Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters,

Today we're diving into the heart of John 4:1-30, a passage that deals with our personal contact with Jesus, recognizing Him as our Savior, and responding to Him in faith.

In the words of C.S. Lewis, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

Let's read the Scripture together:

[Read passage]

Let's open in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word and the opportunity to gather and delve into it today. Fill us with Your wisdom and understanding as we explore this pivotal moment in Scripture. May we draw closer to Jesus, recognize Him more in our lives, and respond to Him with steadfast faith. Speak to our hearts, Lord, and guide us in our journey. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Personal Contact with Jesus

In the passage we just read, we see that Jesus initiates contact with the Samaritan woman. He asks her for a drink, a simple request that opens the door for a profound conversation. This is a powerful illustration of how Jesus seeks personal contact with each one of us. He doesn't wait for us to approach Him; He makes the first move. He reaches out to us in the midst of our daily lives, in our ordinary routines, and invites us into a relationship with Him.

Not a one-time event: It's an ongoing, dynamic relationship. Just as Jesus continued to engage with the Samaritan woman, revealing more of Himself to her as their conversation progressed, He continues to reveal Himself to us as we walk with Him. He speaks to us through His Word, through prayer, and through the circumstances of our lives. He reveals His character, His love, His grace, and His truth.

We're not just learning about Him; we're getting to know Him: There's a big difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing them. You can know about a celebrity by reading articles or watching interviews, but you don't really know them. You don't know their character, their heart, their thoughts, or their feelings. But when you have personal contact with someone, when you spend time with them and converse with them, you get to know them on a deeper level. That's the kind of relationship Jesus wants to have with us.

Transformative: When the Samaritan woman encountered Jesus, she was changed. She went from being a woman who came to the well alone at noon, likely an outcast in her society, to a woman who boldly proclaimed the Messiah to her town. She left her water jar behind, a symbol of her old life, and embraced a new life in Christ. Similarly, when we have personal contact with Jesus, we're changed. We're transformed by His love, His grace, and His truth. We're given a new identity in Him.

Not limited by our past or our circumstances: The Samaritan woman had a complicated past. She had been married five times and was living with a man who wasn't her husband. But Jesus didn't let her past define her. He saw her, He knew her, and He loved her. He offered her living water, eternal life, despite her past. Similarly, Jesus sees us, knows us, and loves us. He offers us living water, eternal life, regardless of our past or our circumstances.

Not just for us; it's meant to be shared with others: The Samaritan woman didn't keep her encounter with Jesus to herself. She went back to her town and told the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" She invited others to have their own personal contact with Jesus. Similarly, we're called to share our encounters with Jesus, to invite others into a relationship with Him.

Recognizing Jesus

Recognizing Jesus is a central theme in this passage and indeed, in our Christian journey ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO