“Go, call thy husband, and come hither”
John 4: 1-42
I. THE WARNING THAT CONCERNS ME- ALARMING
A. The possibility they denote
B. The opportunity they disregard
II. THE WONDER THAT CAPTIVATES ME - AMAZING
A. It is so amazing in that it embraces the unwanted before salvation
B. It is so amazing in that it enlists the unlikely after salvation.
III. THE WILL THAT CHARGES ME - ACTIVATING
A. An exhausted Christ
B. An excited Christ
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It is of great interest to me to observe the way in which the Lord Jesus dealt with different souls with whom He came in contact. In John 3 we observe how He dealt with a moral Jewish man named Nicodemus, and now in John 4 He is deals with an immoral Samaritan woman. When you study the different conversations that are recorded that Jesus had with different individuals, we catch a glimpse of wonderful wisdom we need in opening up the Word of God to needy souls.
One of the loveliest records of the master soul-winner at work is found in John 4. It is a story full of grace.
His grace is greater than all social bigotry - "Samaritan"
Intense racial hatred existed between Jews and Samaritans. So great was this hatred that, in traveling from Judea to Galilee, Jews would go miles out of their way to avoid crossing the Samaritan border. The Jews viewed Samaritans as nothing more than dogs. Normally, a devout Jew would take the eastern route around the land of Samaria.
His grace is greater than all sexual barriers -"woman"
Cultural sentiment for women was extremely low during the time of Christ. The Pharisees taught that men should not speak to women in public. One of the Jewish prayers included the phrase, "Blessed art thou, O Lord...who has not made me a woman."
The prejudices of the day prohibited conversation between men and women in public. Rabbis or men of high degree especially frowned upon this.
His grace is greater than all sinful backgrounds.
“For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband”
Jesus certainly knew what sort of woman he was talking to. She was woman of low morals and He knew it, but His grace was greater than her sinful background.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus loves the social outcast, as well as the socially acceptable? Jesus’ ministry was concerned with basically one group of people—the lost. Jesus Himself put it like this: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19: 10).
How the church of God needs grace in dealing with individuals!
How the church needs to pay attention to those the Lord delights in using in His grace!
I. THE WARNING THAT CONCERNS ME - ALARMING
The thing that concerns me and troubles me the most in this story is the simple fact that the disciples of the Lord seemed to have very little to do with what happened on this day years ago (39). In verse 8 we read of the arrival of the disciples in the city, but as far as I can conclude their arrival did not cause a single ripple of interest in the city.
A. The possibility they denote
It is possible that we can be passed over by the Spirit of God in His work. They were the early disciples of the Lord. They had position and prominence, and yet they were not used of the Lord that day to reach the lost.
You would have expected them to be in the very heart of it, but they were not.
O, the possibility of being by-passed by the Spirit of God.
B. The opportunity they disregard
Why was it that the disciples were by-passed when such a work was done on this day?
There are two verses that would hint as to the why.
1. Were they preoccupied (8)
Were they so preoccupied with a legitimate and necessary thing, that they did not see this woman that thy no doubt passed that day coming out of the city as they entered the city. Were they so preoccupied with food that they did not talk to the people they met inside the city as they bought meat from them?
Is it possible that bread for themselves so occupied their thoughts that they did not think of the burdens of others?
Some Christians miss being used of God simply because they are so preoccupied with material things that we have no time to sense the spiritual needs of others around them
2. Were they prejudiced - (9)
I wonder if the disciples had already washed their hands of the Samaritans. On the way into the village to buy provisions they must have walked pass this woman with her water- pot on her way to the well. Perhaps they passed her by on the other side without any sort of friendly greeting.
They enter the city, but there is no record of their witnessing to any of the men of the city. Could it be that they thought God had no intention of doing anything here with these people?
All I do know is that God did a work that day, and the disciples were not involved in it.
It takes faith to sow the seed, and we must do so even when the circumstances look discouraging and not promising.
This should serve as a warning to concern us.
II. THE WONDER THAT CAPTIVATES ME - AMAZING
The disciples arrival in the city, and it does not cause a ripple of interest in Christ; however, the arrival of the prostitute woman arrives and the whole city goes into a frenzy of excitement. Look at verses 28-30.
Her earlier solicitations were vastly different from the thrilling story which now poured from her lips. Her compelling words and the obvious transformation in her life begets interest and soon citizens of the city are hurrying across the fields in attempt to see this man named Jesus.
Grace is simply amazing!
A. It is so amazing in that it embraces the unwanted before salvation
Verse 4 tells us that Jesus “must needs go through Samaria.”Jesus laid aside the human prejudice and embraces the unwanted.
O, the amazing reach of God’s grace.
