The Subject of Sin, John 4:15–18
(4:15–18) Introduction: Jesus promised the living water of spiritual rebirth. However, something had to be discussed before spiritual rebirth could be given: the subject of sin.
1. There was the request for living water (v.15).
2. There was the first essential: facing the truth, the fact of sin (vv.16–18).
1 (4:15) Water, Living—Satisfaction—Fulfillment—Purpose—Emptiness—Dissatisfaction: there was the request for living water. Jesus had just made a profound claim.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:14).
The woman wanted such water. She asked for it, but note the reasons why:
? That I thirst not (physical thirst).
? That I will not have to come and draw water every day.
The woman may have been jesting with Jesus; some commentators think she was. They hold that she certainly knew this man (Jesus) did not have a well of water from which she could drink and never thirst again, water that would cause her to live forever, never having to die. She thought that Jesus was jesting with her, so she played along, humoring Him. Others think she was sincere and just did not understand, but whatever the man’s magical waters were, she wanted a drink.
Whatever the case may be, the woman was thinking in terms of the physical world, only of the physical benefits. She had grasped nothing of the spiritual meaning, nothing of the inner satisfaction that Jesus could give which would quench all the thirst of a person’s heart.
Thought 1. Note two facts.
(1) Man does thirst, but his thirst is much deeper than physical thirst. Man has an inner, spiritual thirst.
(2) Christ alone can satisfy man’s thirst. If a man drinks of the water Christ gives, he is infused with purpose, meaning, significance, energy, and motivation. Once a man drinks of Christ, he does not mind drawing water; that is, he does not mind work and labor. In fact, the water of Christ stirs him to work and serve, helping mankind in every way possible. He wants to help and to share the wonderful news of a saving God, a God who can save from the thirst of …
• emptiness
• loneliness
• lostness
• despair
• hopelessness
2 (4:16–18) Sin, Exposed—Repentance: there was the first essential of facing the truth, the fact of sin. The woman had requested living water, but before she could be given the living water of spiritual rebirth, she had to be convicted of her sin and renounce it. Note four things.
a. Jesus stirred conviction and the confession of sin. Why was this necessary? Why did the woman have to face the truth of her sin before she could be spiritually reborn? There are two reasons.
1) She was weary and heavy laden, and it was caused by sin. She had to know this in order to seek the cure. Sin had to be removed and renounced, forgiven and cleansed before true rest and true relief could come. Once she was freed from sin, rest and relief would come. She would no longer be weary and heavy laden under the load of sin and irresponsibility, guilt and shame. She would be set free and given a life of spiritual rest and security.
2) She had the symptoms of disease and did not know what the disease was; therefore, she was unable to cure her disease. She needed deliverance and did not know how to be delivered. The woman’s disease was the same as the disease of all men: sin. Sin had to be renounced before the living water of spiritual rebirth could be given.
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Js. 1:21).
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Re. 22:14).
“Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives” (Ezra 10:11).
b. Jesus accepted no evasion. Note how the woman tried to evade the fact of her sin. She told the truth; she did not have a husband, but she was living with a man just as she would live with a husband.
Thought 1. The point is clear: the sinner cannot evade his sin. He has to face it and renounce it if he wishes the living water of spiritual rebirth.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Pr. 28:13).
“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD” (Je. 3:13).
“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD” (Je. 23:24).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).
c. Jesus knew all about the woman, that she had gone through five husbands. He knew the truth about her, what she had done to fail in so many marriages. He knew whether she was guilty …
• of making ungodly, worldly choices
• of being argumentative and defensive
• of being a poor housekeeper, wife, and mother
• of being cold, distant, withdrawn, and indifferent
• of being unfaithful and immoral
Jesus knew the truth about her sin, and He knows the truth about every man’s sin.
“If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity” (Jb. 10:14; see Jb. 14:16).
“For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God” (Je. 2:22).
“For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes” (Je. 16:17).
“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him” (Da. 2:22).
“And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain” (1 Co. 3:20).
d. Jesus reproved her sin. She had not only gone through five different husbands, but she was now living with a man who was not her husband.
Thought 1. Christ not only knows all—He keeps an account. The sinner is guilty of every act of disobedience. He stands guilty of every law he breaks.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.… And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them” (Ga. 3:10, 12).
Man has to face the truth, the fact of his sin, and renounce it if he wishes to receive the living water of spiritual rebirth. A man has to do what Christ is pointing out to the woman: renounce his sin. Once he has done this, he can then ask for the living water and Christ will give it. But note: drinking the water of Christ is essential.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:14).
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Ac. 3:19).
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device [imagination]. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Ac. 17:29–31).
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro. 6:23).
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to John. Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
