"Never Thirst Again"
Sunday, June 30, 2013
John 4:7-35

Introduction: In the Gospel of John, chapter 4 we see one of the few times that Jesus breaks away from the disciples. Normally, Jesus wants the disciples to see what He is doing. Much of how Jesus taught the disciples was by them watching Him deal with people, and loving people, and healing people. But in this case, Jesus is going to witness to a woman who probably wouldn’t have had a conversation with Jesus had the disciples been around. Jesus sits down at the well to rest as the disciples go on ahead to buy some food. This gives Jesus the opportunity to interact with the woman. This was a unique conversation, because first Jews were not to talk to Samaritans; and second, men and women (especially those who are strangers) did not interact with each other.

            Jesus understood that this woman, who was from Sychar, had traveled about a half of a mile outside the city to get water, even though there was water in Sychar. Jesus understood that she was an outcast for something she had done, and He desired to minister to her. 

This morning we are going to look at how Jesus was able to reach out to this woman by finding a way to connect with her first, then finding some common ground to discuss, and finally reaching the point of sharing a truth with her that would lead her to overcome the bondage she was under, and lead her to faith in Christ.

As we finish up our series on maturing in Christ, and talk about being devoted to sharing the good news, I want us to see how we can share Christ with people in a similar manner. Let us pray….

I.                   Be Willing To Be Served- (John 4:7)

a.      Helping others to feel needed- In the movie “Failure to Launch,”

Sarah Jessica Parker plays a woman who helps parents get their adult children to move out of the house. She does this by getting into a relationship with the men, and leading them to believe that it would be better to live out on their own. And so in one of the scenes in the movie, Sarah Jessica Parker is employing one of her strategies to reel the guy in, and this strategy is to allow the man to “teach her something.” She believes that if the man is put in this position of “instructor,” that it will lead him to feel more wanted and needed.

            This concept of having others feel wanted and needed can be a valuable way to connect with others. But unlike Sarah Jessica Parker, I believe it needs to be sincere. When you can find a way where another person can help you, when you can seem to have a need met by another, it is humbling for you, and empowering for them.

            In fact, we see Jesus doing just this in our story. Jesus is sitting at the well, He is thirsty, but the well is too deep for Him to get any water. Then this woman comes along, and she has a bucket to get water. This is a great opportunity for Jesus to break the ice, and to have a need met by another. So He asks the woman in verse 7: “Give me a drink.”/ This surprises the woman that Jesus, a Jewish man, would speak to her, a Samaritan woman. And yet, just by getting her to speak this statement, Jesus has broken the ice. Because she has spoken, it opens the door for Jesus to respond and begin a discussion.

b.      Helping another who is burdened- Jesus knows that this woman was

burdened by her predicament of having had several husbands; burdened by her failure in her relationships; burdened by being an outcast. And I’m sure that she saw compassion in Jesus’ eyes and heard love in His voice. In Jesus, she saw someone who wasn’t going to judge her, but would listen to her and be there for her.

            EX. I have seen this happen in my own life as well. I am humbled in how there have been many times where where people will share their troubles with me. Time and time again I will be talking to someone, and I can tell they feel burdened about something, and the more we talk the more they share their predicament. And as they share, I can see that a burden is being lifted off of them because they finally have found someone who will listen to them without judging them. And even though the problem isn’t solved by our talking, it still is helpful because I can guide them to Jesus, and let them know that I will pray for them.

            I believe that this happened with Jesus and the woman. Jesus is willing to converse with her, and she senses Jesus to be someone with whom she can pour out her soul and maybe even find some help and release from her inner turmoil.

            By asking for her help, Jesus in a sense humbles Himself to her, and she feels a sense of empowerment. This gives her the courage to speak out to Jesus.

            And so, I ask the first question of the day: “Who is someone that you know who might be burdened? How can you ask for their help, and by doing so open up the lines of communication for discussion in a way that might let you help them in their burden?” It could be that you need to borrow some sugar from your neighbor, or maybe something has broken and you know someone who could help you fix it. There are many ways in which you can ask for help and create an opportunity.

II.                Find Common Ground- (John 4:7-15, 21-23)

Next we see Jesus furthers the discussion by showing her the things they have in common.

a.      Water- The first is water. The woman is seeking to get water that will

satisfy her thirst. A basic need for life. Jesus wants her to know that there is a thirst in us that is greater than our physical thirst, and that is our spiritual thirst. This is a basic need for life as well, one that we often overlook. While our physical thirst seems to be a greater need, because it is always there before us, our spiritual thirst is more hidden and needs to be brought to our attention.

            Isn’t this true in our world? People are seeking the physical. Whether it is relationships or sex, thrills or possessions, the physical needs seem to be important. And yet, the spiritual is who we truly are. Our spirit is the only thing that will live on after we die. And so caring for the spiritual is a greater need./  Jesus surprises the woman by saying in verse 10: “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you ‘give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’”/  I believe this answer is very clever of Jesus, because now Jesus has this woman’s curiosity going and she will be the one to continue to lead the conversation forward. Jesus takes the topic of water, and leads her into a spiritual discussion!

b.      The well- The second thing that they have in common is the well.

