TURNING RELIGIOUS RELUCTANCE-II—John 4:1-42
Turning the Religious Lost
Attention:
Everybody has a religion—right or wrong!...Everybody has a belief system to which they subscribe—right or wrong. Even atheists have a religion & are religious people.
These may be Reluctant to turn, But by the power of God, they are turnable nonetheless!
*We are all called to serve God in spirit & in truth!
Jesus divulged/bore witness of/ His Messianic identity to a reluctant/hesitant but religious woman.
God’s people bear witness of Messiah’s/Jesus’ identity to reluctant religious people.
How/When will God’s people turn the reluctancy of the religious?
OR--What will turn that religious reluctancy around?
16 insights toward turning religious reluctance to God.
The last time we looked in these verses we found that,
Turning religious reluctance God’s way requires...
1. SERVICE Insight(:1-3)
2—Turning religious reluctance to God’s way requires...
CONSEQUENTIAL Insight(:4-6)
Explanation:(:4-6)
:4—“But He needed to go through Samaria.”
During different exilic periods(~722 BC-~538 BC) the land of Samaria had been intentionally ‘re-populated’ especially by the Assyrians & later, by the Babylonians. These moved pagans from various lands which they had conquered, into Samarian territory(which they had also conquered), while simultaneously repopulating other areas with the Jews from the northern kingdom of Israel. “The upper class[of Israel] & those in power were deported to assure the crippling of the state.”—ISBE(’Captivity’).
Due to the Samarian region’s re-population(s) there was a consequent ‘re-seeding’ of the area with various influences from the multiple belief systems from elsewhere...
As a result, “The Samaritans opposed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem(Neh. 4:1-2)” & “in Maccabean times[intertestamental], they accepted the Hellinization[Greek-ification] of their religion” by dedicating “their temple on Mount Gerizim to Zeus Xenios.”—EBC(M.C. Tenney)
In response to their apprehension by the Jews, the Samaritans “developed counter restrictive policies” toward the Jews. These included a “Samaritan Pentateuch” & “a competing temple cult on Mount Gerazim.”—NAC
In Jesus’ day, the Roman territory of Samaria had it’s capital city of the same name.
Under Roman influence, the region of Samaria encompassed an area roughly from the western edge of the Jordan (~between the Harod/Jezreel River to opposite the Jabbock) diagonally to the Mediterranean coastline(encompassing Carmel). It’s southern edge ran from near Jericho(east--at the Jordan), to near Lydda(west--at the Mediterranean).
Samaria was an area which devout Jews avoided,(particularly the legalistic Pharisees).
In order to avoid passing thru Samarian territory, the Jews(who were concerned about maintaining personal purity, i.e. Pharisees)(traveling north) would typically cross to the eastern side of the Jordan at Jericho, head north along the eastern edge of the Jordan(thru Perea & Decapolis) & re-cross the Jordan near Beth-shean/Scythopolis into Galilee & on the return trip, vice-versa.
In order to reach Galilee, Jesus “needed” or “had to go through” the area known as “Samaria.”
Technically, Jesus was not physically ‘forced’ to go through Samaria, & it absolutely was the most direct route to Galilee.
His ministry & circumstances(possibly) pressed Him to intentionally & willingly enter it by the Spirit!
Probably, He looked upon it with a great degree of positive anticipation, though He would later send His disciples to minister not in the lands of the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only among the lost sheep of Israel(Mat. 10:5-6).
Mat. 10:5-6—“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
“As the Savior of all men, Jesus “had to” confront the smoldering suspicion & enmity between Jew & Samaritan by ministering to His enemies.”—EBC(M.C. Tenney)
Also, if there was any concern that the Pharisees might be ‘hot on Jesus’ trail’—after all, He did leave Jerusalem for Galilee because “all were coming to Him”(3:26; 4:1)—then they would have been cut off from Him due to their undue concern for purity in avoiding the Samaritans.
“Needed/Must Needs”(See :20—“Ought”; 24—“Must”)—dei—Imperfect X(no tense/voice—assumed Present tense & Active voice) Indicative—1) It is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right & proper. Dei seems to be more suggestive of moral obligation, denoting especially that constrain which arises from divine appointment. Dei, the third person of dew, is commonly used impersonally in classical Greek. This usage is less common, but frequent, in the N.T. Dei indicates a necessity in the nature of things rather than a personal obligation; it describes that which must be done. Strong—used impersonally; It is(was, etc.) necessary(as binding).
