The day Jesus was tired
John 4:1-39
It is of great interest of mine to observe the way in which the Lord Jesus dealt with different souls with whom He came in contact. In John 3 we observe how He dealt with a moral Jewish man named Nicodemus, and now in chapter 4 He is deal with an immoral Samaritan woman. When you study the different conversations that are recorded that He had with different individuals, we get a glimpse of wonderful wisdom in opening up the word of God to needy souls.
The loveliest records of the master soul-winner at work is found in John 4. It is a story full of grace.
His grace is greater than all social bigotry. "Samaritan"
Intense racial hatred existed between Jews and Samaritans. So great was this hatred that, in traveling from Judea to Galilee, Jews would go miles out of their way to avoid crossing the Samaritan border.
His grace is greater than all sexual barriers. "woman"
Cultural sentiment for women was extremely low during the time of Christ. The Pharisees taught that men should not speak to women in public. One of the Jewish prayers included the
phrase, "Blessed art thou, O Lord...who has not made me a woman."
His grace is greater than all sinful backgrounds.
Jesus certainly knew what sort of woman she had been. She was woman of low morals.
From the day in which Jesus was tired, I want us to observe several things:
I. The warning that concerns - This ALARMS me.
This warning that troubles me is the simple fact that the disciples of the Lord seemed to have very little to do with what happened on this day (39). In verse, 8 we read of the arrival of the disciples in the city, but as far as I can determine, their arrival did not cause a ripple of interest in the city.
A. The tragedy they represented
The tragedy is they were bypassed by the Spirit of God, left out of this great experience. They were the disciples of the Lord. They had position and prominence, and yet they were not used of the Lord that day. You would have expected them to be in the very heart of it, but they were not.
Oh the tragedy of being by-passed by the Spirit of God.
(Saul and David’s brother are by-passed)
B. The opportunity they never sensed
Why was it that the disciples were so by-passed when such a work was done this day? Two verses would suggest they why.
1. Preoccupied -verse 8
They were concerned about a legitimate and necessary thing. Some Christians miss being used of God because we also are preoccupied with material things that we have no time to sense the spiritual needs around us.
2. Prejudiced - verse 9
I wonder if the disciples had already washed their hands of the Samaritans? On the way into the village to buy provisions, they must have met this woman with her water-pot on her way to the well. Perhaps they passed her by on the other side without any sort of friendly greeting.
They enter the city, but there is no record of their witnessing to the men of the city. Could it be that they thought God had no intention of doing anything here with these people?
All I do know is that God worked that day, and the disciples were not involved in it. This should serve as a warning to be alarmed about.
II. The wonder that captivates - This ARREST me.
Disciples arrival in the city does not cause a ripple of interest in Christ; however, the arrival of the prostitute woman three the whole city into a frenzy of excitement. Look at verses 28-30.
Her earlier solicitations were vastly different from the thrilling story which now poured from her lips. Her compelling words and her obvious transformation beget interest and soon criticize of the city were hurrying across the fields in attempt to see this man named Jesus. Here testimony was simple; however, it was successful.
Look at verse 35. Jesus was reminding the disciples of the common saying among the Jews that it was four months from seedtime to harvest. The sower sowed the seed, and in fur months, the harvest was ready for reaping; However, Jesus was stating that the harvest is already ready. Behold these Samaritans coming out already to hear the Word. Jesus wanted His disciples to see. literally, the masses of unsaved- especially the Samaritans who were approaching from the place where the disciples had just left. Here was a harvest in Samaria.
As the disciples walked along the streets of Samaria, they passed homes in which the harvest was waiting to be reaped, but they just continue in their journey.
It takes faith to sow the seed, and we must do sow even when the circumstances look discouraging.
A. Wonder of grace
Grace is always a wonder. The wonder of grace that day is seen in the instrument God did use that day. Grace is seen in the one Jesus did use that day.
Not the disciples but an ex-prostitute was used.
Not a disciple but a dame
Not likely but the unlikely
Not the who’s who but the who’s not.
Not the expected but the unexpected
I Corinthians 1:26--28
1. Grace does not require (26)
proficiency
prestige
pedigree
2. Grace does not reject (27,28)
foolish
feeble
familiar - "base"-- common
forsaken - "despised"
forgotten - "things which are not" -- things which are overlooked
B. Wonder of power
Changed woman....changed by the power of God
"Such were some of You"
II Corinthians 5:17
III. The work that comforts (36) - This ASSURES me
The souls of converted men is a harvest gathering of a fruit which is spiritual and imperishable- enduring to life eternal.
Salvation is an eternal work. This comforts me! "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
A. Individual work
B. Inward work
C. Insistent work
Commences at salvation; continues in sanctification; concludes in glorification. The commencement is the surety of the continuation until the completion.
D. Infinite work
"he"
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God and our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever."
A God is sufficient in His power
is able not was able or shall be able
is able without regard for the time, trouble, or task
Here is a God who is sovereign in His purpose
Here is a God who is supreme in His preeminence
Uncontested in His worth
Unmatched in His work
Two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn, a mountain of the Alps, between Switzerland and Italy. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing, He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. Then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, what had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing. I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership with Jesus Christ. And because he stands, I will never perish.
IV. The will that carries (nourishes, feeds, supports and sustains) (6, 31-34) This AWAKENS me!
Jesus sits on the well while the disciples go into town to buy meat. When they returned a change has taken place in Jesus. Hunger is gone, exhaustion is ended, and fresh vigor in seen in their once wearied Master. What made the difference?
A. An exhausted (drained) Christ (6)
The wearied Christ proclaims His manhood. Without food and water, dusty, perspiring, tired, the Lord arrived at the well where He sat to await the coming of the woman. John Gospel not only presents Jesus as the Son of God but also a true man. Our Lord entered all the normal experiences of our lives and is able to identify with us in each of them.
B. An excited (renewed) Christ
Note the lovely contrast between the beginning and the end of the incident that day. The disciples were puzzled when they return and find that Christ needed none of the substance they had brought for him. Has someone else brought Him something to eat?
The conversion of the Samaritan woman had brought Him satisfaction more real than any ordinary meal could give.
If you would have your spirit refreshed and well nourished, let the will of God be the food of your souls. Souls thus fed can do without a good deal that others need. The salvation of this Samaritan woman allowed Christ to forego physical necessities and desires.
V. The water that charms - (7-15) This ATTRACTS me
A. Living water
B. Lasting water
Note verse 28.
Why did she leave her waterpot? Cause she went away with the well. Her heart was so overflowing with living water that she was a subconscious testimony to the new life within.
Conclusion:
From the day in which Jesus was tired, my we remember the warning that alarms, the wonder that amazes, the work that assures, the will that arouses me, and the water that attracts me.
Christian, be careful less opportunities pass in which God could use you?
Sinner, heed the news that Jesus saves sinful men (this is the only type people He does save).
