These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- John 2:13-25 – Going up to Jerusalem…
- A family tradition – Jesus went with His mother and brothers to the Passover…
- Jesus got angry and drove out the money changers with a whip…
- They were making God into a way to make money – keeping people from the truth…
- John 3:1-21 – Born from Above…
- A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to ask if He was from God…
- Jesus told him – you must be ‘born from above’ – to see the Kingdom of God…
- Jesus explained you had to be born twice – water and the spirit…
- God so LOVED the world He sent Jesus to take away our sins…
- If we believe in Him we will not be judged – because we are forgiven…
- But many do not believe because they LOVE darkness / sin – so hate Jesus
- John 3:22-4:3 – I must decrease…
- Jesus and John where both baptizing in the Jordan River after the Passover…
- A certain Jew was baptized by Jesus’ disciples – began an argument with John’s disciples
- The disciples of John began to complain because Jesus was baptizing more than John!
- John responded to his disciples…
- 1st – All we have we received from above – God created the church to be very diverse…
- 2nd – John did not preach himself – he came preaching Jesus (bride and bridegroom)
- 3rd – Jesus is above all – He is from heaven / He is the only authority / He is salvation!
- Living Water… (4 things)
- 1st – The need to go through Samaria... vs. 4-5
- 1st – Samaria was the located between Jerusalem and the Galilee…
- It was the most direct route for Jesus and His disciples to take home…
- But Jews went out of their way in order to avoid Samaria – it was not safe for Jews…
- In fact later on in Jesus’ ministry the Samaritan would refuse to let Jesus through…
- Luke 9:53 – “The people of [Samaria] refused to have anything to do with Jesus…”
- 2nd – The history of Samaria…
- After King Solomon – Israel divided into two nations – Northern & Southern…
- The Northern Kingdom became know as Samaria – named after its capitol city…
- The Northern Kingdom was conquered by Assyria in 722 B.C – II Kings 17:23
- The Assyrians took the Israelites and scatter them to other conquered countries…
- Then took captives from other countries and placed them in Israel…
- Wild animals began to kill the people – cause they did not know how to ‘worship God’…
- So Assyria allowed some of the Israelites to return to teach the people about God…
- This mixed people/religion – became the ‘Samaritans’ of the New Testament…
- 3rd – Why the Jews hated the Samaritans…
- Dating back to when the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity 516 B.C….
- The Samaritans wanted to help rebuild the Temple – Ezra 4:1-5 – but were not allowed
- Ezra 4:4 – “Then the people of [Samaria] tried to discourage… [the Jews] in building…”
- The Samaritans went on to oppose the rebuilding of Jerusalem – Nehemiah 4:22
- There after there was a constant tension and distrust between the two nations
- 4th – But Jesus NEEDED to go through Samaria – and came to the city of Sychar…
- It was the same place where Jacob had bought a plot of land – Genesis 33:19
- The city had been called Shechem – one of the 6 cities of refuge – Joshua 20:7
- But now it was called Sychar – meaning the city of drunks…
- The point is this was a place that DID NOT know about God – they NEEDED Jesus!
- To many ‘Christians’ today try to stay as far as they can from sinners…
- To them church should be a ‘social gathering’ for Godly people just like them…
- But the church is not for social club for saints – it is a hospital for sinners…
- We cannot be afraid to go and get our hand dirty – sinners need our help!
- Not that we join in with them – we need to be careful not to fall back into the world…
- But we reach out to them – showing them the Love of Jesus!
- 1st – Samaria was the located between Jerusalem and the Galilee…
- 2nd – Jesus was tired / thirsty / and hungry… vs. 6-8
- 1st – Jesus was tired from His journey – so He sat down by Jacob’s well…
- When we think of Jesus – we often get the impression He never stopped / rested / slept
- But the Gospel of John – more than any other Gospel – shows us the humanity of Jesus…
- Jesus was fully God / but also fully man – so after a long journey He was tired…
- Serving Jesus does not mean that we will never be tired – or worn out…
- In fact being a Christian is hard work – and there are times when we need to ‘rest’…
- We need to find / take the time – to recharge our batteries so we do not wear out!
- 2nd – Jesus was thirsty – it was 6pm – when people came to draw water for dinner…
- The suggestion is there was nothing at the well to draw with – no bucket or rope…
- Jesus could raise the dead / He could calm the storm / He could multiply the loaves…
- Certainly He could have performed a miracle to get water out of that well…
- But instead Jesus asked a local woman to give Him a drink…
- God can miraculously provide for our needs – like manna from heaven…
- But He can also take care of us through the kindness of others…
- Sometimes it is just matter of having the humility to ask for help
- 3rd – Jesus was hungry – so the Disciples had gone into town to buy food…
- Again Jesus could have done something miraculous to get food…
- But instead He just sent the disciples to the market to buy what they needed!
- The most common way God provides – we work to put food on the table…
- II Thessalonians 3:10 – “If anyone will not work, neither will he eat.”
- 1st – Jesus was tired from His journey – so He sat down by Jacob’s well…
- 3rd – Only the Living water satisfies… vs. 9-15
- 1st – The woman was surprised Jesus talked to her… vs. 9
- Why would you a Jew – ask me a Samaritan – for water / Jews hate Samaritans…
- Jesus was not afraid to cross boundaries – He was willing to talk to anyone…
- The person you know who is a Mormon / Iglesia ni Cristo / or JW…
- Perhaps you have hesitated talking to them – they are from ‘that group’…
- But they need Jesus just as much as the next person – so step out and start talking…
- 2nd – Ask for Living Water… vs. 10-12
- Jesus challenged her – if you knew the gift of God you would ask for Living Water…
- Jesus was not talking about physical water – but about the gift of salvation…
- Revelation 22:1 – “A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
- Like His conversation with Nicodemus – Jesus ignored her question…
- And went right to the heart of the matter – how to receive eternal life!