“Go”—diercomai—Verb—1) To go through, pass through—1a) To go, walk, journey, pass through a place, 1b) To travel the road which leads through a place, go, pass, travel through a region; 2) To go different places—2a) of people--To go abroad, 2b) of a report--To spread, go abroad. Strong—To traverse(literally).?From—dia—Through, With, In, Throughout, During, By, the means of; The ground or reason by which something is or is not done; On account of, Therefore. Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through.—&—ercomai—1) To come; 2) metaph.—2a) To come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence, 2b) Be established, become known, to come(fall) into or unto; 3) To go, to follow one. Ercomai denotes motion or progress generally, & of any sort, hence to “come” & arrive at, as well as “to go.”
“Through”—dia—Prep.—1) Through—1a) of place—1a1) With, 1a2) In, 1b) of time—1b1) Throughout, 1b2) During, 1c) of means—1c1) By, 1c2) By the means of; 2) Through—2a) The ground or reason by which something is or is not done—2a1) By reason of, 2a2) On account of, 2a3) Because of for this reason, 2a4) Therefore, 2a5) On this account. Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).
“Samaria”(See :5, 7, 9- “Samaritans”)—Samareia—Noun Proper Locative—Samaria =“guardianship”—1) A territory in Palestine, which had Samaria as its capital. Strong—of Hebrew origin [Nwrmv Sho-mer-own']; Samaria (i.e. Shomeron), A city & region of Palestine. Used 11X.
:5—“So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.”
Jesus indeed entered the region of Samaria. Within Samaria, He came to a particular city by the name of “Sychar.” Sychar was very “near” that “piece of ground” which “Jacob” had granted to his son “Joseph.”
Sychar is “located about a half-mile from Jacob’s well.”(Cf.-:6)—EBC
When Jacob returned from Haran(in modern Turkey near the central border with Syria)—with his two wives(Rachel & Leah) & his 12 sons—to Canaan, he bought a parcel of land in Canaan from the children of Hamor, which he would later grant to his son Joseph. This is the same location where, in answer to prophecy, Joseph’s bones would eventually be buried after their having been exhumed from Egypt(Gen. 33:18-20; Gen. 50:24-26; Ex. 13:18-19; Josh. 24:31-32).—NKJV Study Bible 2nd Ed. 1997, 2007(Thomas Nelson)/MNTC
Gen. 33:18-20—“Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; & he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there & called it El Elohe Israel[The Mighty God Of Israel].”
*The city of Shechem is represented by the modern city of Nablus. “Jacob’s Well”(:6) is located ‘roughly’ 1 1/2 mi. to the SE of Nablus(Shechem).—Google Maps
Gen. 50:24-26—“And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, & bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, & to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, & you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being one hundred & ten years old; & they embalmed him, & he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”
Ex. 13:18-19—“So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, & you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”
Josh. 24:31-32—“Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, & all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel. The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, & which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.”
Heb. 11:22—“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, & gave instructions concerning his bones.”
“Came”—ercomai—Verb—1) To come—1a) of persons—1a1) To come from one place to another, & used both of persons arriving & of those returning, 1a2) To appear, make one's appearance, come before the public; 2) metaph.—2a) To come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence, 2b) Be established, become known, to come(fall) into or unto; 3) To go, to follow one. Ercomai denotes motion or progress generally, & of any sort, hence to “come” & arrive at, as well as “to go.” Strong—middle voice of a primary verb(used only in the present & imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice]eleuyomai; or [active]elyw; which do not otherwise occur); To come or go(in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively).
“City”(See :8)—poliv—Noun Fem.—1) A city—1a) One's native city, the city in which one lives, 1b) The heavenly Jerusalem—1b1) The abode of the blessed in heaven, 1b2) Of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire, 1c) The inhabitants of a city. Strong—A town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size).
“Samaria”(See :4, 7, 9- “Samaritans”)—Samareia—Noun Proper Locative—Samaria = “guardianship”—1) A territory in Palestine, which had Samaria as its capital. Strong—of Hebrew origin [Nwrmv Sho-mer-own']; Samaria (i.e. Shomeron), A city & region of Palestine. Used 11X.
“Called”—legw—Verb—1) To say, to speak—1a) Affirm over, maintain, 1b) To teach, 1c) To exhort, advise, to command, direct, 1d) To point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say, 1e) To call by name, to call, name, 1f) To speak out, speak of, mention. Strong—a primary verb; properly--To "lay" forth, i.e. figuratively--Relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly, to break silence merely, & lalew means an extended or random harangue]); by implication--To mean.
