April 15
Jesus’s 72 Steps from Glory to Glory
Jesus Meets the Samaritan Woman
Step 17: From the Jordan River to Sychar in Samaria
Matt. 4:12, Luke 3:19 & 20, John 4:1-42
Last week, we talked about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, and ended with Jesus baptizing in the Jordan River. Also, the last couple of weeks, we have been in the Gospel of John. This week, we will look at scripture from all 4 gospels.
- About this time in Jesus’ ministry, John was placed in prison because he spoke out against Herod’s unlawful marriage to his brother’s wife. See Matt. 4:12, Mark 1:14
“But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.”
Luke 3:19-20 NKJV
- (John 4:1-3) The Pharisees think Jesus is baptizing more than John, so Jesus leaves the area and goes to Galilee.
- John 4:4-42 Hang on! This passage of scripture is good, challenging, and convicting. Here we see a woman being saved. She is an immoral woman whom all Jews tried to avoid. But she could also be considered the first evangelist
- V. 3-4 Jesus leaves Judea, headed for Galilee. *** Verse 3 said Jesus needed to go through Samaria. Look at the Map. All “good” Jews would have avoided Samaria. Read 2Kings 17:24. Why did He need to go through Samaria? —–
- V. 5-9 Jacob’s well was dug by Jacob and given to Joseph. Here Jesus meets the Samaritan woman and asks her for a drink. She immediately reminds Him of the hatred between Jews and Samaritans.
- V. 10-14 He ignores her comments and offers her living water. She continues to be argumentative, but Jesus continues to gently offer her living water.
“Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:3 NKJV
“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17 NKJV
- V. 15 The woman finally asks Jesus for the living water. But is it enough just to desire and ask to be saved? What does Jesus do next?
- V. 16-17 He reminds her of her sins. Salvation can only come when we acknowledge and repent of our sin.
- V. 18-26 The woman is uncomfortable talking about her sin, so she tries to change the subject.
People like to talk about theology, but not about their sins and the need for salvation.
- Jesus points out that God is Spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and truth.
- He reveals that He is the Messiah. Read John 9:33-38
“ Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61-62 NKJV
- In the next few verses, the disciples return with food and are surprised to see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman. Then Jesus teaches them about soul-winning.
- In verses 29-30 and 39-42 the woman leaves her waterpot to return to the city and tell what has happened to her. Because of her report, many people believe in Jesus. She becomes the first convert outside of mainstream Jews and the first evangelist.
That is why Jesus needed to go through Samaria.
- This story is a great example of how to be a soul-winner. Some of the practical points are:
- Jesus refused to argue with the woman
- He would not get tangled up in theological discussions
- He didn’t accuse her of being a sinner or try to shame her.
- He constantly talked about the Living Water because that was all that really mattered.
- He pointed to Himself as the only source of salvation. We also must always point men to Jesus.
- If we lift up our eyes, we will see that the fields are ripe for the harvest.
- As witnessing Christians, sometimes we will sow seeds that others will reap, and other times we might reap the harvest that others have sown.
From the Bible
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”
I Corinthians 3:5-9 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1co.3.5-9.NKJV