Jesus’ statement in verse 10 causes the woman to respond in verses 11 & 12: “…. ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well..?”/  Wow. The woman has now opened up the conversation to “living water” and “Jacob.” What a great opportunity for Jesus to move forward into a spiritual discussion. What a great opportunity Jesus has of challenging the woman in regards to faith and what should really be important in life.

            So Jesus responds in verse 13: “… ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’”/  And after this statement, the woman wants what Jesus has for her. She is hooked by His truth and by the fact that even someone like her, burdened by her past, can receive this eternal life./     But Jesus knows that she is not ready yet. She has to admit her sin and unburden her life. So Jesus asks her about her husband. “I have no husband” she responds. Jesus tells her that He knows all about her life; her 5 husbands before, and now she is living unwed with a man!/

Jesus says this in a way that is truthful and yet not judgmental. Because her response is not to shy away from Jesus, or turn and run, but to call Jesus a prophet and to talk about worship./   This opens another door for Jesus.

III.             Being A Witness- (John 4:24-26, 28-30)

a.      Jesus is a witness- Jesus is witnessing here to the TRUTH OF GOD.

Jesus came to this earth to help us see the truth. That is why Jesus said in John 14:6- “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

            Now I know that in our world today, people have trouble with this way of thinking; that there is only one way to heaven, and that it is through Jesus. So they try to argue away this truth. But Jesus doesn’t let us argue it away. Jesus stands firm in His witness, all the way to the cross where He dies to secure this truth.

            Jesus was a very clear witness. His message was not complex. It was a message that eternal life and abundant life is found through Him. In John 10:9 he said: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved…”/  Jesus used this language as He was teaching about Himself being the Good Shepherd. This is a profound statement, because of how a shepherd protected his sheep. In the winter time, the shepherd would have to take his sheep some distance to find grass for his sheep. Often times they had to spend the night before they could return home. So he would put his sheep in a cave, and the shepherd would sleep in front of the cave, literally being the gate. No one could enter unless the shepherd allowed them to.

Jesus was a faithful witness not just with His words, but with His life and actions!

            Have a demonstration; three witnesses to describe what they see in the Far Side comic strip. Let them look at it for about 15 seconds then have them answer 4 questions…Question 1- What is the comic strip about? (Man lost on a small island); Question 2- How many people were there? (2);            Question 3- What kind of shoes was the man wearing? (high heels); Question 4- Which hand was the wand in? (left)

Thank volunteers… What made them good witnesses? They were able to remember clearly what they saw. They were able to confidently and clearly answer the questions.

Last week Pastor Mike talked about the Great Commission from Matthew 28 which tells us to “GO” and be witnesses for Jesus; to make disciples by witnessing to the truth of God. He also talked to us about Romans 10 where we are told that if someone doesn’t preach the truth of God, then people can’t believe!

b.      The woman is a witness- We see this woman from the well being a

witness for Jesus. It isn’t forced. It comes naturally. It comes because Jesus has changed her life by offering her forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus has led her into the saving grace of forgiveness and salvation. We read in John 4:28-30, “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ³⁰ They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” By her sharing many people came to Jesus!

            To be a witness we need simply share how Jesus has changed our lives. It is difficult for people to argue against what we ourselves have experienced.

EXAMPLE- When I was in High School I was hanging around the wrong crowd. My language got bad and I started to make some bad decisions. Then I went out one day with an old friend, and he invited me to church. Through that invitation, and my going to church every week, and his praying for me, I eventually gave my life over to Christ. Without Christ, I am convinced that I would have fallen into trouble, and would not be where I am today. I know that because of Christ, my life is so much better. I am a better husband, father, and overall person. I know that because of Christ, I actually make a difference with my life!!

     Now some of you may not have had any dramatic changes, but you still are a wit-ness. I have talked to many of you, and I know your stories. Without Christ I know that you would be living a different kind of life. Many of you, because of Christ are more loving, or more giving, or more kind hearted. Many of you have helped others in ways you never would have, because Christ is in your heart. Many of you are truly making a positive difference with your life because of Christ. These are the stories that we are to share; these are the stories that we are to be witnesses to.

Conclusion: God calls us as individuals, and as a church is to build bridges with those who are lost or have gone astray. God calls us to be devoted to sharing the Good News of Christ, that in Christ our sins are forgiven and we have new life now, and for eternity in heaven with God! In Christ we will not thirst spiritually anymore. In our scripture passage today we saw a wonderful example of how Jesus built a bridge with the woman at the well that allowed Him to capture her interest, so that He could share God’s truth with her. I pray that we would find ways to have deep spiritual conversations with those in our lives who haven’t yet found the truth of God. And when you do, do it in a loving and non-judgmental way. If you are here and have never let Jesus be Your Savior, when I end in prayer, you can do it then. Let us pray…Amen.