Title: Hurting People Hurt People
Theme: To show how Jesus helps us overcome our pain.
Text: John 4, Acts 9, Luke 8,
Each morning she would get up with one task on her mind, “How to avoid people?” You see she had been hurt. Deeply she had been scared. Whether it was abuse by the 5 husbands she had or the ridicule of people because of her sin.
Not only that but it seemed she grew up on “the wrong side of the tracks”. From her birth she was told that they were “second class citizens”. She lived in a nation that for centuries had compromised the local religion and in place put in a mixture of society and Judaism.
Today we find her going through the same routine. But this day would be different.
We find her in John 4. You may have known her as the Samaritan Woman. But everyone else saw her as a woman who could not get it together.
In John 4 Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem but He had a “necessary” stop. He needed to go through Samaria.
Why? Well I believe because of this woman. He finds her at the well drawing water in the middle of the day. Most people drew water in the morning or evening, but she was here to avoid people.
We soon discover that she is a religious person and she is curious. Jesus introduces her to the living water.
Joh 4:13-15 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, (14) but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (15) The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
The heat of the matter
Joh 4:16-18 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." (17) The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' (18) for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."
Wow! That is a lot to unpack.
For her she was desperate for the true living water. This was more than just natural water. Listen to the words, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” There is a desire for something more. There is a desire for healing.
But Jesus had to the to the heart of the matter. She was living in sin. She had been married 5 times; this does not always mean sin. Now she is living with a man out of wedlock, this is sin. It probably started out as a beautiful wedding. She had high expectations for life, family and marriage. Maybe he had an affair or tragedy hit. Either way she finds here self alone. Pulling everything out she decides to give it another run. This time she kept some of her guard up. Last marriage she gave everything and got hurt this time she will hold a little back. Not surprisingly he leaves her for another woman. Each time she tries again and each time trusting less and hurting more. Until finally she gives up on marriage and just lives in sin with a man. She knew this was wrong, but it was the easiest way to avoid the pain of separation and divorce.
This woman was living in pain. As we talked about Jabez last week she was a prime example of pain.
But then she meets Jesus. Jesus gave here the living water. Pain and hurt causes death ad sorrow. Pain and hurt causes loneliness. But when we meet Jesus, the living water, out life is changed.
Joh 4:28-29 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, (29) "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
Joh 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."
She was no longer afraid of the crowds, but she was changed.
There are many stories like this scattered throughout scripture.
I think of a man who was a zealot for God. He was very religious to a point that he was arresting others who didn’t believe. Talking about causing pain. If you were a disciple, believer, follower of the Way in Saul’s day then you would be watching over your shoulder. He would come knocking at your door challenging your faith and unless you denied Jesus, he would arrest you and have you killed.
Saul knew how to cause pain and he did it in the “name of God”. There are religious people who are just like him. Even some claim to be Christians, but because they had been hurt, they hurt others.
But let me tell you about an encounter that Saul had.
Act 9:1-6 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest (2) and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (3) As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. (4) Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (5) And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
"It's hard to do what you're doing, isn't it, Saul, when in your heart you know what you're doing isn't right?"
(6) So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Saul hurt people until he met Jesus. What I like about this story is God changes his name. His name is no longer Sau “the fire breathing zealot who would run over everyone in his life” but to Paul, the preacher of the gospel.
When Saul had an encounter with Jesus all the hate left. He no longer spewed hate and gossip but love.
Two more stories about God changing.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He met Jesus looking down from a sycamore tree. He was trying to see Jesus, but Jesus saw him first and calls him by name. Tax collectors were notorious for “getting theirs”. They were selfish and rich. They did not care who they hurt as long as it filled their pockets. But when he met the master.
Luke 19: (5) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. (6) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. (7) And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (8) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
When you meet Jesus’ things are different. It was cause you to repent. He will cause you to change.
Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
One last story, although there are many
Woman with the Issue of Blood
Luke 8:43-48 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, (44) came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. (45) And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " (46) But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." (47) Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. (48) And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
This woman had lost everything. She was sick and had been sick for 12 years. She had spent all her money. She was exhausted and desperate. She was also hurting. She had an issue of blood. This is not described much but what we do know is it had ruined her life. This issue affected her worship, affected her relationships and affected her life.
She hears the rustling of the crowd going through the streets. She hears the name Jesus. By this time everyone had heard of his healing power.
She musters just an ounce of faith. “Do you know how hard it is to believe when you have been hurt and taken advantage of over and over again?” She does.
But somehow she gets that “mustard seed of faith” and fights her way through the crowd. With one last lunge she pushes and reaches and touches the hem of His garment. Many people try to explain the theological significance of His hem but I am here to tell you that theology takes second place when you encounter the master.
She is healed.
Jesus finishes with these words.
Luke 8:(48) And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
Can you believe again?
Conclusion
Will you let Jesus take your hurt?
Will you let Jesus give you new life so that you won’t hurt others? Religion is not life but death. When you are spewing hurt and pain in the name of Jesus you are not helping but revealing who you are.
Will you let Jesus give you new hope and you become a blessing to others?
Will you let Jesus give you joy and peace?