“Sychar”—Sucar—Noun Proper Locative—Sychar = “drunken”—1) probably another name for the town of Shechem, a town in Samaria, near the well of Jacob. Strong—of Hebrew origin [rkv Shay-kawr’(an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor)]; Sychar(i.e. Shekar), a place in Palestine. Used 1X.
“Near”—plhsion—Adv.—1) A neighbor—1a) A friend, 1b) Any other person, & where two are concerned, the other(thy fellow man, thy neighbor), according to the Jews, any member of the Hebrew nation & commonwealth, 1c) according to Christ, Any other man irrespective of nation or religion with whom we live or whom we chance to meet. Strong—neuter of a derivative of pelav(near); adverbially--Close by; as noun, A neighbor, i.e. Fellow(as man, countryman, Christian or friend). Used 17X.
“Plot of Ground”—cwrion—Noun Neuter—1) A space, a place, a region, a district; 2) A piece of ground, a field, land. A cwrion denotes a “parcel of ground,” circumscribed; a definite portion of space viewed as enclosed or complete in itself. Strong—diminutive of cwra[room—a space of territory]; A spot or plot of ground. Used 10X.
“Jacob”(See :6)—Iakwb—Noun Proper Masc.—Jacob = “heel-catcher or supplanter”—1) Was the second son of Isaac; 2) The father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Strong—of Hebrew origin [bqey Yah-ak-ob’(heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); the Israelitish patriarch)]; Jacob (i.e. Ja`akob), the progenitor of the Israelites. Used 27X.?From—bqe—a primitive root; properly--To swell out or up; to seize by the heel; figuratively--To circumvent(as if tripping up the heels); also To restrain(as if holding by the heel).
“Gave”—didwmi—1Aorist Active Indicative—1) To give; 2) To give something to someone—2a) Of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage—2a1) To bestow a gift, 2b) To grant, give to one asking, let have, 2c) To supply, furnish, necessary things, 2d) To give over, deliver—2d1) To reach out, extend, present, 2d2) Of a writing, 2d3) To give over to one's care, intrust, commit—2d3a) Something to be administered, 2d3b) To give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed, 2e) To give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward, 2f) To furnish, endue; 3) To give—3a) To cause, profuse, give forth from one's self—3a1) To give, hand out lots, 3b) To appoint to an office, 3c) To cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death & Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them, 3c) To give one to someone as his own—3c1) As an object of his saving care, 3c2) To give one to someone, to follow him as a leader & master, 3c3) To give one to someone to care for his interests, 3c4) To give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return; 4) To grant or permit one—4a) To commission. Didwmi denotes “to give” in general, opposite to lambanw “to take”; dwreomai specific, “to bestow, present”; didwmi might be used even of evils, but dwreomai could be used of such things only ironically. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb(which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); To give(used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection).
:6—“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”
Even today(AD1981) “Jacob’s well” is from 75-100 ft. deep.—EBC/NAC
“Jacob’s Well” is located near the northern edge of the modern city of Balata, & to the east of Mount Gerazim(See :20) at the foot of the mountain. “Jacob’s Well”(:6) is located roughly 1 1/2 mi. to the SE of Nablus or ~1/2 mile SSE of Tell Balata(Shechem/Sychar).—NAC/Google Maps/EBC
“Jesus” became “wearied” because of the “journey” He was on from Jerusalem(:3). Jesus would have traveled around ~40 miles on His trip from Jerusalem to “Jacob’s well.”
Jesus “sat” “by” “Jacob’s well.” Jacob’s Well had(s) a great deal of historical significance attached to it(Cf.-:12). Jesus sat there in the heat of the day(though probably shaded) given that it was somewhere around(“about”) noontime(“the sixth hour”).
“Now...Was/Now was”—hn de——hn—Verb—1) I was, etc. Strong—I(thou, etc.) was(wast or were).—&—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—a primary particle(adversative or continuative); But, and, etc..
“Jacob’s”(See :5)—Iakwb—Noun Proper Masc.—Jacob = “heel-catcher or supplanter”—1) Was the second son of Isaac; 2) The father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Strong—of Hebrew origin [bqey Yah-ak-ob’(heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); the Israelitish patriarch)]; Jacob (i.e. Ja`akob), the progenitor of the Israelites. Used 27X.?From—bqe—a primitive root; properly--To swell out or up; to seize by the heel; figuratively--To circumvent(as if tripping up the heels); also To restrain(as if holding by the heel).
“Well/Fountain”2X(See :11, 14; 12—frear)—phgh—Noun Fem.—1) Fountain, spring; 2) A well fed by a spring. Strong—probably from phgnumi[To fix("peg"), i.e. specially--To set up(a tent)](through the idea of gushing plumply); A fount(literally or figuratively), i.e. Source or supply(of water, blood, enjoyment) (not necessarily the original spring). Used 12X.