- How do you share the Gospel with someone – just start talking about life…
- Maybe you ask about the weather – are talk about the local well…
- Once the conversation begins – you can then turn it towards Jesus!
- The woman did not understand – Jesus had nothing to draw water with…
- The well was VERY deep – 41 meters – so how could Jesus get this ‘water’…
- She asked if Jesus thought He was greater than our Father Jacob who dug the well…
- She was only thinking about her immediate physical needs…
- We need to be patient when we share the Good news – people do not understand…
- They spent all their lives living for the moment – only thinking about money /food…
- When we begin to talk about eternity – we will tend to confuse them at first
- 3rd – Never thirsty again… vs. 13-15
- Jesus told the woman – if you drink from the well – you would be thirsty again…
- But the Living Water – will spring up in you a fountain of eternal life!
- You will never EVER be thirsty again / the woman demanded – ‘give me this water!’
- That way she would not have to come to the well – she still did not understand…
- Jesus was showing her – the things of this world can never satisfy…
- If we seek pleasure – it is never enough – satisfaction is only for a moment…
- I love chocolate chip cookies – when I was a kids I would eat them all…
- I could never eat just one – I always wanted one more – then one more…
- Till I was sick because of all the cookies – and still I wanted more!
- If we seek after possession – it never seems to be enough – we always want more…
- One of the richest men who ever lived – J.D. Rockefeller was asked…
- ‘How much is enough’ – his answer – ‘Just a little bit more’…
- Most think this world has the answers – it lures us in with false hopes and promises
- Then leaves us empty inside – never fulfilled – always wanting more!
- Only Jesus can satisfy…
- No matter how many times we drink from the ‘water of the world’ – thirsty again…
- Ever noticed how the things of this world only seem to satisfy for a moment…
- How many times have we said – ‘if I could only have ____________ I would be happy’…
- And when we get what we wanted – happy for a moment – then we want more…
- Only when we drink from the living water Jesus offers – are we truly satisfied!
- 1st – The woman was surprised Jesus talked to her… vs. 9
- 4th – How to receive Living water… vs. 16-26
- 1st – Jesus told the woman to go and call her Husband… vs. 16-18
- The woman was quick to answer that she was not married…
- Jesus was just ask quick to reply – ‘you have said well you have no husband’…
- She had been married five times – and was now living unmarried with a 6th man!
- This woman had been looking for answers in relationships…
- But from one man to the next she had been disappointed – left empty / thirsty…
- Jesus showed it had not worked – she had not found the answer she was looking for!
- There are many people who strive to find happiness in a relationship…
- Men and women will abandon their families – thinking the grass is greener!
- King Solomon had 1000 wives – he REALLY tried to find happiness in relationships!
- But Solomon learned it was like chasing after the wind – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11…
- Looking for happiness – answers to life in relationships – is chasing the wind…
- You are not chasing something that is hard to catch – there is nothing there to catch!
- Jesus showed revealed her thirst…
- The only way to receive the ‘water of life’ is for someone to show you are thirsty…
- If you think you are ok – then you are not going to see your need for Jesus…
- It is when we shine the light of God’s word – revealing sin…
- That people realize their great need to repent – and receive the gift of forgiveness!
- 2nd – Changing the subject… vs. 19-24
- Like shining a light into the darkest corner – the woman did not like what Jesus exposed
- So she tried to change the subject – ‘I think you are a prophet’…
- We Samaritans believed God has to be worshiped at Mt. Gerizim in Samaria…
- Because that is where the Blessing of the Law were read – Deuteronomy 27:12
- You Jews teach (in accordance to the Law) – God has to be worshiped in Jerusalem…
- She tried to get Jesus to argue about theology – rather than her look at her sins…
- When people are convicted – they try to change the subject – talk about religion…
- You are a Baptist / we are catholic – you sprinkle / we dunk…
- But in reality they are just trying to change the subject because they are convicted!
- The hour is coming when you will not worship God at Gerizim or Jerusalem…
- True worshipers – will worship in spirit and in truth…
- God is not concerned about ‘where’ we worship – but that we worship Him!
- God is seeking those who are willing to worship in Sprit – knowing the truth…
- God is Spirit – and those who worship him MUST worship in spirit and truth…
- God is not concerned about our differences – traditions – ceremonies – or religion…
- What day to gather to worship / the name on the sign over the church…
- He just desires a relationship with us – God is all about a true relationship…
- 3rd – Receiving the Messiah… vs. 25-26
- The Samaritan woman answered – I know the Messiah / Christ is coming…
- When He comes He will tell us everything – how to worship / how to be saved…
- Jesus answered – ‘I am the Messiah / Christ’!
- We NEED to go through Samaria – go tell even those we do not like about Jesus…
- Take the time to sit down and talk to people – just start a conversation…
- Then take the opportunity to tell them about Jesus…
- Patiently showing them the emptiness in their heart – their need for salvation…
- Passing by the emptiness of religion – to finally let them see Jesus!
- 1st – Jesus told the woman to go and call her Husband… vs. 16-18