John, Part 16
Series: The Messiah’s Confirmation, Part 1
John 4:25-42
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – thankful you are here today; dismiss children
- New series begins today: “The Messiah’s Confirmation”; 6 parts to this series
-- Series helps us unpack some teachings, miracles, and incredible revelations
-- Today being most incredible revelation imaginable; want us to lean in!
- Read John 4:25-42 / Pray
No points today – just one theme: The Messiah’s Revelation
- See the truths that she knows from her own knowledge (re: ancestors): (v25)
1. She knew the Messiah was coming GR: erchetai; to appear, arrive
2. Knew the Messiah would have authority GR: anaggelló; declare, report
- TEACH: “Christ” (v25) is not His last name; but rather, describes characteristics
-- MEANS: “anointed one” or “chosen one” – both being attributes of Jesus
-- APP: She is waiting for someone to come who can explain this for all Jews
-- WHY? Her hope is: Knowing one day God’s people will be remembered
- Take note of the incredible response to her … (re-read v26)
? Two words clearly identified: GR: egó; I -and- GR: eimi; Am
? Third word is more of an implication: GR: ho; the one (speaking)
? “Ego eimi ho, Iésous” (ee-sous) …. I am the one, Jesus
- WOW: Don’t miss the word choice – goes back to what Moses heard:
? Exodus 3:14a, “God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”
- When we see it’s the same identification God used it should:
? Cause us to praise the marvelous completeness of God’s clarity!
? REM: no detail is left out IF we would just read what He says
? Moses and this woman wanted to know - and God was clear!
- CHALL: When creation is challenged with the Creator’s authority (pause)
-- Do we consider, ponder, worship - do we see it as defining moment to respond?
- SEE: Don’t skip over this – allow yourself to marvel at the simplicity
-- “I AM” – Not will be, not was, not might become … saying: He is present tense
-- This causes her to run away (smile) – to run and tell everyone … NOW!
- TR: Now, I need us to focus on Jesus’s talk with Disciples …
-- He gives them 2 parables (teachings): “You know the saying…” (v35)
-- Parable: a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson
- First: The time between planting & harvesting is mandatory for growth
? Implication is that the planting is done and it takes time for seed to grow
? But, once the growing completes (4 months), it is time to … harvest!
? SEE (v36): It is a joy to harvest; the reward is people brought to eternal life!
- Second: 1 person plants and another harvests (this is evangelism: be sent!) (v37)
? They are being sent to harvest what they have NOT planted (ties into v36)
? SEE: Jesus is sending them to where a harvest is already prepared
? WHY: Because there is a promise to redeem those God loves! (We get to!)
- REM: John 4:22b, Salvation comes through Jews… Look at what Jesus is saying
-- A Promise (TJ): “Guys, YOU get to gather the harvest for God’s glory!”
- Curious: Disciples were focused on Him wasting His time on this woman (v27b)
-- They also are worried about who gave Him food (re: they went to find it) (v33)
-- Don’t Miss: How does He respond? He tells them about their life’s work!
- TALK: Both of these parables are still relevant for the church today!
? Level set: Lasting nourishment comes from what God gives … not world
? It is the result of what GOD has done; allows testimonies to be proven
- This is why the woman is so convinced: He gave her what she needed most!
-- Think about it: What did she need? GRACE! She was desperate for mercy!
-- If YOU have it, it is what others need most; WE get to go tell about it (harvest)!
- OBV: Jesus’s heart (purpose) is focused on the harvesting (salvation of souls)
? The challenge to disciples is: (v35b) “Wake up and look around”
? How can we not look at this world and KNOW there is a great need?
? Naval gazing and inward ponderings are not what God has called us to do
Big Idea:
- For the believer (again, don’t miss that Jesus is talking to disciples):
1. We must lift up (or even, open) our eyes to see the needs around us
o Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
o The world is focused on satisfying itself; gratifying what “we” want
o Being in the world we know it’s condition – will we respond?
2. We must be willing to see reality of the work given to us
o Luke 10:2, “These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
o Our work is already established – so pray that laborers will GO
o REM: Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for those after Him
- If we will do these simple things there will be results: (ref to v36)
? We will receive a just wage – God will pay the believer for our work
? We will bring in new fruit – lives that will become part of the Kingdom
? We will find joy in our work – true happiness is serving God (grateful)
? We will recognize our common purpose – to bring others to Christ
- Now, will we respond? Every head bowed and every eye closed …
Need us to consider two things today:
1. Are we obedient to what God has called us to do?
a. Are we surrendered to Him in every area of our life?
b. Are we willing to be laborers in the harvest prepared for us?
2. We need a warning: A “hardened heart” continues to grow further from God
a. Unwillingness to submit is a refusal to follow God
b. Spiritual blindness is an inability to understand God's purposes
c. Pride and self-importance is living with a “you” attitude at the center
- Change takes confession; it’s not a matter of head knowledge … but surrender
-- This is what Jesus is teaching His disciples; will we hear these words today?
-- What do you need to commit to doing that you are not doing now?
-- Pray