God grace will embrace them whom:
1. Sin has disoriented
2. Sin has defiled
3. Sin has dissatisfied
4. Sin has diseased
5. Sin has deadened
B. It is so amazing in that it enlists the unlikely after salvation.
The next thing Jesus did after He saved this woman was to engage her in the ministry.
The woman was shocked that Jesus a Jewish man would speak to her. The feelings between the Jews and Samaritans are well known, yet here was this Jewish man talking with her. Furthermore, she came to get some water, and He asked her for a drink.
It requires no imagination to submit that, leaving home for her daily chores, this woman had no thought of any encounter with a man of Jewish descent, let alone the Messiah.
In every way we can name, the Lord Christ demonstrated that God’s love and salvation is meant for every boy and girl, man and woman. From His birth in Bethlehem until today, the story line reveals the most unlikely people are the ones God chooses. You might say that the reason Jesus had to go through Samaria was this lady.
See I Corinthians 1:26. Grace does not require proficiency, prestige, or pedigree.
God is pleased to use feeble messengers to accomplish mighty ends. Frequently He employs weak instruments to make manifest His own mighty power.
He employed a shepherd lad to vanquish the mighty Goliath. In making selection for the mother of the Savior, God chose not a princess, but a peasant woman. In appointing the heralds of the Cross, fishermen were the ones called. Here a mighty work of grace was started in Samaria by a converted harlot. "How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"
1. There is the love which speaks of Jesus (28).
a. It was simple.
“Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did.” We tend to make spiritual things too complicated when all we may need to do is tell someone what Jesus has done for us. That is God’s best plan. We don‘t have to be theologians to witness to God’s grace.
In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.
b. It was successful (39).
2. There are the lives that were saved through Jesus (41, 42).
We cannot save them, but we should be in the business of trying to get them to Jesus so He can save them.
III. THE WILL THAT CHARGES ME - ACTIVATING (6, 31-34)
Jesus sits on a well while the disciples go into town to buy meat. When they returned a change has taken place in Jesus. His hunger is gone, exhaustion has ended, and a freshness in seen in their once wearied Master.
What made the difference?
A. An exhausted (drained) Christ (6)
The wearied Christ proclaims His manhood. Without food and water, dusty, perspiring, and overwhelmed with fatigue, the Lord sat thus on the well.
John’s Gospel not only presents Jesus as the Son of God but also a true man. Our Lord entered into all the normal experiences of our lives and is able to identify with us in each of them.
B. An excited (delighted) Christ
A little earlier in the day the disciples had left Jesus sitting on the well, wearied from the long journey. They have now journeyed into the city and procured some food, and ppon their return Jesus manifest no desire for what they have brought. Instead of finding Christ weary and faint, they discover that He is full of renewed energy.
Where did this renewed energy come from?
He had received refreshment which they knew not of. This they could not understand, and so they plead with Him to eat of that which they had brought Him.
"But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of" (John 4:32). "Meat" was used as a figurative expression for that which satisfied. Christ’s heart had been fed. His spirit had been invigorated.
The word “meat” comes from a Greek word that describes food in general, and it speaks of nourishment. Jesus said that which nourished and satisfied His soul was doing the will of God. He was satisfied by doing God’s will in this world.
What was it that had refreshed Him? They did not know that His experience of rescuing a sinner had refreshed both His body and soul. The conversion of the Samaritan woman had brought Him satisfaction more real than any ordinary meal could give.
If you would have your spirit refreshed and well nourished, let the will of God be the food of your souls. Souls that feed on the will of God can do without a good deal of the things others need.
The disciples were attempting to find satisfaction in securing bread, but Jesus found satisfaction in sharing bread.
The salvation of this Samaritan woman allowed Christ to forego physical necessities and desires. The will of God and that is the salvation of souls strengthens Jesus.
Conclusion
Isn’t it surprising in this story of the lives Jesus did not use and the life He did use?
There are many great abilities that people acquire, cultivate and demonstrate. In the service of God, there is one ability that is the greatest ability.
Some might say, "Accountability is the greatest ability." It is for sure and for certain that we shall give an account unto God. But that is not the greatest ability that one can possess.
Somebody might say, "Adaptability is the greatest ability." In all kinds of situations you've got to be flexible. But again, it is not the greatest.
What is the greatest ability that we can possess as servants of Jesus Christ? The greatest ability is availability. If we are not available to God, no matter what other kind of ability we have, it is not good. Ability without availability is a liability.
I want to ask you a question—have you made yourself totally, absolutely, completely available to God? Are you totally available to God this morning?
You cannot have a revival in your life if you are not available to God for Him to revive, and you will not be a soul winner unless you are available for Him to use.
