Lessons from Samaria
“Lessons From Samaria” – John 4:1-26
vs.1-3 – the Pharisees were keeping score between John & Jesus trying to cause division
CIT: Jesus seized an opportunity to minister to a thirsty woman.
Prop: The ministry of Jesus serves as a model for all believers.
1. Outward Vision, (vs.4,5)
a. He went to where she was.
Far too many churches have a Field of Dreams mentality, “Build it and they will come.”
How many times have we heard it said of someone, “They never come to church”?
The heartbreaking reality is that many people don’t want to come to church and never will.
Those people cannot be written off to their own fate. The church must go to them.
At 12:30 today, the church will not be here any longer… it will be scattered all over eating lunch.
b. He went regardless of where she was.
There were three possible routes he could have taken: the coast, cross the Jordan, or through Samaria.
There was a long standing hatred of Samaritans by Jews because they were a mixed race people.
The church cannot be selective in the places where it ministers… nursing homes, prisons, projects…
The key word in Great Commission is mission. We must be on mission locally and globally.
c. He went regardless of who she was.
If it wasn’t bad enough that this woman lived in Samaria, she was a Samaritan.
Even great, strong churches can be guilty of the sin of being self-centered.
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Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”
2. Real Compassion, (vs.6-8)
He placed her needs above His own.
Although He was tired (v.6), thirsty (v.7), and hungry (v.8), He still ministered to her.
When I am tired, thirsty, or hungry, I’m pretty irritable. I have only one thing on my brain… me.
I love the song that says, “He looked beyond my fault and saw my need,” which I’ll talk about in a moment,
but there should be another verse that says, “He looked beyond His needs and saw my need.”
Also in the garden as He prayed… He prayed, “Father, not my will but thine be done.”
Sometimes as Christians or as a church, it’s easy to get tunnel-vision. We put blinders on so that all we see is what we need and want, totally oblivious to the needs of others. Even when we develop outward vision, it is limited to whether we feel like ministry.
It’s one thing to have compassion, but quite something else to give until it hurts, until it costs us something.
3. Daring Grace, (v.7-26)
He was willing to drink from her cup.
a. Despite her race (v.9)
b. Despite her record (vs.16-18)
She walked all the way across town at high noon to avoid being ridiculed by the local women, even though there was a well much closer to her home and most women went for water in the morning or
evening when it was cooler.
Notice that Jesus does not condemn her, He only states the facts.
But long before He ever talks about her sin, He offers to drink from her cup.
Far too many Christians want to talk about the sin of other people from a lofty pedestal without offering
to drink from their cup.
Grace, Greater Than All Our Sin
c. Despite her religion (vs.19-26)
She tries to change the subject to religion b/c it’s getting a little close to home.
Religion is preventing so many people from having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
"A little bit of religion is a dangerous thing." – D.L. Moody or Mark Twain
I’m Southern Baptist b/c I believe our beliefs most closely reflect the doctrines of scripture.
But God doesn’t love me, b/c I’m SBC. He will not let me into heaven b/c my membership is here.
It is daring grace. It’s risky stuff. The world is not in need of a judge & jury to convict them of being sinful.
There is but one Judge. There is only one who will convict.
There is no power in the law, but there is power in the gospel.