What Would Jesus Do?

Hook

Who here likes to eat out?

Raise your hand, what are some of your favorite restaurants to eat out at?

I love:

Chick-fil-A

Five Guys, Burgers & Fries

Marty’s Grill, Riverbound Cafe

I love food.

But you see, I have this knack where I go to a restaurant once, I scan the menu until I find the one thing that sounds good and then every single time I go back, what do I do?

I order that same thing.

It’s gotten to the point where I go to a new restaurant and already have an idea of what I want based on the style of the restaurant.

Steakhouse? Steak and fries

Seafood? Fries shrimp or oysters

Burger joint? Bacon cheeseburger

Sandwich shop? Philly

So I was took Rebecca on a date once to a new restaurant.

I ordered my usual for that style of restaurant.

Barely even scanned the menu.

So we’re sitting and talking and waiting for our food.

We’re enjoying our date.

Then this waitress walks towards us with some plates in her hands and the food on those plates...

I mean time slowed down. I started drooling. Those dishes looked so good.

This waitress walks closer and closer to us bringing these plates and then she casually walks by to the table behind me.

I look at Rebecca and I say “What the heck?? Why didn’t I order that??”

She looks at me likes she’s done with me and says “You didn’t order that because you didn’t look at the menu.”

So because I knew what style of restaurant we were walking into, I knew what kind of food I wanted to order.

I had a preconceived idea of what I was expecting to get from this restaurant.

So many of us, because of bad teaching, or society, or bad tik tok theology, or media, or the culture around us have a preconceived idea of who Jesus is and what church is and who Christians are and who followers of Jesus should be.

So I grew up in the late 90’s and there was this trend in the church and really in culture. It was on shirts and bracelets and everything.

Four initials; Can you guess what it was?

“What Would Jesus Do?”

Tonight, we’re going to look at a passage and discover what the answer should be for that question based on our circumstances.

Book

Turn with me to John 4.

John 4:1–26 CSB

1 When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), 3 he left Judea and went again to Galilee. 4 He had to travel through Samaria; 5 so he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 because his disciples had gone into town to buy food. 9 “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” 11 “Sir,” said the woman, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this ‘living water’? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.” 13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” 15 “Sir,” the woman said to him, “give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and come here to draw water.” 16 “Go call your husband,” he told her, “and come back here.” 17 “I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said. 18 “For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

So before we dive into discovering what this passage means, there’s a few things you need to understand.

First thing you need to understand, The Samaritans and the Jews were completely racist towards each other.

The reasoning behind this is basically that the Assyrians captured Samaria in 722 BC. They deported some Israelites from this land and intermarried with the rest.

After their exile, Jews returned home and the Samaritans who remained were viewed as political rebels and were viewed as inferior to the other Jews. Whenever they would go to worship, they were met with hostility.

In 400 BC the Samaritans said “Fine. We’ll build our own temple on Mount Gerizim.”

Second thing you need to understand, men didn’t just casually stroll up to women and strike up a conversation back in that day.

Jewish men definitely didn’t stroll up to Samaritan women and strike up a conversation.

Back in that culture, men only really talked to women if they either knew them, were related to them, or were married to them.

Women had a role in life that caused them to be treated less than men.

Third thing you need to understand, Women were more likely to come in groups to fetch water.

They would either earlier or later in the day when the heat of the sun was not so fierce.

But look back with me starting at verse 6.

John 4:6–9 CSB

6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 because his disciples had gone into town to buy food. 9 “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

When you read the Bible, there are different things that have a symbolism for something else. We’ll get more into that in our series “Glimpses”.

The current example is water. Water is symbolism for life or being cleansed.

When you get saved, you are baptized in _______ (water).

Baptism is symbolism of dying to your former self, having new life, and being cleansed of your sin.

So Jesus speaks to this Samaritan woman and asks her for a drink.

She responds, “You don’t even have a bucket.”

