Message # 2: “Coming Face to Face with Jesus”
John 4:1-26; 39-42
Introduction: Ted Stallard’s story
This morning, I want to tell you the story of Ted Stallard. A young man who was turned off by school. Very sloppy in appearance. Expressionless. Unattractive. Slow. Often times he would simply sit in class and stare off into space, unresponsive, which was an irritation to his teacher. Miss Thompson, enjoyed bearing down her red pen -- as she placed big red X’s beside his many wrong answers. If only she had studied Ted’s school records more carefully. They read:
1st grade: Ted shows promise with his work and attitude, but (has) poor home situation.
2nd grade: Ted could do better. Mother seriously ill. Receives little help from home.
3rd grade: Ted is good boy but too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died thisyear.
4th grade: Ted is very slow, but well-behaved. His father shows no interest whatsoever.
Christmas arrived. The children piled elaborately wrapped gifts on their teacher’s desk. Ted brought one too. It was wrapped in brown paper and held together with Scotch Tape.Miss Thompson opened each gift, as the children crowded around to watch. Out of Ted’s package fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet, with half of the stones missing, and a bottle of cheap perfume. The children began to snicker. But she silenced them by splashing some of the perfume on her wrist, and letting them smell it. She put the bracelet on too. At day’s end, after the other children had left, Ted came by the teacher’s desk and said, "Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother. And the bracelet looks real pretty on you. I’m glad you like my presents." He left.
Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her and to change her attitude. The next day, the children were greeted by a reformed teacher -- one committed to loving each of them. Especially the slow ones. Especially Ted.
Surprisingly -- or maybe, not surprisingly, Ted began to show great improvement. He actually caught up with most of the students and even passed a few. Graduation came and went. Miss Thompson heard nothing from Ted for a long time. Then, one day, she received this note:
Dear Miss Thompson:
I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my class.
Love, Ted
Four years later, another note arrived:
Dear Miss Thompson:
They just told me I will be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it. Love, Ted
And four years later:
Dear Miss Thompson:
As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month, the 27th to be exact. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year. Love, Ted
Miss Thompson attended that wedding, and sat where Ted’s mother would have sat. The compassion she had shown that young man entitled her to that privilege.
Every day we come in contact with people like Ted. However, for some, the hurt doesn’t always show on the outside. Some people wear a mask to cover the invisible pain that exists just beneath the surface of their lives. It may be your next door neighbor - a member of your family - a spouse - a friend – a co-worker- or maybe even the person sitting next to you right now. Some of you here today are living every day in private pain that is eating away at your soul. The pain can be caused by many things including personal sin, rejection, addictions, abuse, betrayal, and many other failures both personal and moral. You may be thinking, “If my fake smile and façade came down someone found out about this, would they still care for me?” Some are even wondering, “Does anyone care for me?”
This is what we find in the face to face encounter of Jesus and a Samaritan woman by a well in Sychar in our passage in John 4:1. . . Lets READ THIS STORY…
Jesus is a master teacher who taught lessons in a variety of ways. Often He taught people in large multitudes. However, Jesus also had many one-on-one encounters with people who are just like us in many respects. When Jesus gave these people His full attention there are many lessons to be learned for us. Today we see such an encounter with a lady we often refer to as “The Woman at the Well.”
This story teaches us three incredible truths about Jesus and shows me and you just how much yourlifematters to Him. What do we learn about Jesus?
I. WE LEARN A LESSON ABOUT JESUS’ PERSONALITY
Look again at verses 4-9 . . . One thing we notice is that Jesus got thirsty just like we all get thirsty. It was around the middle of the day and after a long day’s journey Jesus intentionally goes to a well for some water. There was a Samaritan woman at the well drawing water in the middle of the day. This is significant because it was the custom of women to draw water in the evening or very early in the morning. Therefore this woman was all alone drawing water in the middle of the day.
Why was she alone? Look at verse 16-18…This woman was an outcast. She was probably shunned by other women and the people of her community. She was alone in the middle of the day to hide from the embarrassment of her sin and the resentment it caused in others.
Please understand this woman was of absolutely no standing. In Jesus’ day of the 1st century women could not divorce a man. Only men had that right. Therefore, when Jesus says she has had 5 husbands and was now living with a man, the implication is that she had been personally rejected by 5 husbands. Can you imagine what this must have done for this woman’s self-esteem and confidence?
She felt rejected, alone, shameful, and was going from man to man trying to find just someone who would love her and care for her!
APPLIC: There are some here today who understand don’t you? Like this Samaritan woman you are wondering if anyone really cares for you and loves you? Some of you feel rejected by someone you care about. Some have experienced this feeling of rejected through a relationship, others have lost a job, while others may have lost someone through death. Some here today feel all alone and very isolated. Still others here this morning know you are in sin…you have some addiction…some habit that you are trying to hide and cover up and deep in your soul you feel guilty and shameful. The truth is that today you have some needs that you aren’t sure anyone can meet…. LET ME GIVE YOU GOOD NEWS!
