The Christ, the witness, the teaching

We are using Jesus example of personal evangelism with the Samaritan woman and today we will continue, His interaction, His impact, led to realization and activation!

Previously we have seen

Unlikely things

Unlikely place, unlikely time, unlikely person, unlikely conversation

A physical need led to a discussion about spiritual things

Spiritual conversation led to spiritual conviction

Spiritual conviction brought about conviction of hope, belief, faith

So, tonight I think I need to back up a couple of verses and we go from there, but here are the points

The faith revealed (4:25-26)

The faith activated (4:27-30)

The faithful teaching (4:31-38)

Of course, this is a bible study, so I will invite participation throughout, and we will glean from the passage as we go through each point.

The Faith Revealed

In spite of the woman’s ignorance, there was something she did know, did believer and is now revealing, and it brings a revelation to her from Jesus too.

John 4:25–26 NASB95

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

What did the woman know (v.25)?

So, what does that reveal about the woman’s faith?

What was Jesus response (v.26)?

What implications did Jesus response have?

What we can learn from her revelation is that somewhere at sometime someone planted some truth in her and she had it hidden in her heart. Maybe buried because of the guilt, shame her life had brought her to this point.

Jesus revelation would have blown her out of the water for any respectable Jew, Rabbi, prophet would not utter what He just did to her, so He must really be the Messiah.

So, when it comes to personal evangelism may we remember these things thus far:

Contact and connect socially and personally through common interest, need

Arouse some spiritual interest through your actions and your words

Don’t rush, don’t condemn, be gentle, compassionate and understanding

Faith Activated

Faith needs to be both a noun and a verb! It needs to be put into action, to be activated. The unlikely woman is so moved in her knowledge, in her faith that she cannot contain it and must put it into action now.

John 4:27–30 NASB95

27 At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” 28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.

What happens when the apostles returned (v.27)?

What did the woman now do (v.28)?

What did the woman challenge the men of Sychar to do (v.29)?

What did the men do (v.30)?

The woman had put her faith in Jesus that He was the long awaited Messiah and she could not wait to share Him with others. While on the other hand the apostles returned and had questions.

Where Jesus had no condemnation for the sinner woman, the apostles may have made her feel unwelcome and that Jesus should not be wasting time talking to her. We just know she left, and left her pot.

Think about this when it comes to personal evangelism, this woman had very little spiritual truth, but had great zeal and her witness can put many of us, to shame. It is simple testimony of truth that can impact lives, its not in great education, elevated knowledge, but a willingness to speak, share the truth and how the truth has impacted your life that can make a world of difference.

Look back at (v.27) again with me

John 4:27 The Message

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.

“No one said” not to the woman, not to Jesus, but their looks must have said a lot. Think about this too. Maybe the said in heart, in their face because they knew from being with Jesus that he was very intentional in everything and that he was serving a purpose they did not know, understand or care for at the moment.

So, this led to the woman leaving, and leaving the pot behind, why?

Was it because she had the living water now?

Was it out of excitement and she forgot it?

Was is so that Jesus and the apostles could draw water while she was gone?

But to John it had some significance for him to record it, for us, well, draw your conclusion, I like to think we don’t need that pot anymore we have the living water

Some interesting, good quotes I’d like to share

“If she had avoided the company of her fellow-citizens before, she was a changed woman now; she must seek them out and share her news with them.” -F.F. Bruce

“So impressed was this woman by Jesus, how loved she felt, she left her shame, her guilt behind to bear witness to others.” - Leon Morris

“Jesus displayed so much love and such a sense of security that she felt safe with Him even when her sin was exposed. It’s important for the followers of Jesus to give people today a safe place to confess their sin, repent and put their trust in Jesus.” - David Guzik

Jesus does not discount food and water, but elevates the spiritual, for man cannot live on bread alone.

The Faithful teaching

When it comes to helping mature, never miss an opportunity to teach. Jesus didn’t!

John 4:31–32 NASB95

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

John 4:33–34 NASB95

33 So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

John 4:35–36 NASB95

35 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

John 4:37–38 NASB95

37 “For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

So, the apostles had returned, had questions they kept to themselves. Now the woman is gone, left her pot, what did the apostles do (v.31)?

What did Jesus response (v.32) cause for the apostles to react (v.33)?

What is Jesus food according to (v.34)?

