The Samaritans (the results)

We have been looking at Jesus and His example of personal evangelism. And have covered much territory. So, again, some reminders before we get to the results.

Because of divine we have seen some unlikely things (4:4)

Jn4:4 “4 And He had to pass through Samaria.”

Briefly talk about the unlikely things

Physical led to spiritual

Spiritual led to conviction, conviction to hope belief, faith, trust

We looked at faith revealed (4:25-26)

We look at faith in action or activated (4:27-30)

We also looked at some faithful teaching (4:31-38)

This now leads us to our passage tonight and here is my hopes for tonight

Glean from the scripture (Jn4:39-42)

Jesus pattern for personal evangelism

The introduction

The intimacy

The discovery and decision

The unanswerable argument (Jn4:43-45)

Gleaning from the scripture

OK there simply Christians, let’s read and glean from the scripture today. Be ready to ask questions of the scripture.

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.”

From what city is John referring to (v.39)? - put on your investigators cap and look for the answer?

Why did the people of the city believe in Him (v.39)?

I want you to think and draw a conclusion, why did they want Jesus to stay with them (v.40)?

Many believed (v.39) and many more believed now in (v.41), why?

What was the conclusion that the Samaritans came to about Jesus (v.42)?

Jesus pattern for evangelism

I think we may agree that life is full of patterns, the bible is no different, the New Testament set’s patterns we follow as Christians today, we will look at Jesus pattern for personal evangelism from John chapter four for a few minutes.

The introduction (Jn4:29-30; ref: Rom10:14, 1:20)

John 4:29–30 The Message

29 “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” 30 And they went out to see for themselves.

The Samaritans were introduced to Jesus through the testimony of the woman.

The woman was God’s tool. It says in Rom10:14 “14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

(Insert He uses You PowerPoint here) -read from the slide

I know it is not perfect, because God can do anything, and out of anything he can do, he chooses to use man to make man to know His Son Jesus as the Messiah.

God has made himself evident through his invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature as noted in Rom1:20, and He makes himself known through the vehicle of man.

So, it is our awesome privilege and overwhelming responsibility to bring the Good News, through our words and our actions to men so they may come to know Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah.

Introduction is made and strengthened by the witness of, the personal witness, the woman.

This was not theory or hypothesis that she was given, it was a conviction, a strong belief that led her to go and invite everyone to come and see.

The kingdom of God can expand when we allow God to use us to carry the message with words and deeds to bring them to the Son Jesus Christ the Messiah.

From introduction to intimacy (4:29-30)

John 4:29–30 GNB

29 “Come and see the man who told me everything I have ever done. Could he be the Messiah?” 30 So they left the town and went to Jesus.

From introduction it sparks an interest that led to going and seeking intimacy with Jesus.

The Samaritans were introduced through the testimony of the woman, but now they are personally seeking intimacy with Him who so impacted her life.

It is true someone must introduce you to Christ, but it also true that then you must seek Christ and come to know Christ personally. No man can be saved by someone else’s experience, it must be by their own knowledge, repentance and surrender.

How can you help people to come to have intimacy with the Lord?

Invite them to come hang out with you, maybe do a bible study, or invite them to come to church, maybe share a meal with them where you can share your personal testimony that may lead them to the bible and how Jesus and the Bible have impacted and are transforming your life.

From Intimacy to discovery and surrender (4:30; 39-42)

They came out of the city and went to Jesus (v.30), and they came to a great discovery and then surrender (v.39-42)

jn4:39-40 “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.”

But then I need to put up the other verses

John 4:41–42 RSV

41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

(Insert Savior of the world picture here)

Yes he came to take away the sin of the world, but it is also much more personal. He came to be your Savior if you allow Him, invite him, surrender to Him.

It is only by John that you see the title “Savior of the world” (Jn4:41, and 1Jn4:14)

1 John 4:14 NASB95

14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Jesus the Savior of the world, what a realization that the Samaritans had. More than Savior of the Jews, but the Samaritans and the the gentiles could be in view here too. The introduction led to intimacy that led to a discovery and a surrender.

