John 4
Jesus- meets an outcast
Audio at
http://jubilee-church.org/sermons/john/samaritanwoman.htm
The needy saviour meets a needy woman
Jesus reaches out to a woman in need, revealing his need. Far from being independent and self sufficient he makes himself vulnerable, and reveals that he has a need this woman can reach. How different to many of our attempts to help the poor! People can feel patronised if our first statement is how can I help you?
This woman (1) was a Samaritan, a member of the hated mixed race, (2) was known to be living in sin, and (3) was in a public place. No respectable Jewish man would talk to a woman under such circumstances. But Jesus did. (Life Application commentary)
She comes in the heat of the day, away from the others who would no doubt have come earlier. She came in shame and fear, and was no doubt surprised to find a man sitting at the well. Jesus was not surprised for he knew he ‘had’ to go through Samaria. This shamed loner rushes into town at the end of this encouter to bring many others back. How meeting with Jesus changes things- this outcast became the ambassador of the good news to this town!
Our needs can all be met in Jesus
The human needs for love, food, sex, security, and approval, even when met, do not give complete satisfaction. Attempts to find full satisfaction will lead only to disappointment and despair. The Samaritan woman would have to admit that she was not satisfied, for she had had five husbands, and the man she now lived with was not her husband. (life Application commentary)
Psalm 42:1–2
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the water; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
Our biggest need though is to confront our sin!
Although he confronted the woman’s sinful life, Jesus managed to affirm her truthfulness. He did not accuse or excuse; he simply described her life so that she could draw some clear conclusions about the mess in which she was living. (LAC)
DIVORCE is NOT in Gods plan!! Mal 2:10 “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel
We don’t as Christians go into marriage as a test to see if it will work, we go in as a commitment to make it work. We will remain together happy or sad for the rest of our lives so we may as well work to make sure it works. It is less about who you marry as about the principles into which you marry. Your marriage partner will gradually improve if they are following Gods ways- will you also? Ask not what your husband or wife can do for you but what you can do for them!!!
But, God doesn’t simply cast off the victims of divorce- he gives us a new start and showers his love as he did to the Samaritan woman.
Our needs being met we worship in Spirit and truth
What a wonderful Jesus is it such a wonder that we are called to worship him in spirit and Truth? We need passion, heart, emotion, life, and bodily expressiveness that comes from an inner reality. That energy must be rooted in solid biblical truth however!
It is no good to worship in a cold rational way- we need Gods help even to worship= are you depending enough on him?
Our needs being met, we seek other needy ones to share our joy!
The glorious purpose of God which starts small always succeeds!!
See Mt 13 The Hidden Kingdom
Notice the link that Jesus makes between the small and big. We would tend to be discouraged when one woman responds. Even more so, when she has gone off into the town- will she return? Jesus is so excited he forgets his hunger, and talks of the fields that are ripe for harvest. Sure enough the many Samaritans return, but you almost get the impression he would have been just as happy if only the lady had believed!
When dealing with the ones and twos we must NOT despise the day of small things. Everyone matters, and indeed there are precious few labourers to go and find the many thousands of people that God is calling even in our area. Some will sow, and others will reap each should share in the joy of the harvest.
Do we expect salvation?
We need not be those who wait and think the harvest is not yet- revival may not have yet broken out but the harvest is still plentiful to those who look!! There are many that have had seed sown. Many who want to know more of Jesus. Many that will come to alpha- Many that just need someone to tell them how to be saved!!
Discussion questions-
Has anyone witnessed or been the victim of exclusion/hate crimes here?
Why does Jesus seem to single out the ones that no one else loves?
How can all our needs can be met in Jesus?
Is dealing with sin our deepest need?
How can we worship in Spirit and truth?
How can we reach out to help bring in the harvest?
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v John 3:27; [1 Chr. 29:14; James 1:17; 1 Pet. 4:10]