What does Jesus say about the fields (v.35)? Is He speaking literal or figurative?

Who is doing the rejoicing in (v.36)?

What are the instructions, teaching, Jesus is giving them to do (v.38)?

So, we have a shift here from the Samaritan woman to the Apostles, both were being taught at the well outside of the city, the place of Jacob’s well. Jesus uses this time to give a deep truth the apostles needed to grasp going forward.

It would seem that the apostles thought Jesus was speaking of literal food, but Jesus was speaking of spiritual food, to do the will of the Father. His will was to lead the woman to have faith in him and share that faith with others to come to Him.

I love this quote from bible teacher

“Seek your life’s nourishment in your life’s work.” - Phillip Brooks

Now it was not wrong for the apostles to be thinking about Jesus physical need (food). Spurgeon put it like this

“It is right for the spiritual man to forget his hunger, but it is equally right for his true friends to remind him that he ought to eat for his health’s sake: It is commendable for the worker to forget his weaknesses and press forward in holy service; but it is proper for the humane and thoughtful to interpose with a word of caution, and to remind the arden spirit that his frame is but dust. I think the disciples did well to say, ‘Master, eat.’”

Some take away’s from our passage:

Let the will of God be known and be fulfilling to you

The will of God, fulfilling the will of God should be our life’s work. Regardless of place, position, or possession, let the Lord strengthen us by the living water and use us as a child of God to lead others to become children of God.

The will of God was not burdensome to Jesus and should not be to us.

The Father’s will was not a heavy burden or a distasteful task (Wiersbe) He looked at it as it was the very nourishment needed for the soul.

David recorded this

Psalm 40:8 NASB95

8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

The Samaritan woman was laboring to get water, left with living water. The Apostles sought physical food and ended up getting spiritual food for their soul.

The woman could not contain herself and had to share the living water, we too can and should be the same.

(Insert Corn harvest ready picture here)

Jesus makes a shift from food to harvest (v.35-36); he quotes a common proverb about the farmer waits for the harvest, but spiritually speaking Jesus is saying the harvest is ready, white for harvest. You will reap and both the sower and the reaper will rejoice together. - keeping in context you will see next week the the fields are ready, the harvest is ready, the villegers are coming because of the witness of the woman.

The disciples had gone into the village to get food, and no mention of evangelism, but the woman went into town to evangelize! And it was impacting and effective.

Jesus had used the image of harvest in other places too (Mt13:1-30)

Parable of the sower and the tares (Mt13:1-30)

Which is the parable of the seeds

Also the parable of the wheat and tares, of course with explanation of both along the way

Paul used it too (1Cor3:6-9; Gal6:9)

1Cor3:6-9 “6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Consider

Gal6:9 “9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

When it comes to personal evangelism we need to plant the seed in the hearts of the people who hear it. We can water it, we can cultivate it, but God causes the growth and God adds to the numbers daily those being saved (harvested). And the harvest will be for the glory of God.

The prejudice of the Jews against the Gentiles, against the Samaritans is not surprising. The apostles would not think about a harvest from them. They were considered dogs, some would say they were the kindling to keep the fires of hell hot. so why waste time preaching to them.

Wiersbe says “It takes faith to sow the seed, and we must do it even when the circumstances look discouraging.” - we need to remember we are all part of each others labors as I mentioned when I read 1Cor3:6-9 a few minutes ago. One sows, another reaps, both are rewarded for work done.

John 4:38 NASB95

38 “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

There were others who had labored, this Samaritan woman, maybe others, their task was to harvest what was planted!

The Apostles were not alone in the labor for hte Lord, as we are not alone either! We labor together, some plant, some water, some harvest, all are rewarded for their labor, for their work.

Consider

Psalm 126:5–6 NASB95

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Other scriptures used or referenced: Ps126:5-6; Jn4:39-42)

So, let me bring in just a little more on personal evangelism, sum up a few things and we will close

Make and take advantage of social contacts

Develop common interests

Let your words and your actions spark spiritual interest

Don’t rush, don’t argue, come to common ground

Jesus conversation with an unlikely person, at an unlikely time at an unlikely place led to many coming to Jesus

John 4:39–40 NASB95

39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

John 4:41–42 NASB95

41 Many more believed because of His word; 42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

We will get into those verses more next week, until then know the harvest is plentiful, it is ready and it is waiting on you and me to harvest it for the glory of God.