Jesus said to her in :16 Go call your husband and come here. Why did He say that? This is a woman who needs Jesus. Noon is the time of day when the sun is high overhead. So, Jesus came back to where it all started. And, third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, although using her cup or jar would have made him ceremonially unclean. Who does work to bring us energy and put life in our bodies. God can cleanse you from your sin; He can make you as white as snow just like we talked about last week. Inside this essential guide to sexual wellness, I tell you how to get your spark back by sharing my top secrets for boosting sexual health - it matters more than just sex! No perfect diet, the fairy tale relationship, or getting to your goal weight will ever truly satisfy. Back when Jacob first met Rachel the Jews and Samaritans were one people. Here is a man who fully knows her and will never mistreat her. She needs healing, and needs to be reconciled to her community. But if you are really doing that, you will want to tell someone; and you will want to follow through by being baptized and I want to give you an opportunity to do that right now. They were hated by the Jews because of this cultural mixing and because they had their own version of the Bible and their own temple on Mount Gerizim. But he said: As the money became more and more, happiness became less and less. Jesus said to her, Give me a drink. The Samaritan woman said to him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria.. Back in the days of Hoshea, the Samaritans abandoned the faith. Lord I desire your living water, that I never thirst againEVER!!!!!!! It's the same basic message with a different metaphor. For a Jewish man to speak to a woman in public was a definite breach of social custom. Ive been dealing with pouring from and empty cup, complacency, temporary fulfillment, etc. And there is a lesson here also for every one of us as believers and church members: if God cares about each person like that, we should too. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. Thank you JESUS . I was drinking, I was partying, I was destroying myself. One day, an unexpected opportunity came for him: a Russian Baptist shared with him the story of Jesus, and God touched his heart. Who can you ask me for a drink? (v. 9). Thank you for sharing this story in the way you have. It would have been easy for her to leave. John Bunyan, whose conversion story I am going to share here, in a moment, wrote: Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think . The other was a man. He said all the sudden he understood: My righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, today and forever. And he said when he understood that, Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed now went I also home rejoicing for the grace and love of God. Almost all of his life Bunyan knew ABOUT Jesus; but at that moment he really TRUSTED Jesus as his Savior the One who dealt with his sins and made him right with God. The tragedies of the poor he was not concerned with at all. Jacobs well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. They thus cut themselves off from the riches in the Psalms, the Prophets, and other books. read more, Scripture: The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband (v. 18). But all of the sudden she had the opportunity to have eternal life! They said, we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.. We should not be out looking for people like us to invite to church whom we think will fit into our little club. The testimony of every single one of us who has come to Christ is that we are saved only by the grace of God, and if you think that there is anyone who is not good enough to be invited, or to be saved, or be a part of this church, that just shows that you may not really understand the grace of your salvation at all. Hes here waiting for us to do the same. The fact of the matter is that most people do not get married and divorce 5 different times. The people that came about as a result of this mixing of peoples were the Samaritans. They, in turn, brought their own gods and built shrines for them. 7-9). Between Samaritan and Jew there is a wall of separation no less than what in our time separates the Israeli from the Palestinian. Here is this woman, seemingly ready to receive eternal life, and He has to say this? A sermon on John 4:1-15. One of the worst invitations I ever heard came from an evangelist years ago who told a really scary story about hell, and then said: If you want to miss hell, and go to heaven, come down to the front! Well, of course everyone came down to the front! More than just some silver and gold coins, this woman found eternal life. We dont want to take this for granted: the fact that Jesus took time for this woman was remarkable. When Jesus revealed himself as the Living Water to the woman at the well, his message was strikingly similar to his revelation as the Bread of Life: I am the bread of life. John 4:4-14, Denomination: What if you sit in his presence? and this ministered to me. Trust your life to Him. But the hour comes, and now is, That is his story! But, receiving is not a destination. They thought they were just out for a normal afternoon walk but they ended up finding a great treasure that day. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Amen. Its in the receiving that our satisfaction is quenched. Jesus had to go through Samaria (v. 4). about the Samaritan Woman drawing water John 4:1-38, Denomination: You worship . This Samaritan woman, who found herself drinking at the well with the Savior of the world, frequented this well at this hour on purpose. Try, If The Preacher Is Dead, The Sermon Will Be Dead, Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience, Life-Changing Encounters With Jesus: The Woman At The Well. The Woman at the Well Marvin Patterson John 4:1-29 Introduction: You really can't miss the contrast between Nicodemus in John 3 and the woman of Samaria in John chapter 4. The woman told the others what shed seen and heard and, because of her testimony, others accepted Jesus as the Christ. Do you dismiss certain people as lost causes, or do you see them as valuable in their own right, worthy of knowing about