Jesus was Savior. He resued men from evil, and hopeless situations. He broke the chains for those things in the past. He gave them His Spirit to make one able to face today and give hope for the future.

He used a evil, hopeless, chained woman to set free and use as His instrument.

Jesus and personal evangelism, that is what we have been focusing on in John4 have we not? It is personal! and the example Christ set led a great awakening, and great surrender “belief.”

When it comes to personal evangelism you cannot make someone believe, but you can present evidence on why to believe. They must make the decision, they must surrender for themselves. Just as the woman figured it out, she believed and then went and shared.

May we be a people who believe and that belief causes us to share with others.

(Transition) this leads us to our last portion of scripture and last point for this evening. then will try to wrap up Jesus and personal evangelism (the Samaritan woman).

The unanswerable argument

To get an appreciation for these verses I will need to bring in parallel verses that come with a different conclusion (Mk6:4; Mt13:57; Lk4:24) but first we need to look and glean from our passage first.

John 4:43–45 NASB95

43 After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.

Anything catch your attention in this passage (4:43-45)?

How long did Jesus stay with the Samaritans (v.43)?

What does Jesus mean in (v.44)?

What what He said in (v.44) proven true in (v.45)?

Now, to bring in the synoptics, the parallels? Or are they, let’s look and see

Mark 6:4 NASB95

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”

and then

Matthew 13:57 NASB95

57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”

And then finally

Luke 4:24 NASB95

24 And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.

Hold on, wait, back up, where did Jesus call home? Galilee. Remember he left Judea to to to Galilee through Samaria. All four gospels say the same thing about “without honor” or something close, but look again at our passage in John.

John 4:45 NKJV

45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

How does John say it, how did the Galileans receive Jesus, and why (v.45)?

Now that verse relates to an ancient proverb “familiarity breeds contempt.” - - - but John is coming at it through his eyes after the fact, years later. He witnessed the great things that had happen in Samaria. The great harvest. He may have expected Jesus to get to Galilee for some much needed R&R, but they received him. The same thing that happened in Samaria was happening in Galilee now. Against all expectations (expected rejection) there was reception!

The unanswerable argument, here is how Courson puts it.

“The Samaritans believed in Jesus, not because of someone else’s story, but because they themselves had heard him speak things whose like they had never heard.”

He goes on to say

“The Galilaeans believed in him, not because someone had told them about him, but because what they had seen him do in Jerusalem things whose like they had never seen.”

The words he spoke, and the deeds he did were arguments to which there was no answer.

So, when it comes to personal evangelism the only real argument for Christianity is a Christian experience. . Effective Christian evangelism really begins when we can say “I know what Christ has done for me.” and go on to say “try him, and see what he can do for you.”

Personal evangelism is a tremendous responsibility, it is a privilege too, but we are equipped for it.

So, remember know what you believe, why you believe, starts with YOU! Are you joyous about the gift of grace and mercy, then your life will show it. Are you confident of your place in heaven, then your words will speak it.

Want to go back and point out a fact the FF Bruce pointed out

John 4:40 NASB95

40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

The invitation, this time not by the woman but by the Samaritans was a big deal, FF Bruce says “That Samaritans should invite a Jewish teacher to stay with them, with no fear of a rebuff, shows home completely he had won their confidence.”

The Samaritans come to a deep personal faith, Savior to the Jews, the Samaritans and the Gentiles.

Jesus short two day stay produced fruit, for “many more believed” (v.41)

Now, to sum up everything we have covered with Jesus and personal evangelism.

Make connections

Common Interest

Spark Spiritual interest

Don’t rush

Keep the main thing, the main thing

When confronting sin, don’t condemn, offer solution

Be ready to share your story of faith and scripture that brings faith and can produce fruit of faith.