Jesus replies to her, look at verse 13.

John 4:13–14 CSB

13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.”

She asks for this water and what does Jesus say next?

John 4:16–18 CSB

16 “Go call your husband,” he told her, “and come back here.” 17 “I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said. 18 “For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

Now why did He say this? Raise your hand if this seems out of left field.

(Random name) this always threw me off.

“I have water that can cause you to never thirst again.”

“Give me some so I will never have to thirst again.”

“…Go get your husband.”

John 4:17–18 CSB

17 “I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said. 18 “For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

Doesn’t this seem out of the blue? Why is Jesus saying this?

Because she’s thinking of her physical thirst;

Jesus is talking about her need to be satisfied.

She was finding her satisfaction through men, and we can infer she still felt empty.

Jesus wanted to offer her something more fulfilling.

John 4:19–20 CSB

19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

So this woman realizes that Jesus is a prophet.

So she asks Him about this major difference between Jews and Samaritans.

This is the equivalent of someone saying “Since you’re so smart, what’s the answer to...”

But Jesus responds...

John 4:21–24 CSB

21 Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

He doesn’t debate with her, and He doesn’t say that they entirely do not know God, but that they do not possess God’s revelation—that is, the Old Testament.

But instead, He explains the time is coming soon that is going to change everything.

You see, to worship in the Old Testament—under the Mosaic Covenant—you had to worship in specific locations, make correct sacrifices, and everything was very particular. Why?

Because we’re down here, and God is up here.

Then Jesus changed everything.

We couldn’t go to God. There was nothing we could do that was good enough for us to reach Him.

So God came down to us. The second member of the Triune God, born in the flesh—Christ incarnate.

Jesus lived the sinless life that we couldn’t;

died the death that we deserve, taking on our sin;

so that we could look like His righteousness.

The OT Law was an arrow pointing to Christ.

When Christ arrived, we don’t follow the arrow anymore, we follow Jesus.

Look

Ok.

I get it Tyson.

That was a neat story.

What does this have to do with us today? How does this answer “WWJD?”

Jesus interacted with a stranger and He did two things.

First, Jesus loved this woman.

But it’s more complex than that.

Jesus broke cultural norms to love this woman.

Illustration:

In the summer of 1952 in Mississippi, Rev. William Franklin Graham Jr.—better known as Billy Graham—was leading one of his massive crusades; an event where he would preach and share the gospel.

At that time in America, there was still a racial divide, and Billy Graham had grown accustomed to hosting segregated services, though he regularly stated it did not sit well with him.

Prior to the beginning of the first night’s service, Graham made his way to the ropes that separated the audience and tore them down.

It is noted that when the ushers tried to re-position the ropes Graham physically stopped them from doing so, adding that he would leave the crusade if the ropes were put back in place.

He addressed those in attendance by saying, “There is no scriptural basis for segregation. It may be there are places where such is desirable to both races, but certainly not in the church.”

He would later expound, “The ground at the foot of the Cross is level, and it touches my heart when I see whites standing shoulder to shoulder with blacks at the Cross.”

This is what it looked like for someone to break cultural norms.

Jesus broke cultural norms to love this woman.

What do I mean by love her?

Jesus knew what she has done in her life.

He doesn’t treat her like any less of a human.

What would Jesus do in a situation?

He would love first.

No matter the circumstances.

No matter the culture.

No matter their past, their present, their future.

Second, Jesus pointed her to something better than what she was pursuing.

Illustration:

Who here likes milkshakes?

Do you like whipped cream on your milkshake?

I don’t like whipped cream.

It just feels like you bite down and there’s no substance to it.

Like it just—you go to bite and there’s no substance to it.

Whether you love it or hate it, you know what I’m talking about.

So often, we chase after things that look so good and taste so sweet, but the moment you grab hold of it, it doesn’t fulfill as much as you thought it would.

Jesus saw that this woman was trying to find satisfaction and contentment in loving men physically.

