"Could He Be the Messiah?"

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Jesus takes time to have a very powerful conversation with a Samaritan woman. In the eyes of the disciples, she would have been unworthy to chat with. Even in the eyes of those from her own city she was a woman with a bad reputation. But Jesus saw in her potential for a great missionary. She proved to be just what he thought. She won her whole city for Jesus.

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Don’t Judge a Book By its Cover
John 4:1–4 HCSB
When Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went again to Galilee. He had to travel through Samaria,
He did not HAVE to
travel through Samaria
Many Jews
take long route
around.
Jesus was intentional
had plan.
John 4:5–6 ESV
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
That is noon.
it is hot
it is noon
Jesus
hungry
thirsty
tired
Thirsty
no water pot
Hungry
no food
Jesus stays
People draw water
morning
evening
avoid mid-day
large groups
John 4:7 ESV
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
The fact that she came
at that time
says something.
She is avoiding
groups of others.
She is an outcast.
Jesus reaches out to her.
“Give me a drink”
Woman surprised.
John 4:9 ESV
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Jesus knew
strong prejudice.
Pharisees taught
buy food
exchange business
don’t befriend
no hospitality
Jesus breaks
unwritten rule.
Wise move
asks for favor.
If he offered a favor
she could say no.
Asking for favor
Jesus broke prejudice.
She has pity.
Heart ready to understand.
Heart warmed.
Woman who is
shunned
rejected
prejudice
Jesus reaches past
all that.
Heart is softened.
Jesus says:
John 4:10 ESV
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
She is impressed by him
but she is not ready
to bite yet.
Introduces doubt
and controversy.
John 4:11–12 ESV
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
Jesus tells her
later who He is
But now
she is not ready.
You can see she
is not ready
because she
introduces
controversy.
Both Jews and Samaritans
Called Jacob Father
But Jews
considered themselves
true heir
Samaritans
false heirs
Bothered Jews
that Samaritans
claimed rights to
family well.
Jesus avoid controversy
makes offer more
emphatic.
John 4:13–14 ESV
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
We are learn
from master evangelist.
How to win hearts.
avoid controversies
build trust
make genuine offer
He words
powerful promise
for us today.
Those who drink.
not just thirst quenched.
More
they become
Spring
Well
Source of Water
for others!
In this world
people are thirsty.
constantly seeking
quench longing.
spiritually.
Jesus warns
nothing out there
can fill like
WATER OF LIFE.
Jesus words here
don’t promise
you never have to
drink again.
Just promise
you never have to
drink from world
ever again!
You will realize
it does not satisfy!
Only Jesus
Quench Longing Heart!
Today, Saints,
same offer
Water of Life!
You want something
that really lasts.
Are you tired
world’s gifts
temporary pleasure.
temporary joy
lower than before?
Come to
Jesus Well
She says,
yes, I want it.
John 4:15 ESV
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
At this point,
Jesus changes approach.
She ready to
receive something.
Jesus must show her
she has to let go
of something else.
Monkey Trap
Hand in jar.
Process of letting go.
John 4:16 ESV
Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
Jesus knows
He put her in corner...
She tries to avoid.
John 4:17 (ESV)
The woman answered him, “I have no husband.”
Before she is fully able
receive water of life
must recognize sin.
She doesn’t want
to go there...
Jesus pushes issue:
John 4:17–18 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
In order to be saved
you must first
BE LOST.
You cannot be found
if you feel
you are not
lost....
Jesus has to
reveal her
great need.
She is amazed
He can read
thoughts
history
hurts
choices
This man has
more than:
information
pleasant conversation
consolation
TRANSFORMATION
It is only sinners
that need a savior.
She sees where
He is leading
but it hurts to go there.
So she deflects
introduces controversy
again.
John 4:19–20 ESV
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Like fishing
trout in
fresh water stream
See them
Convince them
to bite...
Lead them...
Watch Jesus
Learn from him.
Great fisherman.
What bait did you use?
what spot?
What time?
What weather?
Jesus studies her
sees conviction
body language
squirm in chair
rub hands
look down
Shark - smells blood