In these few verses the personality of Jesus is revealed. Jesus did not care who this lady was…what she had done in her past or what sins she had in her life right them- Jesus just simply cared about her personally!
Look at verse 4…. Jesus had to go through Samaria! Why? There was a woman at a well who needed to know right then that someone care for her. She needed to know that she could be loved. She could be forgiven! Her life could change! This was no accident that Jesus came to the well. He had to go to the well!!! So at just the right time and at just the right place, Jesus met her in her greatest time of need!!!
What was Jesus saying to this woman? What was He showing her? Let me remind you: yourlifematters!!! Jesus has you in this place today. This is the right place and this is the right time and Jesus is here to meet you at your greatest time of need!
II. WE LEARN A LESSON ABOUT JESUS’ PRIORITIES
Jesus’ priorities are 2 fold here in this passage:
A) HIS PRIORITY WAS MINISTRY FOR A PERSON
Look at vs. 9…Even the woman says to Jesus that He should not be talking to her. Jews had disdain for Samaritans. They were considered “unclean” because they were mixed culture. Jesus put this woman and her needs above the customs, traditions, and political correctness of His day. Jesus made her His personal priority.
Do you know that you are a priority to Jesus? Jesus is not the least bit concerned about your poor reputation or even your pompous reputation. He does not care what others think about you. Though others may say you are a hopeless case and will never change, Jesus looks at you for what you can become and not for what you have been or what you are today! Jesus sees in you potential, if only you will allow Him to work in your life.
B) HIS PRIORITY WAS TO MAKE A TRUTHFUL PROCLAMATION
Look again at verses 16-19 again…Now please take note that while Jesus showed love and compassion for this lady, He did not show one ounce of love and compassion for her sin. Jesus dealt with her sin problem immediately. Jesus knew her life. He knew her deeds. He knew her motives and her thoughts. Knowing all of this He proclaimed the truth that she was in sin and that sin had to be dealt with.
APPLIC: Sin is always a serious matter to the Lord! Your sin is a serious matter to Him today. Jesus died on the cross for that sin. He sacrificed and shed His innocent blood for your sin! The fact of your life, just like if was for this woman at the well, is that today when you come face to face with Jesus, you must also come face to face with your sin!
Before Jesus could work in her life, she had to admit and deal with her sin. All that you want for your life today…all the meaning and purpose you are seeking … the life of fulfillment and contentment can be found in Jesus. However, you must first confess and deal with your sin in an open and honest manner, just like this lady.
Jesus knows the truth of your heart. He knows you motives. He knows why you are here today. He sees through all the fake smiles and facades and knows the real you. Here is the best part: To Jesus He still loves you because yourlifematters.
We learn a lesson about Jesus’ personality / priorities….
III. WE LEARN A LESSON ABOUT JESUS’ POWER
Look at verses 13-15, 24-26
A) JESUS CAN BRING CALM TO YOUR LIFE
This woman had a deep longing in her life. She had lived a life a rejection and thought her life did not matter. When she met Jesus, she found that this deep longing or this deep thirst that her life could be so much more that what she had experienced could actually be fulfilled. Jesus says you have a choice in your life… look at verses 13-14…
1. THIS WATER
What your life is now. Do you like this water you have in your life right now? The water of this world you are drinking right now will never satisfy you! Why would you choose “this water” any longer?
2. THE WATER
The living water of Jesus is unending, never ceasing, abundant, pure, fresh, and calming. Jesus is the living water for your life. He is what you need in your life right now. Having Jesus in your life can bring your life salvation!..................................Calm in the midst of life’s storms…………Peace in a time of chaos ………….forgiveness and mercy can replace your guilt and shame!
B) JESUS CAN BRING CHANGE TO YOUR LIFE
Look at verses 39-43….Notice…this woman who was introverted, hiding from the world in guilt and shame…this woman who was displaced, doubting and despondent….this woman who was dehydrated by Satan’s lies and used up by Satan’s schemes was now filled with the living water of Jesus. She is now a soul-winner! She is out telling her testimony to all who will listen. She is using the bad experiences of her life to beat down Satan and lift up and glorify the name of Jesus. What a change! Sure she still had a past, sure she still had some problems to overcome in her present, but thanks to the living, saving water of Jesus in her life, Praise God, she now for the first time in her life had a future worth living for! What change!!!!
Hey…she even left with Jesus that old jar she had been carrying the world water in and started carrying the living water around in her life for all to see! She left the worlds water with Jesus and refused to take it back again!
SPRITE® in its latest marketing campaigns has a new slogan that says this: “Image is nothing. Thirst is everything. OBEY YOUR THIRST.” God has placed a thirst in your life that can only be filled by Him! The problem is that many of you are obeying the world’s thirst. You are drinking up what everyone around you calls love. You are pursuing what your neighbors and friends call happiness, but is not happiness at all. You are trying to find meaning and significance for you life as defined by Dr. Phil, Oprah, or MTV. The result is that an even greater thirst is created. It must be filled with Jesus, the living water!