“There”—ekei—Adverb—1) There, in or to that place. Strong—of uncertain affinity; There; by extension--Thither.
“Wearied”—kopiaw—Verb—1) To grow weary, tired, exhausted(with toil or burdens or grief); 2) To labor with wearisome effort, to toil—2a) Of bodily labor. Strong—To feel fatigue; by implication--To work hard. Used 23X.?From a derivative of—kopov—A cut, i.e. by analogy--Toil(as reducing the strength), literally or figuratively; by implication--Pains.
“From”—ek/ex[out of, from, by, away from—
“Journey”—odoiporia—Noun Fem.—1) A journey, journeying. Strong—Travel. Used 2X.
“Sat”—kayezomai—Verb—1) To sit down, seat one's self, sit. Strong—To sit down. Used 6X.?From—kata—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—a primary particle; prepositionally--Down(in place or time), in varied relations(according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined).—& the base of—edraiov—Sedentary, i.e. by implication--Immovable.
“By/At”—epi—Preposition—1) Upon, on, at, by, before; 2) of position--On, at, by, over, against; 3) To, over, on, at, across, against. Strong—Over, upon, etc.; of rest(with the det.)--At, on, etc.; of direction(with the accusative case)--Towards, upon, etc.
“About”—wsei—Adverb—1) As it were, (had been), as though, as, like as, like; 2) About, nearly—2a) before numerals, 2b) before a measure of time. Strong—As if.?From—wv—1) As, like, even as, etc. Strong—probably adverb of comparative from ov, h, o; Which how, i.e. In that manner(very variously used).—&—ei—a primary particle of conditionality; If, whether, that, etc.
“Sixth”—ektov—Adj.—1) The sixth. Strong—ordinal from ex[ a primary numeral; six]; Sixth. Used 14X.
“Hour”—wra—Noun Fem.—1) A certain definite time or season fixed by natural law & returning with the revolving year—1a) Of the seasons of the year, spring, summer, autumn, winter; 2) The daytime (bounded by the rising & setting of the sun), a day; 3) A twelfth part of the day-time, an hour, (the twelve hours of the day are reckoned from the rising to the setting of the sun); 4) Any definite time, point of time, moment. Strong—apparently a primary word; An “hour”(literally or figuratively).
As a ‘Consequence’ of your Master/‘Director’(Christ),...
?Servant of God, Why are you where you are?
?Where does your trust in Jesus take you?
?Do you move because God’s Spirit moves you?
?Or to you do what you do because it just feels right?
Why are you in this place today?...
?Are you here to be reminded of the Lord’s design for you?
?Are you here so others will be helped in their service to God thru Christ Jesus?
?Are you here to exercise the gifts with which God has blessed you?
Argumentation:
Mat. 28:18-20—“And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
?Where does your “making disciples” take you? ?Where does “baptizing them” take you? ?Where does “teaching them” take you?
Heb. 5:12-14—“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; & you have come to need milk & not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good & evil.”
2Tim. 2:4-6—“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.”
All three of these have very different spheres of influence. All of them take us to different places, however each of those places must be met with the Good News of salvation & lordship in Christ.
Eph. 3:7—“of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
1Thess. 1:6, 7—“And you became followers of us & of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia & Achaia who believe.”
Eph. 5:15-17—“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Col. 4:5-6—“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Illustration:
Driving to Carrabelle from Tallahassee at sunset/the light is right in your eyes!/IF you have not seen fit to clean the inside of your windshield, then when the sun hits it, it will cause a glare that can completely blind you!/IF you have been conscientious to clean your windshield often, then you have no obstruction to completing your journey/However, IF you have not been faithful to clean it, you could very possibly be the cause of an accident!/CONSEQUENTIAL Insight
You are walking along Hwy 98 by The Moorings/a woman is sitting near the sign crying/More than mere curiosity, you have a strong compulsion of the Spirit to approach her about her circumstances for crying/What do you do?/Is she from out of town?...Did she just get kicked out? Was she abused in some way?...Does she have hope?/What do you do?/CONSEQUENTIAL Insight
Application:
?Your CONSEQUENTIAL Insight readily Turn others to Christ/God’s way?
?You Turn Religious Reluctance into a Confident Relationship with God?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Turning religious reluctance to God’s way requires...
2. CONSEQUENTIAL Insight(:4-6)
1. SERVICE Insight(:1-3)
Pt. 2 only! presented 03/18/2018pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave.(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
