Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. It is a joy to be with you today, gathered in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are here, not because we are perfect, but because we are perfectly loved by a God who sees us, knows us, and desires to transform us by His grace. Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds to a passage from the Gospel of John, a passage that speaks to us of honest reflections, the holiness of God, and the hope for transformation.

Before we proceed, let us take a moment to ponder the words of the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself." So, let us unleash the lion of God's word and allow it to speak to us, to defend itself, to challenge us, and to change us.

Our Scripture today comes from John 4:1-26:

"Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he."

Honest Reflections

As we consider the interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we see the importance of being honest with ourselves. The woman, when asked by Jesus to fetch her husband, could have easily lied or evaded the question. Instead, she chose to tell the truth, revealing her complicated and somewhat scandalous marital history. This honesty was not easy or comfortable, but it was necessary for her to experience the fullness of what Jesus had to offer.

This woman's honesty is a model for us. We too must be willing to face our own truths, even when they are uncomfortable or difficult. We must be willing to acknowledge our sins, our failures, and our shortcomings. Only then can we fully experience the grace and forgiveness that Jesus offers.

Firstly, we see the woman's honesty in her response to Jesus' request for a drink. She could have ignored him or lied about her ability to draw water. Instead, she tells him the truth - that as a Samaritan woman, she is not supposed to interact with a Jewish man. This honesty sets the stage for the rest of their conversation.

Secondly, we see her honesty in her response to Jesus' statement about living water. She could have pretended to understand what he was talking about, or dismissed him as a madman. Instead, she admits her confusion and asks for clarification. This honesty opens the door for Jesus to reveal deeper spiritual truths.

Thirdly, we see her honesty in her response to Jesus' knowledge of her marital history. She could have denied it, or tried to justify her actions. Instead, she acknowledges the truth of what he says. This honesty allows Jesus to speak into her life in a powerful way.

Lastly, we see her honesty in her confession of faith. She could have kept her newfound belief in Jesus to herself, or downplayed its significance. Instead, she openly declares that she believes Jesus is the Messiah. This honesty leads to a transformation not just in her own life, but in the lives of many others in her town.

In each of these instances, the woman's honesty is focused on being willing to face the reality of her situation. She was willing to confront her own misunderstandings and misconceptions and to be open to new possibilities. It's about being willing to admit when she's wrong, to ask for help when she doesn't understand, and to change her mind when presented with new information.

This kind of honesty requires courage, humility, and a willingness to be vulnerable. But it is also incredibly freeing. It allows us to let go of the lies we tell ourselves, to stop pretending to be something we're not, and to start living in the truth of who we really are.

Holiness of God

We are now drawn to the holiness of God, as displayed through Jesus Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO