"I AM" the Messiah - #3
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Tonight I would like to continue our study of the first “I AM” sayings of Christ. Each “I AM” statement not only solidify the fact that Christ is indeed God, but each one also gives us some insight about Him as God. So, throughout this year, we are studying each instance in the New Testament in which Christ said “I AM.” The first of these is found in John 4:26.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Now, last week, we ended right around verse 10 and that is where I would like to pick up our study this evening. Note what it says...
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
You may recall that Christ has instructed her to “give me to drink” in verse 7. She was shocked that He being a Jewish man would ask of her a Samaritan woman to give him to drink. Of course, we talked in detail last week about the great amount of prejudice and animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans. Yet, Christ goes beyond all that and simply requests that she give him a drink from the well at which they have met.
Her response was...
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
We will come back to her question in just a moment. However, what I want you to see is Christ’s response to her.
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
The truth of the matter is that she had no idea to whom she was speaking. In fact, she is quite the example of the unsaved person. They are lost and without hope. They are seeking for something in their life but have no idea what it is. And, then, when they are confronted with Christ they still have no idea of the power He possesses and the hope that He provides. It is not until He begins to work in their life that they are able to comprehend Him as Savior. This is the case with this woman. Throughout this entire conversation with her, He patiently works helping her understand her need for Him.
Thus, He introduces this thought into her mind by saying, “he would have given thee LIVING WATER.” Essentially, Christ was offering her something far better than the water from Jacob’s well. There is no doubt that she along with many others in her village and community revered this well. And, for many, they may have relished in the fact that water from this particular well provided physical relief, but possibly even spiritual relief. It was, in fact, Jacob’s well. Yet, here stood before her someone who could give “living water.” It was water that superseded the water from Jacob’s a thousand times over.
We have the privilege today of not only reading this divine encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, but also of having the complete New Testament. And, we know from many, many different passages that Chris is indeed the Messiah, the Savior of the World. We also know that it is only through Him that a person can have eternal life. Note with me...
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
The point is that Christ that day was offering to her “living water” or, as we know today, salvation.
Do you realize that there are several important qualities in water that relates to salvation? Let me share quickly just a few of them.
Water is a gift from God just as salvation is a gift from God.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Water is essential to men just as salvation is essential to all men as well.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Water is necessary to all people universally just as salvation is necessary for all people universally.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Water is a wonderful blessing just as salvation is a wonderful blessing.
This woman of Samaria was in need of a greater blessing than water from Jacob’s well could provide. She was in need of a Savior who give her the “living water” of eternal life.
There are many all around us who are in need of that same living water. They are in need to know that it is a free gift. They need to understand how essential it is to their eternal destiny. They need to know that no person regardless of race, creed, or religion is need of salvation. They need to know just wonderful a blessing it is to be saved.
Now let’s look at her questions. She raises three of them in response to Christ’s request that she give him to drink.
Three Questions Answered with One Answer
Three Questions Answered with One Answer
The first of these was...
How?
How?
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
This was a question of blindness. You see she was spiritually blinded to the fact that Christ, the Messiah (the Savior), was standing right in front of her offering her all that she needed. Part of that blindness came through her prejudice. Prejudice is a big issue even still today. Note she immediately says “ thou being a Jew…me a woman of Samaria.” Here is the root of the issue. Every time a person comes into the presence of God, that person’s enmity against God is stirred up. Scripture is quite clear that all are born sinners. Thus, as sinners, we are born with innate hatred towards God and the things of God.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Just recently I saw a video of a wild horse that had managed to get its hoof caught in a barb wire fence. In the video, a family was trying to help free the horse. As they tried to free this huge, powerful animal, the horse kept resisting. Even though it was stuck and in pain, it was fighting the very people who were seeking to help it and free it. The sinner is just like that horse. He or she is caught in the bondage of sin. It hurts. It is painful. At times, it seems like there is no hope. Yet, when God reaches downs with His great, powerful saving hand into their lives, instead of allowing Him to set them free, they fight back.
This woman was already fighting back. She was already raising questions. What was Christ’s response to her?
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
He responded in much the same way He did with Nicodemus. He pointed Nicodemus to God’s gift. Remember John 3:16 is part of Christ conversation with Nicodemus. And, so, with the Samaritan woman, He says “If thou knewest the gift of God.” What is God’s gift? It is eternal life. To whom must we turn for that wonderful gift? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. With Nicodemus, He said that God sent “His only begotten son.” Who is God’s only begotten Son? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. To this woman, He says “If thou knewest…who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink.” Who was the One requested the drink? It was the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, as it must always be, Christ pointed everything back to Himself. He did not deal with her prejudices. He did not defend the Jewish people. He simply said “If thou knewest...”
Here we see another issue with this woman as well as most who are not saved. Not only did she immediately kick back against Him, but she was woefully ignorant of her own need.