Wolf - see prey is trapped
Jesus is
luring her closer
to the truth.
Not ready to bite yet.
Jesus allows deflection
she is not ready
to bite yet.
John 4:21–24 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
--
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Story of Mount Gerizim
Jesus asked for water
proved not prejudice
Now trying
get her to
let go of prejudice.
Inter-racial
Inter-cultural
difficult
mission work
break walls
Albania
Bible Work
deep south
Jesus avoids controversy...
but
Speaks the truth..
Salvation is of the Jews
At same time,
doesn’t kick her out
of the picture.
Father is seeking such people to worship him.
She sees hope
she can be
among people.
Jesus conditions are
simple today.
Those who Jesus accepts:
“must worship in spirit and truth”
Two conditions
Spirit
Truth
Many people have 1
Spirit
Truth
Few have both.
Spirit
People who are
living with passion.
living with conviction.
living best they know.
Unfortunately,
many are missing truth.
They are sincere
but sincerely wrong.
Worship is genuine
but in accurate.
Surrounded by
many good Christians
Pursuing God
Seeking God
inaccurate teaching.
God loves them
accepts worship
but wants more...
Paul talking to
Greeks
Athens
Pantheon of gods
philosophers
Says to them:
Acts 17:30–31 (ESV)
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Clearly,
God gives grace
unavoidably ignorant.
God accepts them
even false worship
when done with
honest heart....
That is Spirit...
Samaritans had
Spirit...
False worship.
Jesus wants more
John 4:23–24 (ESV)
… true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is seeking
true worshipers
Jesus loved
woman at well
accepted Samaritans.
But
desired
true worship.
Woman wants
what Jesus is saying
struggling with
controversies.
Says, cop-out:
kinda true
used flippantly.
John 4:25 ESV
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
“We will just have to wait for Jesus to come and set the record straight for us.”
True statement .
But
wrong attitude.
Cop-out
we can’t know for sure...
Jesus will show us...
I don’t have to change...
I have spirit.
Jesus will
tell me when he comes.
Jesus drops bomb shell.
said to very few...
John 4:26 ESV
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Stop waiting for
Messiah to
set record straight.
I AM HERE!
Bold Claim
Will she believe?
Will she accept?
Conversation is
cut short...
John 4:27 ESV
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
Disciples hates Samaritans
Surprised
Jesus talked to her.
“Sons of Thunder”
Luke 9:51–56 (ESV)
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.
--
But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
Son’s of Thunder
“Call down fire from heaven.”
Their opinion
of the Samaritans.
deserve death.
Jesus mission
not just woman
not just people in town
teach disciples.
Prejudice
in the south...
The disciples saw
no value in her.
John 4:28 (ESV)
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town...
She left pot.
Disciples think:
“we can draw water”
Jesus knows
why she left it.
Disciples saw nothing else.
Jesus knew
She left in hurry
for a reason.
She left to
tell others!
John 4:28–30 ESV
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.
Sad reality
Disciples were
Fishers of men...
But they saw
no fish
of value.
Disciples could not
fulfill their job
due to prejudice.
What they could not do.
she does.
Quite successfully!
Continue story:
John 4:31–34 ESV
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Jesus was weak.
not eating enough.
Too busy
serving others
to eat...
Bring Him food.
NOT HUNGRY!
Why?
already eaten???
John 4:34 ESV
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
We live
rat race.
Trying to
get ahead.
make it.
achieve.
survive.
Our mind is
set on
physical
temporal
Sabbath is
rest from
rat race
focus on
“all these other things”
What made Jesus
so different?
Lived in the
eternal
no
temporal.
John 4:39–42 (ESV)
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.
--
And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Jesus promise
came true
Drink this water
you become
spring
fountain
well
of truth.
She believed
not just spirit
but truth...

How to Study

What
So What
Now What
SDA’s
truth
no spirit
SDA’s
“we have truth”
afraid of pentecostal power
have information
lack experience
love to study
lack application
was great movement
“frozen chosen”
Today

Appeal

Drink Water
Experience Spirit
Know Jesus as Friend
Conversion
Transformational Prayer
Surrendered Service
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