THE WELL – A Place You Learn Your Story
John 4:27-38 April 10, 2022
Introduction:
“Faith comes by hearing”...that’s what the Apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome.
You cannot believe in something that’s never been communicated to you. And amazingly Jesus’ plan for the salvation of the entire world would be that “His followers” would be the communicators of this “good news.”
I get this picture in my mind...
When Jesus ascended to heaven after his mission on earth, the angels asked him, “Did you accomplish your task?”
“Yes. All is finished.”
“We have a second question,” said the angels. “Has the whole world heard of you?”
“No,” he said, “not yet.”
“Then what is your plan?”
Jesus said, “I have left 12 men and some other followers to carry the message to the whole world.”
The angels looked at one another, down onto the earth, then back at him. “What is your Plan B?”
His answer: “There is no plan B.”
In John Chapter 4 Jesus is teaching not only the Samaritan woman, but His followers an essential truth... “Lost people are valuable to God...lost people are why I’m here... people are my priority.”
Not because they are targets, or notches I can carve into my gospel gun because I’ve converted them...They are important because they are people “created in the image of God.” The Samaritan woman never felt Jesus was talking AT her...or that she was just a target...Jesus, according to John in his gospel “came from the Father full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
And Jesus never avoids the truth...whether it’s about her life, or when she tries to sidestep it with a discussion on worship...but He just as passionately pursues her with grace. “If you knew who it was that asks you for a drink you’d ask Him for living water!” She almost cries out after looking at the truth “I know that Messiah is coming...He’ll explain it all to us!” And Jesus responds, “The one speaking to you is that Messiah...I AM He.”
I. UNTIL WE MEET THE MESSIAH THERE IS NO GOOD NEWS IN OUR STORY
That doesn’t mean that some good things don’t happen...I’m sure even in this woman’s life there were some “good moments.” The birth of a baby...Her wedding days...First loves...the trip to her aunts.
God’s grace...His goodness is given to the best of us and to the worst of us...That’s why grace drives “so called good people” and religious people crazy...Grace isn’t fair...God apportions it as He sees fit...It’s a gift...not as some would prefer...a pay check for good works.
It’s why Jesus tells the story of workers who work all day in order to receive a promised coin...but other workers are called all through the day...including an hour before quitting time...each are given the same coin...and even though the original workers get what they agreed to...they question the fairness of the owner doing this. He simply says...You get what was agreed on...it’s only Money...and I can do with it as I please!” At the end of this story the landowner asks “Are you envious because I am generous?” And it finishes... “So the last will be first and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:1-16)
The religious people of Jesus’ day, the Pharisees believed they were the most worthy to be paid by God. So when Jesus shows up and offers grace to Samaritan women, tax collectors and zealots and fisherman....they become “envious” of His generosity...so envious they begin to plot to kill Him.
Jesus tells the crowds in His sermon from the mountain in Matthew 5 an essential truth about the difference between the Pharisee’s philosophy and God’s Kingdom. Listen:
MATTHEW 5:43-48
Showing yourself to be God’s child requires “Grace.” The world can love its friends and hate its enemies. The world can rejoice in the sunshine. The world can be friendly to its own kind.
But only in the Spirit can we love and pray for our enemies. Only as we crucify ourselves can we find joy and meaning in the rain, only because we care about thirsty people can we offer it to those outside these walls. I’ve met a ton of pagans who come to church but never live as children of the Father.
Until we live our lives in view of eternity can we really show the good news of our story.
Romans 8:28 promises “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
That promise is only for those who love God and understand why we are here.
His purpose is recorded in Romans 8:29, “That purpose is “to shape us into the image of His son.”
Let me ask a very real question right now. It’s an eternal question...and maybe the most important one you can honestly answer.
If you claim to be a “Christian” does your life resemble Jesus at the well...or the Pharisees doing religious stuff for a pay off from God, or the woman at the well before her change?
And if you sit here this morning and you have never answered God’s call...Do you love Him? Do you love Him enough to surrender yourself to Him? Will you meet Jesus as your Savior and make Him your Lord? Because only if you do this can your story really be filled with “good news.”
