there could be little doubt because He had already announced Himself to her as the Christ.
But she raised the question in their minds so that they might go to Jesus and find out for themselves.
Doubtless this woman was well known in the village for her sin and shame.
How startling it must have been for the people to see her standing in the public places now, bearing public witness to the Lord Jesus Christ! The testimony of the woman was effective. The people of the village left their homes and their work and began to go out to find Jesus.
Perhaps in that village some who heard her had been partners in her past life. Perhaps they wondered, Could this One also know about us?
She was excited and changed
Illustration -
II The Explination
II The Explination
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Wow - ok this woman just left and ran off w/o her water pot
Jews dont talk to Samaritan women alone
She ran off
She left her
water pot
she ran away excited
But rather than address that - master eat here is the food!
Just change the subject away from something great or mysterious to the mundane.
As the disciples spoke with Jesus, they sensed something had happened.
Before, He was tired and thirsty. But now food and drink were not important to Him. His mood had changed. They offered Him food, but He gave them instruction. I have food to eat that you know nothing about is another of His enigmatic statements.
Exegete the verses 35-38 - read
The unlikely choice was the subject of Jesus’s discussion
Some have labored
Others watered
vs 35 - look you dont have to wait they are here now!
Some will reap what others have planted
It might take four months for a harvest
But look out into the fields they are ripe now
Four months more and then the harvest was probably a local proverb.
But in the spiritual realm there is no long wait. Jesus has come so now it is the day of opportunity.
All that is needed is spiritual vision and perception. If the disciples would look around, they would see people with spiritual hunger.
The Samaritans in their white garments coming from the village (v. 30) may have visually suggested a wheat field ripe for harvest
This unlikely choice has stirred up the entire town.
look at vs 30 unlike the jews in Jerusalem they are coming and inteested
Harvest-time in the ancient world was a time of joy (Ruth 3:2, 7; Isa. 9:3).
There is also great joy at the time of salvation (cf. Luke 15:7, 10, 32). The disciples had the greater joy of seeing the completion of the process (John 4:38).
Illustration - here comes the unlikely choice the woman and the village in their white robes.
Can’t you see God is up to something
The field is white unto harvest ......
Wake up look around
You will reap what you have not labored for ...
Illustration - right in front of your eyes
In the streams of Northern Cal in the late 1840’s - Gold was everywhere but they were not looking for it
Once they realized what it was it started the American Gold rush
Jesus explanation is that you are around people all the time that God may have used others to plant the seeds of salvation. You will reap what they labored.
We are sometimes blind to seeing souls ....
God is working
Illustration this COVID-19 - you have no idea who has set the stage for you and I
Others have labored
We will reap
We have labored
others will reap
The fields are white unto harvest
Illustration -
Rather than look at God working in virus and bringing people to him
Lets talk about a Government takeover
Lets scare people and be be frightened
Its about us vs them
No its about the field
III The Exposition
III The Exposition
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
The unlikely choice began to expound on who Jesus and what He said
The saying of that woman
We must tell in our own words and in own way who Jesus is .....
She just simple said what Christ had told her!!!!
notice in vs 39 many believed
and vs 41 - many more believed after they saw Jesus
Illustration - for some its a gospel presentation at a church service
brokenness’
convicted of sin
cry's out to God for salvation
revival, church service or a bible study
For others its slower
planting seeds
questioning
events in life shatter hope
one on one cancelling , a personal connection
For some its inteectual
They have questions
They are inquisitive
They become open
AIG , Ravi Zacarius ,Josh McDowell and John Anchor-burg
vs 39 - As a result of the simple and forthright testimony of the woman of Samaria, many of her people believed on the Lord Jesus.
All she said was, “He told me all that I ever did,” and yet that was sufficient to bring others to the Savior. This should be an encouragement to each of us to be simple, courageous, and direct in our witness for Christ.
They were open 4:40 - The reception given to the Lord Jesus by the Samaritans was in marked contrast to that of the Jews. The Samaritans seemed to have some real appreciation of this wonderful Person, and they urged Him to stay with them.
As a result of their invitation, the Lord stayed there two days. Just think how privileged this city of Sychar was, that it should entertain the Lord of life and glory during this period of time!
Some need more explination - 4:41, 42 No two conversions are exactly alike. Some believed because of the testimony of the woman. Many more believed because of the words of the Lord Jesus Himself.
God uses various means in bringing sinners to Himself. The great essential is that there should be faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
An Unlikely Choice tuned a village upside-down