JESUS IS A MODEL FOR WITNESSING
John 4:1-42
INTRO: Educators say that people learn easily by observation. To see someone do something and to try it ourselves creates a good learning situation.
Jesus is a model for a Christian’s life and ministry. By observing His life and work, believers can excel both in life and in Christian work. Let us take one aspect of Jesus’ ministry and learn from Him about being a good witness.
I. JESUS SEIZES AN OPPORTUNITY.
The Gospel writer said, “He must needs to go through Samaria” (v. 4). The expression “must needs” depicted Jesus’ deliberate plans to go through Samaria. To be a witness for Christ, believers need to make deliberate visits.
Jesus sat down at Jacob’s well near Sychar. About the same time, a Samaritan woman came. Jesus and the woman conversed. It was an interruption. Many of the witnessing opportunities of Jesus were unplanned. To be a witness for Christ means to seize the interruptions.
II. JESUS TREATS PEOPLE WITH A SENSE OF IMPORTANCE.
Few people treated the woman of Samaria as an important person. She had several strikes against her. She was a Samaritan, a woman, and a divorcee.
The world has its standards of significance for people. To be an effective witness for Christ, everyone has to be important.
III. JESUS REGISTERS A NEED IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
Jesus talked with the woman about more than water. He wanted the woman to admit her deep thirst for God. People are thirsty for God. An effective witness needs to be aware of that need and to point to Jesus as the Water of life.
Jesus also wanted the woman to face the failures in her life. She had failed in her relationships with men (vv. 16-18). Living together is not something unique to our century. Everyone has failed at some point in life. An effective witness of Christ tells how Jesus can help with the greatest needs.
IV. JESUS PRESENTS A MESSAGE.
Jesus presented Himself to the woman. He claimed to be the Messiah. “I that speak unto thee am he” (v. 26). Becoming a Christian is not seeing if a person can pass a test in theology. To witness means to present Christ.
An effective witness presents Christ and invites a person to open his or her life to Him. Jesus is the message.
V. JESUS RESPECTS THE HUMAN WILL.
Jesus invited the Samaritan woman to open her life to Him. She could have refused, but she didn’t. The witness for Christ needs to respect a person’s will.
The success in witnessing is in the sharing. The results are determined by the openness of a person.
VI. JESUS USES A CHANGED PERSON FOR A WITNESS.
The woman opened her life to Jesus Christ, and she became an immediate witness for Christ. Every Christian is a witness.
The woman gave priority to telling others about Christ. What did the woman come to the well to do? Notice how her priorities changed. She left her waterpot and went to invite others to Christ.
CONC: If you want to become an effective witness, study how Jesus related to people. Then practice His principles.