I started living eternally with God on January 17, 1978. I would do anything short of sinning to convince you to do the same on April 10, 2022
[Most people want God to be the conclusion of their life stories...in fact, try to find a reason for Him to be the conclusion of their loved ones’ life story. “He’s in a much better place now.” “Her suffering is over now that she’s with God.” I often hear... “They didn’t go to church or talk about God much, but I know He believed.”
Even though Matthew 7:13 and 14 records Jesus saying...“There are 2 roads...one leads to destruction...and one leads to life...one is wide...one is narrow...many enter the wide road...only a few choose the narrow one.
Most choose to ignore this truth...and hope that even though every chapter is written without God really in it...somehow He’ll magically show up for a happy ending.]
Here is a biblical truth... “Belief that makes you afraid of God, and doesn’t change you is satanic and demonic.
James 2:19 says, “You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demon’s believe that and shudder.”
Belief that never becomes real active faith...saves no one...it’s useless.
My dad, who lost a leg in the Battle of the Bulge used to say, “He’s about as useless as a 1 legged man in a butt kicking contest.”
Belief without a life that matches it doesn’t leave you with a leg to stand on when it comes to faith according to God’s Word...Until Jesus becomes real in our day to day relationship with our heavenly Father...our story’s don’t have eternity impacting “Good News.”
For this broken thirsty woman at Jacob’s well, near the town of Sychar in Samaria
II. HER LIFE’S STORY TOOK AN ETERNAL TURN WHEN SHE OPENED UP ALL THE PAGES
After hearing Jesus firmly tell her that He was the expected Messiah... “she left her water jar and went back to the town and said to the people...“Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah? (v.28-29)
I promise you with 5 marriages and her current living arrangements that Jesus didn’t have the time to tell her everything she’d ever done.
But what He has done is say...“I know you...I know the truth...I know the you that tries to hide from the world by coming here at noon...I know what you thirst for...I AM He!!!”
Jesus in the flesh had done what He left His Spirit to do after the resurrection...Turn the light on every chapter of our lives and reveal the sinful truth on every page.
It’s a hard lesson...one we try to ignore and hide from society and even from God Himself. According to Romans 3:10... “Jew and Gentile alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written...There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.”
And since that is true for Samaritan women and self righteous Pharisees...it’s sure true in the life and times of Rick Burdette.
So, since none of us seek God...He comes seeking us.
She even leaves her water jar by the well...why? Because her priorities have just changed...She has to tell people about this man...and when she does they make their way out of town toward Him. (v.30)
Listen to what happens because she tells her story:
JOHN 4:39-42
Many from that Samaritan town believed in Jesus because of her story...Her testimony.
That’s how real discipleship takes place. Her story becomes His story and the rest is history.
My story is just like the Samaritan woman’s. When Jesus met me at the well during my junior year at Lafayette High School...He showed me the truth of my past...my sin...my rebellion which had almost destroyed people I love. (It’s recorded in a CD we have available at the info desk called, “The Fire That Burns Away the Clutter.”)
Please feel free to use it as an introduction to your struggling friends or family...it really is a “If Jesus can transform Rick Burdette story He can change anyone.
But what I’ve discovered...and I found out shortly after January 17, 1978...The light penetrates the darkness of our lives...His life reveals the truth of who we “were” and part of the healing is us sharing the hurtful hidden pages for His glory...Why...to brag on our failed marriages and how much pot we’ve smoked? No...to show hope...to reveal this truth: “The Messiah who told me everything I ever did” can do the same thing for you...He’s what I’ve thirsted for my whole life...“Come and see!”
Your story...my story...in Christ is “Come and see this Messiah.”
Unless you’re willing to do that your past won’t become your past...It will hold you captive in your present.
Until we allow God to use that which we’d prefer to hide...we don’t need His grace...and we’ve deceived ourselves about the truth of our sin.
Use this woman’s testimony...Her story...which by the way is still being told 2,000 years since her meeting at the well. Use mine anytime you desire...it’s had “good news” attached to it since 1978...44 years...but the most powerful story...the most faith needed and presented story you can share is “yours!”
Have you met the Savior who’s brought “good news” to your life, even the conclusion of the book? Have you allowed Him to reveal the hidden pages so others can see it’s truth and “come see a man who told you all about yourself?”
Until you become God’s story teller...You’re still writing every chapter and just hoping He shows up at the conclusion.
Let’s pray.