He saw that it left her broken and hurt.

Jesus loved this woman and showed her what can satisfy her.

Took

What does this have to do with you?

We know WWJD and how we should treat others and different situations, but what does this have to do with you?

Raise your hand:

if you have ever felt unlovable.

if you have ever felt like you are undeserving of love.

if you have ever felt like you’re empty.

if you have ever felt like you’re chasing after things that do not satisfy you.

So often, because of the world around us, we can look at Christ, His teachings, and His followers with a pre-conceived idea of what to expect.

You might be a guest here tonight, or you might even be one of my students on the roster and something from church or from a Christian has left a bad taste in your mouth with it comes to Christianity;

you hear the term evangelicalism and wince or cringe.

I’m here to tell you two things tonight:

First,

no matter what you’ve done

no matter the mistakes you have made

no matter the insecurities you’ve had

no matter the abuse you have endured

no matter how anyone has treated you

no matter what you believe about life, sin, or Christianity

Jesus loves you.

Second,

no matter what baggage you carry

no matter what you want in life

no matter what you desire

even if you feel broken

worthless

shameful

used

anything...

Jesus has something better to offer you than what you’re chasing after for fulfillment.

Tonight, we’re going to have a blast.

We’re going to play tons of games.

We’re going to eat junk food.

We’re going to have a Lip Sync & Karaoke Competition.

But what’s most important to me is your heart.

Listen, if you feel like God is pulling on your heart—know this; I’m praying for you, and I’m here for you.

You can pull me to the side any time tonight, or you can walk up here right now as The Arise Band plays. After they finish their song, I’m going to give some more instructions about our night.

If God is pulling on your heart tonight, don’t ignore it.

You can walk up here and talk to me. We don’t have to talk to everyone about what you say if you don’t want. We can pray together right here if you feel like there’s something between you and God.

Don’t go the entire night without acknowledging God.

Let’s pray.

Lock-In Instructions

Please hold all questions to the end. Type it down in your phone, because I’m giving a rough schedule of the entire night.

At any point tonight:

You can go to the Community Building to eat food and drink drinks.

Please stay hydrated.

If anyone is making you feel uncomfortable in any way, or if someone escalates a situation, come find me or another adult. Don’t sit there and bicker back and forth.

Adults, if a kid approaches you and says they’re uncomfortable because of the actions of another, come find me.

At any point tonight, you can crash. There’s chairs here in the sanctuary and there’s couches in the Community Building.

If you’re going to go crash for the night, or if you’re going to go take a short nap, let me or another adult know. If you need a pillow or blanket, let me know.

Adults, if a kid is sleeping in the community building, there’s one of you sitting awake in the Community Building.

Until Sunset:

We’re going outside.

We can play any game you want, or you can sit and socialize. Regardless, we’re all going outside.

There’s:

Gaga Ball

Basketball

Ultimate

Football

Capture the Flag

If you don’t like sports, represent your Tribe in a Chalk mural competition. Your art will be judged just before sunset and you can win your Tribe BIG points just like any other sport played tonight.

At sunset:

We’re coming inside and Blake—the intern—will lead a quick game while I go walk my dog.

When I get back, we’re doing the Lip Sync & Karaoke Competition.

The winner gets points for their Tribe.

After the competition, we’ll play tons of indoor games until around midnight or 1am.

There will be some outdoor games available.

At midnight/1am:

We will all gather here in the worship center for the 90’s Blockbuster Animated Movie:

The Prince of Egypt

This gives us adults a chance to relax for a second and gives any kids a chance to crash for the night.

During this movie, I’m also going to go walk my dog.

After the movie:

If you’re asleep, you’re asleep.

If you’re up, we can play more games.

At 8:30, we’re waking everyone up and we’re cleaning and reorganizing.

Your parents are instructed to pick you up any time between 9-10am.

Hopefully closer to 9am.

Any questions?