the gospel? (Genesis 29:7), Jesus was sitting at the well when the woman arrived. The woman said, Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, John 4:5-42 The Woman at the Well (McLarty). I mean, this was sure to turn her off WHY would He say something like that to her? The reason for the hostility of the Jews to the Samaritans goes back a long way. Vs 8 Jesus sends All the disciples away. Come back to him daily, for he is the living well, and He alone allows you to live well. Never forget God has a great purpose for your life! Jesus answered, "I who speak to you am he." At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus' meaning. He died on the cross to pay for your sins, so that if you would repent of your sin, and trust Him, He will be your Lord & Savior today! And he had to pass through Samaria. (John 4:26, ESV), As the woman began to grasp the reality of her encounter with Jesus, the disciples returned. The next project, the new couch, more money, Id settle for peace. 2. I am ready to continue my purpose in this world i will continue reading here as well . The filling not only filled her longing, but it gave her a new desire to use the energy to go out and live her purpose. She was lost in a sea of her own brokenness. Jesus extended grace to the Samaritan woman, which changed her. Maybe this is the day that you, like the woman in this story, will find eternal life through Jesus Christ. Did the Jews and Samaritans ever reconcile their differences? Just like with Nic. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the womans 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 for two days. This is my answer. Another clue: Its embedded in the language. 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. But look deeper, and you'll realize it reveals a great deal about Jesus' character. Ive read the bible stories before, but the story about the women at the well, is and was the story of my life. (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. I hasten to say the experience of knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior is not a one-time thing; its an ongoing process of walking in his footsteps and feeling his presence along the way. The other takes you through Samaria. From a Jewish perspective, there were three strikes against the woman at the well: 1. The first is this: Once the woman recognized Jesus as the Christ, she ran to tell others. for you have had five husbands; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Dont deceive yourself; dont try to act like you havent sinned and that you are so good that you deserve a place in heaven. John 4:4-14 (NIV) The way it's commonly told, the story goes like this: Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well and asks her for a drink of water. Creating a life well-lived is found in Christ alone. Listening to a sermon online from my local Church and found your stories. Let us know if you need anything or have any additional ideas or topics you would love to hear from us! 3. First, Jesus was crucified. She was NOT an attractive picture; she was NOT someone that the average person would have had any desire to talk to: a rough looking, Samaritan, woman! 1. We need to realize the importance of this; this was obviously no small thing, or Jesus would not have brought it up here. He knows more than what other people know of you. Jacobs well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. This womans sin was the problem (as is ours) but what was the solution? We are to put our faith in Him. This woman went to the well looking to meet her 6th husband. He was sitting by the well asking for a drink. 3. where people ought to worship. You can be a part of serving God in His kingdom, in a ministry that will be fulfilling in life, and that will lead to eternal rewards. She recognizes him as the Christ, repents, and rushes off to tell others, shouting, Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done!. She said, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Water REFRESHES and SATISFIES; so does salvation. Only Christ can fill our inner emptiness. Just like that woman at the well, if you will admit your sin, and trust Jesus as our Savior, you can be washed from all your sin, get a real relationship with God and eternal life in heaven and like that woman, you can then say: This is my story! And many more believed because of his word.. must worship in spirit and truth. This can be painful facing up to your sin but that is part of genuine salvation. This is what John Bunyan, the author of the famous book Pilgrims Progress, finally found. Can this be? by Alistair Begg. FROM HIDDEN NIGHTS TO OPEN DAYLIGHT TESTIMONY THE SAMARITAN WOMAN CHARACTERS OF JOHNS GOSPEL and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place It has meant a lot to me as well. We don't know the woman's name. This mountian or that. He offers us all salvation, truth, filling, and a place to never thirst again. Water is necessary for LIFE; so is salvation. and who it is who says to you, Give me a drink, But there was a problem, and that problem was her sin. Theres also a figurative understanding lying just below the surface. The Samaritan woman is an example of the truth that no one can sink so low as to be BELOW the offer of salvation. John 4:5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field Jesus shows us that here. Its likely Sycar had its own wells. Water is a gift from ABOVE; so is salvation. 3He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. ) , Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, Then I would settle down. The first lesson that we can take from the woman at the well is that she was looking for love in all the wrong places. Big difference between living will and living well. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Perhaps her public shame caused her to be isolated from other women. Can this be the Christ? (John 4:29), At this point theres a break in the story as Jesus confers with his disciples. Log in. One was a woman. But it did not work out this way. I dont know what you picture the woman at the well to look like, but she probably did not resemble the nice pictures they put on childrens Sunday School posters! The human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs, or prejudices. read more, Scripture: See, there is an important difference, between just knowing about Jesus, and really TRUSTING Him to deal with your sins. God is looking for those who will worship is spirit and truth. Our story for today is very similar. But some of you really do need to hear that: you are wondering if God really knows you, or if He hears your prayer, or cares about you. There are so many stories like that in the Bible that show us how God cares for the least of us: He cares about the servant of the enemy; He cares about the rough Samaritan woman; He cares about a guilty thief who was being justly punished on the cross; He cares about an outcast servant woman who was about to die in the desert and on and on. . Just after that, he was out walking in a field, and although he had tried to reform his life, and stop his cursing, and lying, and tried to live for God, he knew that he was not right with God. We are so glad this article was meaningful to you. Zavada, Jack. He now reigns in the Church Triumphant; even so, I tip my hat to him, as I offer this sermon in his honor. The Woman at the Well Bible Story Study Guide. Here this woman was, with the opportunity to receive eternal life and she wanted it! Or maybe what I feared most was actually being happy. Im not sure I would have even engaged. The story begins, (Jesus) left Judea, and departed into Galilee. Your email address will not be published. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. Jesus revealshimselfas the Messiah to this woman first! He needed to pass through Samaria. Jesus had true love, because he answered the woman at the well and all of her questions. Encounter at Jacobs Well Why werent they going there already? What was your crutch becomes your confession. Zavada, Jack. 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., The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. She had come out just doing her routine chores to get water just going through the motions of every day life. Arent you grateful that our God is not like that! Having trouble logging into your account? Or we mistake it for anxiety thats always sitting under the surface. A place for you to create a life well-lived. Contentment felt like surrendering to life, and I never found myself in a place that I was ready to settle in. read more, Scripture: Jesus gift of living water satisfies the thirst of our souls. She was curious about his promises, and He didnt back away no matter how deep her sin ran through. Anand Amrithraj He said that at that moment: I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus as my righteousness. He sees your purpose and the beauty in which he created you. Living water = SALVATION from sins bondage and condemnation. There is a big difference in believing that chair COULD hold me, and actually letting it hold me. In the same way, perhaps you have thought that today would be just a normal church day but God may have something more in mind for you. Jesus work transformed this woman. That was his mission to reconcile the world to God. Some of you may be like that today. For a woman to be drawing water at this hour would be an unusual occurrence. Can this be the Christ? They went out of the town and were coming to him. 1. One commentator reflected that this is a text John goes on: So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, Jesus knows her past and her pain, but He also knows her purpose. Lets see that the Gospel flows from ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus. The text is John 4:1-42. The Samaritans began worshiping these false gods, and so, drifted farther and farther from the one true God Yahweh creator of the heavens and the earth. It was also the part of the day when you werent likely to find many women at the well. How healthy are you? And in the filling, may you have the energy to go out and live your God-given design. Whether its a matter of conflict in the home, church, community, nation or the world, were called to be reconciled to God and each other, and theres only one way thats possible and thats in Christ. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35, NLT). Today as we continue with our Deep Thoughts with Jesus, we are going to look at an event that gets a great deal of coverage because Jesus offers some deep teaching on the logistics of worship. https://www.learnreligions.com/woman-at-the-well-700205 (accessed May 2, 2023). (John 4:1-42). For centuries Jews and Samaritans had rejected each other. Ive been a chaser for most of my life. (John 4:16-19), John assumes we know the background. To receive a free weekly sermon by email, please contact jonrmcleod@yahoo.com. The prisoner on the ground struggles to say, Tell me more about your Christianity. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He spoke of "living water". Shawn, 6 Jacobs well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. The famous English preacher Charles Spurgeon, in a number of his messages, described saving faith as reclining in Jesus: putting your trust in Him to save you. Thats what Austin Miles was talking about when he penned the words, I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses, Faith in God can move a person from mat to mattress. We hope this helps fill your cup! The Samaritan woman Jesus met faced prejudice from her own community. Gerizim c. 400 B.C. We are told that she arrived at the well at the sixth hour (v. 6). But it is extraordinary that despite all that, that Jesus DID talk to her, and took advantage of the opportunity that God gave Him to share with her. This just magnifies how gracious the Lord is, and how much He loves every single one of us, whoever we are! Its soft and flat. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. If you have never received it, there is a great opportunity in front of you today. But Jesus Himself IS the solution; He is the chair in illustration. I always wanted more. Anglican. Do know the opportunity that you have in front of you today? He had what some would call a very successful life. and he whom you now have is not your husband. In spite of her lack of understanding. He came out of that selfish, destructive life, and he received the gift of eternal life that God had for him.