She had no idea just how much she needed the “gift” that He offered. She knew nothing of grace. She was totally unaware that He was the Giver, not her. Note again “If thou knewest the gift of God.” What was that gift? It was eternal life. Had she known her need and who it was that stood before her, then she would totally “have asked of him, and he would have” given her “living water.” He was there. He was standing in front of her ready to give her what she needed. All that was needed was her to take her place as the receiver.
Note that Christ also said “If thou knewest…thou wouldest have ASKED of him.” The only thing standing between the sinner and eternal life is asking. But then notice something important in conjunction with asking. Again, Christ said “If thou KNEWEST…thou wouldest have ASKED.” Knowledge comes first, then asking. Every sinner must come to a place where they realize their awful condition and the terrible danger before them. They must see themselves as lost, undone, and bound for the lake of fire. They must understand their desperate need for the Savior. It is only when they realize that their self-righteousness is a filthy rag are they able and willing to come to God.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Thus Christ was working in this woman’s life providing her with the knowledge about Himself and what He could do for her. All of which was needed before she could understand her need for Him. That is why He ends with “he would have given thee living water.”
But now comes her next question...
From Where?
From Where?
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Now remember it is the Lord who came to the well to meet her. He was the one who took the initiative. His first word to her was “Give” as He initiated that conversation with her. In doing so, He directed her attention to Himself. Then, He asks for a “drink” so that He might challenge her about her own helplessness. From there, He was met with her initial resistance cause by her spiritual blindness and her woeful ignorance. Christ responds to her by affirming her ignorance and directing her back to Him. He finishes by bringing up the subject of “living water.”
Her second response to him demonstrates further four important things.
She still remained spiritual blind.
She was occupied with the temporary things of this world.
She was more concerned with the means rather then end result.
She still did not understand that He was the source of “living water.”
In verse 9, her prejudice blinded her. Thus pride was blocking her understanding of spiritual things. Now, Christ has revealed that He is the source of “living water.” What is her response? She simply says “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with.” She remained blind to the fact that the One who came to seek and to save was standing before her. Nothing, as of yet, had changed.
Then note that she is instead focused how in the world He expects to give her water. She says “thou hast nothing to draw with.” He has not bucket and no rope. The well is deep. How then is He going to give her water? You see her mind like many of us concentrated on material things. It are the things of this world in which the Satan strives to keep our minds occupied. He doesn’t want us to think of eternal or spiritual matters. And, thus, he is constantly working to overwhelm us with the things of this world in an effort to distract us.
One great preacher wrote this...
“Let it be what it may, let it be only a waterpot, he care not, so long as it occupies the mind to the exclusion of the knowledge of Christ. He cares not for the instrument, so long as he gains his own ends, to draw the mind away from the apprehension of spiritual things. It may be pleasure, it may be amusement, gain, reputation, family duties, lawful employment, so that it keeps the soul from fixing on Christ. This is all he wants. A water-pot will serve his purpose, just as well as a palace, so that he can blind them, ‘lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” - J. N. Darby
Today, our society is completely filled with things that occupy peoples minds. From the cellphone we hold in our hands to the jobs that we work, people are filled with so much busyness that they have no time to consider the greater issue of eternity. Without a doubt, all of which is driven by the Devil. O that people would lay aside the occupations of this world and consider the more important issue of everlasting life.
Then, we see her concentrating the means rather than the end result. How was He going to “draw” water? Too many people are focused on how salvation works instead of the fact that salvation does work. For this woman, it was beyond her comprehension that Christ could give her water without having the means to draw the water. The great thing about God is needs nothing to do what He so desires. He spoke the worlds into existence with just a word. He did not need any energy or matter to create the universe. He is the energy and all that matters. Thus, the same God who spoke the world into existence can work independently in any way He so desires.
Now remember, this woman is trying to work through all this with her own mind. In doing so, she continues to raise objections and press with questions. Already, she has asked “how?” Christ reply was He was the means of God’s gift of living water. Now, she is asking “from whence” was it to be obtained. She did not know Christ as the Source. All she knew was the “well was deep.”
Boy, what words spoken out of ignorance! The well is indeed deep! In fact, the well is so deep that we cannot in and of ourselves reach down to obtain “living water.” “From whence” then can a person obtain “living water?” How can a person receive the gift of “eternal life?”
Can it be done by simply being religious?
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Can it be done by simply living a good life?
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Can it be done by working hard and doing more good works than bad?
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
“Living water” is not something we can earn. It is a gift. It is God’ FREE gift in Christ.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It was Christ who descended in the awful depths of the well as He suffered and died for us obtaining what we so desperately need - life giving water!
Now comes the last question and objection!
Are You Greater?
Are You Greater?
Note again she says...
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?