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Are You Thirsty?
Let’s look at the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well, found in John 4. Let’s begin with “what’s the big deal about talking to a woman at a well?” Actually, it was a VERY BIG DEAL. The woman was a Samaritan.
Samaritans were so hated that many “self-respecting” Jews wouldn’t even travel through there on the way from Judea to Galilee, even though to not do so would lengthen their journey considerably—up to twice as long.
This story shows us that Jesus was a breaker of barriers:
The barrier of race. John 4:9--You are a Jew, she replied, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink of water when Jews and Samaritans won't have anything to do with each other?
The woman at the well was a Samaritan. The troubles between the Jews and Samaritans dated back about 400 years. Following the death of Solomon, Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms: Israel (Samaria) and Judah. When the northern Kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians, much of the population was taken away and eventually assimilated into the Assyrian culture. But not all were taken away. Some were left behind. Those people eventually intermarried with non-Jews. This is a no-no in strict Judaism. In some instances, marriage to a Gentile was enough to cause a family to hold funeral services for the one who married. When the southern Kingdom of Judah was eventually overthrown, they zealously guarded their racial purity and held it against those who had not.
The barrier of gender. John 4:27--The disciples returned about this time and were surprised to find Jesus talking with a woman. But none of them asked him what he wanted or why he was talking with her.
The woman at the well was, well… a woman. Strict Rabbis were forbidden from greeting a woman in public. They could not even speak to their own wife, sister, or daughter in public. For a Rabbi to be seen speaking to a woman in public would mean the end of his reputation. And this was no ordinary woman. She had a very poor reputation. But, yet, here was Jesus. Tired and weary Jesus. Worn out from His “daily grind” Jesus. Hungry and thirsty Jesus. Talking to her -- Jesus.
Another very important thing this story does is to give us a basic course in personal evangelism and the Christian’s ethic. And that is where I want to focus our attention tonight.
1. Be concerned about ONE individual. John 4:7--…a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well.
Jesus' approached her by a simple request for water. If you think about it, this would presuppose a positive response. How could you refuse a drink of cold water to a thirsty traveler in the heat of the day? But there seems to be a trace of sarcasm in the woman's reply, kinda like she is saying, "We Samaritans are the dirt under your feet until you want something; then we are good enough!" Jesus did not pay attention to her sarcasm or her bitterness. He was more interested in winning the woman than in winning an argument.
2. Begin with a FELT need.
John 4:13--Jesus said to her, Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again.
Jesus uses a similar pattern with this woman as He used with Nicodemus. He makes a statement, which is taken wrong. He restates it in a more vivid fashion. Still, He is misunderstood. Then, as He usually does, He compels her to face the truth for herself.
It has been said that, “There are certain truths which a person cannot accept; they must discover them for themselves”. A successful witness to our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers must sometimes allow them to discover for themselves. But notice from Jesus’ example, allowing them to discover it for themselves doesn’t take us out of the equation. His part of the process was to give them access to the truth.
3. Direct the conversation to SPIRITUAL needs.
John 4:14--Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty. The water that I will give him will become in him a well of life that lasts forever.
Because of her non-spiritual perspective, the woman's interests were very selfish. All she wanted was something to save the effort of the long, hot trip from the village. But Jesus did not let the conversation stay at her physical need. He turned the focus to her spiritual need.
4. Show the need for SALVATION.
John 4:16-18--He told her, Go, call your husband and come back. I have no husband, she replied. Jesus said to her, You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.
Ouch! This comment by Jesus must have hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks. But she suddenly had the opportunity to see herself for what she was. When presented, the Gospel makes 2 revelations: the revelation of God, and the revelation of ourselves. This is important because we cannot begin the Christian life without first coming to a realization of our sin.
Jesus must have shocked her when He lifted the curtain on her past life. The conversation had passed from the small-talk stage about physical needs to the personal stage about spiritual matters. Would she be willing to acknowledge the truth?
5. Keep the FOCUS on the real issue.
John 4:19-24--Sir, the woman said, I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. Jesus declared, Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
She called him a prophet; but then tried to divert him. The conversation was becoming uncomfortably personal, so she began to argue a side issue. She raised the old controversy between Jews and Samaritans. The controversy was endless, and Jesus did not allow Himself to be drawn into a futile discussion.
He avoided the argument by restating the issue. He made no concessions. He just discussed true worship with her. True worship is that of the spirit, which means that the worshiper must deal honestly and openly with God. It is not just going to a certain place, at a certain time, or doing certain things. True worship is when our spirit speaks to and meets with God.
6. Point them to JESUS.
John 4: 25-26--The woman said, I know that the Messiah will come. He is the one we call Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. I am that one, Jesus told her, and I am speaking to you now.
This is the one occasion when Jesus voluntarily declared His Messiahship. He did not usually make such a public claim. He generally urged his disciples to say nothing about it (Matt 16:20; Mark 8:29-30; Luke 9:20-21). That is because the promise of the Messiah was a political ideal to the Jews. They were hoping for one to overthrow the Romans and re-establish the Jewish Kingdom. In Samaria the Messiah would probably have been regarded more as religious than political. This would have made them more receptive to His message.
7. Encourage them to WITNESS.
John 4: 28-30--The woman left her water jar and went into the town. She said to the men, 'Come and see a Man Who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Christ?' They went out of town and came to Him.
The Christian life should consist of 2 steps: Find and tell
It would be unlikely that the elders of Sychar would accept theological information from a woman, especially one with her reputation, so she did not make a dogmatic pronouncement, she asked a leading question. But she was so sincere, and her invitation so urgent, that they immediately proceeded to the well to investigate.
John 4:39--A lot of Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, "This man told me everything I have ever done.
Many people in that town, who were more often than not avoided by Jewish religious leaders and teachers, were saved because:
Jesus dared to break some barriers in order to minister to one person He put aside His own troubles that day (tired, thirsty, and hungry) in order to minister to her He refused to be pushed off the real issue when she tried to explore “rabbit trails” in order to minister to her She was willing to tell others. And that is the real key. We must be willing to tell others.
Jesus didn’t hold a revival in Samaria. He ministered to one person, who was revived. And that one person rose above the odds against her and told others. And the town was revived.
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