Christ and Us

Have you ever met someone famous and did not expect it coming?

I got to meet Jon Gruden once!

Last week: John 3

Jesus had a conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus where he taught that one must be “Born Again” to see the kingdom of Heaven (v.1-21)

John the Baptist Exalts Christ. (v.22-36)

The Setting: Verses 1-6

Verse 1-2: Baptizing more disciples than John

Jesus was becoming popular!

Just like a great football player finally retiring and a new fresh young guy coming in:

Ex: Lebron replacing MJ

John the Baptist was a sensation and quite the popular person so now we know that Jesus has increased in popularity—even above John.

This matches what John says in the previous chapter:

John 3:30 ESV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We should keep this same humility when we do are various ministries. Christ should always be magnified in everything we do!

Jesus was not Baptizing

Notice that nobody can ever say that they were baptized by the Lord! This is reminiscent of what Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The Journey: Verses 3-6

Left Judea for Galilee (headed North), he has to pass through Samaria (v.3-4)

John 4:1–26

he had to go through Samaria in agreement with the orders of his heavenly Father: to do the will of the One who had sent him and to accomplish his work (4:34).

John 4:34 ESV

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Sychar and Jacob’s Well (v.5-6)

In Genesis, Jacob bought this plot of land for 100 pieces of silver and eventually gifted it to Joseph

Jesus is tired from his journey

John’s Gospel not only focuses on the divine nature of Jesus but his human nature and qualities as well.

He was not much different from all of us. We too would be hot after a long day of walking in the hot sun.

My mom had us go hiking with her up in the mountains on vacation once. It was supposed to be a short hike but it ended up being a VERY LONG hike. So I know where Jesus is coming from here.

The Sixth Hour (Noon)

In Jewish terms this usually ment noon. The disciples had mot likely been travelling for 6 hours.

Most travellers would stop and rest at this time because it would be the hottest point in the day.

Give me a drink (v.7-9)

A woman from Samaria came and Jesus asked her for a drink of water.

A Samaritan Woman (v.9)

New Testament (Second Edition) Samaritans

Samaritans. A people of mixed Jewish and *Gentile ancestry who claimed descent from Jacob and worshiped the God of Israel, but felt that Mount Gerizim rather than Jerusalem was the holy site for worship. They engaged the Jews in bitter rivalry, often leading to political hostilities in Jesus’ day, sometimes requiring Roman intervention.

New Testament (Second Edition) 4:7–26: A Gift for a Samaritan Sinner

many Jewish teachers warned against talking much with women in general, they would have especially avoided Samaritan women, who, they declared, were unclean from birth.

The Jews viewed the Samaritans as have breeds. They hated them and treated them horribly

Also, in terms of the ancient context they were in, asking for a drink of water could have been considered flirting, especially since she was alone.

The fact this woman has come alone indicates that the other women of Sychar do not like her

Living Water (v.10-15)

Read 10-15 then provide explanation on what is meant by “living water”

Jeremiah 2:13 ESV

13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

We have all done exactly what Israel had done. At one point or another in our lives we have turned from God and turned to the world.

We try to make our own way, relying on our strength and the things we can provide. While God offers us rest and freedom in Him.

Revelation 7:17 ESV

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

He will wipe away our tears and take away our pain.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When we all here these great and wonderful words we should all react like the Samaritan woman reacts:

John 4:15 ESV

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.”

Prophetic Knowledge (v.16-19)

Call your Husband (v.16-18)

Here we see why she goes to get water at a different time than all the other women. She is currently living in active sin and has quite the reputation.

Jesus exposes her sin and lays it bare in front. He shows her the thing that has haunted her. “For you have had five husbands and the one you are with now is not your husband”.

Jesus was not afraid to call out the sin of this woman. He shows her where she is broken.

Many time we are afraid to speak of sin and address someone’s sin with them, however, Jesus was not afraid to do this.

You are a prophet (v.19)

She sees that Jesus has divine knowledge so she is going to change the subject.

Which Mountain? (v.20-24)

She tries to change the subject (v.20)

She sees that Jesus knows her flaws and she does not want to address them. So she starts bringing up a simple political and theological debate.

We do the exact same thing as this woman when we are confronted with our sin we like to change the subject.

Being at a Bible College I have seen people try squirm their way out of hard conversations by creating debate.

We do not like to address the problem in ourselves so we try to find any way out that we can.

Spirit and Truth (v.21-24)

Jesus gives her and explanation-just not the one she was expecting

He explains that the day is coming where God will be worshipped everywhere, not just in Jerusalem or in Samaria

God must be worshipped in Spirit and Truth

Analogy on what our worship should include

Spirit of Worship

Our Lyrics and preaching should be true

I am He! (v.25-26)

Samaritans had a concept of the Messiah

They knew that a messiah was indeed coming.

I am He! (v.26)

This Samaritan woman was the first person outside of his inner disciples that he revealed himself to.

By doing this he breaks so many cultural and social barriers.

Salvation is truly for everyone—all types of people.

Excitement & Bewilderment (v.27-30)

The Disciples return (v.27)

His disciples were surprised to say the least because they did not expect him to be speaking someone they would have thought so low of.

The Woman’s excitement (v.28-30)

She was so excited that she left her water jug there and just took off running back to the town

I believe this is the excitement she felt to when she came to saving faith in Jesus. She was so excited with this new found inner joy that she then had to go tell everybody she could.

We need to be like this woman. We need to carry the message of the gospel in our day to day lives in such a way that people have not choice to ask “what is going on with you?”

Conclusion

The reason I labeled this sermon “Christ and us” was because I realized that we were all at one point just like this woman.