TEXT: Saint John 4:1-42 -
KEY WORD: Plights
INTRODUCTION: In this passage we want to share with you Jesus who is the Peer-less One. Webster defines PEER as: one of equal standing with another. There was, and is, no one who can do what He can do! Jesus Christ is unique (the only one of its kind- Webster); He is Omniscient (having infinite understanding, insight and awareness -Webster). Jesus entered the situation in St. John 4 and transcended the plights of their day, and ours. Webster defines PLIGHT as: An unfortunate, difficult or precarious situation. Jesus and His disciples traveled the hot, dusty road from Judea to Galilee which was about 70 miles and took 2 1/2 to 3 days to travel, the direct route which many of the Jews chose not to take due to the prejudice against the Samaritan people. However, our Lord cut right through this ignorant and narrow-minded prejudice and went through Samaria.
Today we call this location the West Bank, but Prime Minister Menachem Begin reintroduced the practice of calling this section of the Holy Land, Samaria
They arrived at Jacob’s well in Sychar. This place itself is significant since Sychar (Shechem) is: 1. Where Abram first stopped on his coming from Haran to Canaan; 2.Where God first appeared to the patriarch, and promised to give the land to his seed; 3. Where Abram first built an altar and called upon his name (Gen. 12:7).
Transition: Listen to this story with all your hearts; and in a few minutes you will be given the opportunity to meet this man, the Peer-less One, who can and will, transcend ( overcome, heal, supply) your every need. Whatever your need, be it spiritual, physical, or financial, He will come right into your plight in life and change your situation forever! You are invited to consider this while the word and the Spirit speak to your hearts.
Point 1 - JESUS’ ABILITY - verses 1-26
This passage states it was the "sixth hour" when Jesus stopped. By Jewish reckoning that would be noon.
By Roman time, which it is supposed John used throughout his gospel, it would have been in the evening. This picture reveals the humanity of the Peerless One, Jesus. He was hungry, thirsty, tired, just wanting to rest!
The disciples went into town to find something to eat while Jesus rested at the well. Soon arrived a woman of Samaria. How beautifully Jesus transcended the barriers that separated them. According to the law, Jesus being a Rabbi, should not have talked to a woman in public, not even their own wives or sisters; for the rabbinical law stated, "It is better to burn the law than to give it to a woman." In that culture women were regarded as totally unable to understand theology or religion. The Samaritans were a hated Jewish cult. They accepted the five books of the Law but not the prophetical books, and had mingled in their idolatrous practices. They had even erected a temple on Mt. Gerizim as a rival to the temple in Jerusalem.
They were regarded as reprobates, and hated even more than the Gentiles. The Jews would not borrow, would not drink out of the same cup or well with them, would not sit down to meals with them, nor eat out of the same vessel with a Samaritan. They would have no religious connection nor commercial dealing with them. Worst of all, she was the moral outcast of the city! There was a nearer well, but she was forced to come all the way out to this one, about half a mile further. No wonder the Samaritan woman was surprised when Jesus addressed her! He transcended the plight of race, gender, and culture; for here was humanity in great need of a Savior! Here was a sinner whom He came to call to repentance! He had passed through several times before and possibly knew of this woman’s history, but meeting her He knew it was ordained of His Father.
On his asking for water, she informed him the well was deep and he had nothing with which to draw from so deep a well. She understood literally, but He transcended human limitations, telling her of "living water" which required no rope or bucket, but produced a "well of water springing up into everlasting life."
She responded by desiring the "living water", so He responded by requiring something on her part -
Transcending human knowledge. He said, "Go, call thy husband, and come thither." She answered she had no husband. He told her she had had five and the sixth was not her husband.
Jesus causes her to face the real problem; for until she admitted her need, there was no way to release it to Him.
Phillippians 2:4, 7 - 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Jesus forgot His own need to serve (minister) to her need. He became her servant!
Point 2 - Jesus’ Revelation -verse 28 - By this time the woman knew this was no ordinary Jew, and listened while Jesus revealed the way to worship, and Who He truly was! It is interesting that Jesus chose this woman to be the first person, perhaps the only private person, to whom He is recorded as declaring himself to be the Christ, as he does to her in verse 26.
Point 3 - Woman’s response - verse 28 -
She believed, and accepted this "living water"; she forgot her need for physical water, left her pot and went into the city becoming a "well of living water"! This former adulterous woman became an evangelist, which was unheard of in her day and culture. She spread her testimony with such a spiritual fervor and force, the men of the city immediately came unto him.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - 9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Notice especially the phrase - "...and such were some of you, but..."
Point 4 - Immediate harvest - verses 34-42-
The natural laws of sowing and reaping were transcended by the Peer-less One as He saw them coming, for natural sowing and reaping takes about four months. Some say, as the custom in their day, the men were dressed in white robes. Jesus told the disciples, "Look at them. Look at the fields, already white unto harvest." Using something natural, Jesus drew a parable. In the spiritual realm harvest can happen instantly; time is removed. The order is there, the pattern is there; but the time element is irrelevant, for the "sower and the reaper can rejoice together"!
Not only did they believe her word, but came to Jesus for themselves and heard His word. We need to hear the word of God, but we have to experience it for ourselves. After two days the whole city of these rag-tag Samaritans believed him to be the Messiah! A city wide revival had come! HARVEST TIME!
CONCLUSION: Anybody, anywhere can come to Jesus, the Peer-less One. He revealed His Deity to the woman at the well; and He will reveal Himself to each of us. He has power to cleanse, refresh, wash, teaching us to drink frequently and deeply all through the day.
Jesus is the well of living water that brings forgiveness, reconciliation, restores love in hearts, homes, churches, and across our land. He is not a dry well, not an empty cistern, not a broken cistern, but a fountain of water springing up in our own hearts forever!
What is your plight today? Is it RACIAL, GENDER, CULTURAL, HUMAN LIMITATION, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, OR SIN? We still wrestle with these issues today, but an encounter with the PEER-LESS ONE, JESUS, can make the difference! Because of one woman at the well, the whole city was changed and brought REVIVAL. Jesus wants to transcend your plight in life. This is your time and opportunity to come and drink of this well, now and everyday for the rest of your lives.
