|
|
|
| |
II.
|
SCRIPTURAL STUDY.
|
|
A.
|
AN UNEXPECTED ENOUNTER IN A MOST UNLIKELY PLACE. 4:7-26
|
vs.7-9
|
1.
|
HE GAINS HER ATTENTION.
a.
|
Jesus violates 2 Jewish Laws here (not God's, so, no sin committed):
(1)
|
By defiling Himself with physical contact with a Samaritan, who was considered by the Jews to be worse
than a Gentile.
|
(2)
|
By publicly engaging a woman, in particular, a Samaritan woman. A man, especially a Rabbi, was forbidden
to do such by tradition.
|
|
TRUTH:
JESUS IS NOT BOUND BY THE TRADITIONS OF MEN. HIS MISSION IS TO COME TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR STATION IN LIFE. THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE CLASS OF CITIZEN IN HEAVEN, NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK,
MALE NOR FEMALE -- BUT ALL RICH THROUGH HIM.
|
b.
|
Being aware of the hostile prejudicial position between the Samaritan and Jew, the woman is arrested at
this development. He now has her attention.
|
TRUTH:
SO IT IS WITH US. GOD IS HOLY; WE ARE SINFUL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PERCEIVE HOW A HOLY CHRIST COULD
AND WOULD RECEIVE SINFUL MEN. BUT HE MUST REALLY CAN AND CARE IN ORDER TO DO SO!
|
|
vs.10
|
2.
|
HE EVOKES WITHIN HER AN INTEREST.
a.
|
With her attention, Jesus now offers her a free gift. This is a clear reference to the gift of
3:16, of which she knows nothing yet. He has her interest.
|
TRUTH:
JESUS SEES INTO THE HEART OF EVERYONE TO KNOW WHO WILL RECEIVE OR REJECT HIM.
|
b.
|
Therefore, knowing the nature of the one to whom He will freely reveal Himself
(
1:47,51;
2:24-25),
He is not in the least affected by the possibility of a no answer, for soon she shall delightfully receive Him. He knew that
if she had known of Him prior to His offering, she would not have hesitated to ask before his offer. Do you see the profound
implications here? Search them out to the heart is content! And then look again. (Just to get your started: (1)
Her heart ached for someone, she didn't know who yet, to bring meaning and fulfillment into her life (seen also with her many
husbands); and (2) You never know (just as the disciples could not see) with whom you have contact (sometimes
the least likely in appearance and in the least likely place) who is at the same desperate point in their own search for a kind
offer from a gentle Savior -- you are now this bearer of His glad tidings. Unless you share, others cannot receive. And
just as He brought Himself into crossed paths with this needful one, He continues to guide paths today -- of the needy and the caring.
Don't you see? And do you care? Then be aware and share, he pleads in vs.35.
|
|
vs.11-15
vs.11-12
vs.13-15
|
3.
|
HE CREATES WITHIN HER A DESIRE.
a.
|
She is interested in His offer, but confused and asks for further explanation (or here for many, a demonstration).
(Jacob's well was approximately 9' wide by 75' deep. A vessel for drawing of goat skin with 3 cross sticks to hold
open the mouth was usually kept by the well without a rope. Each who came had to bring his or her own, also usually
made of goat hair.) Therefore, she, not He, had the only thing to draw with; how could He offer her drink?
|
b.
|
Jesus obliges sufficiently to create her own request for this water He offers her. She now has the desire!
|
|
vs.16-18
I Co.5
15:16
17:14-23
|
4.
|
HE REVEALS HER NEED, THUS IDENTIFYING THE TERMS FOR RECEIVING THE FREE GIFT.
a.
|
Before receiving what He offers that will change her entirely forever, she must be willing for that change to occur.
She (nor any of any day) can continue to live in and desire the same sinful life prior to meeting and receiving Him
as their new Master. (It is tragic that the message of continued tolerance for whatever sinful nature is manifested
in one prior to coming to Christ is acceptable to many mainstream proponents of today's Gospel, when Christ Himself
expects and provides the grace and strength for change. Must we do any less? Certainly, He receives people just as
they are when they come to Him, but He will impart a genuine desire for change and begin a life-long process of that
change, sometimes slower in some than others -- hence His Church for aided growth. As a church, then, we too must be
willing to accept anyone, regardless how detestable and unsightly they may seem to us at first, but support, guide,
and encourage them in this process of change He will perform within them.)
|
b.
|
To continue. She must have her sin problem exposed in the Light of His Truth, and she must deal with it herself.
She must understand and acknowledge her spiritual condition, and desire that outward change which must accompany
the inward before she can receive that Eternal Spring. It is no less true for any.
|
TRUTH:
PEOPLE IN THEIR FALLEN NATURE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO ETERNAL EXISTENCE IN THAT CONDITION.
|
|
3:5
Rev.21:8,27
Rev.22:1-2
|
|
c.
|
Who among us wants to live with an unrepentant murderer, thief, rapist, liar, or sexually misguided
individual, forever? It is enough in this life! And the older we get, the more tired we become of them and
their evil. Was not fallen Adam excluded from that Eternal Spring in the Garden. Was not this the message
spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus in His message of rebirth? Does He not say that these unrepentant and unforgiven
ones will not share with the Righteous in that Eternal Jerusalem, nor have continual access to that same Spring
again flowing from its Center? Then speak His Truth (as He did -- with no condemnation, but with compelling love)
that men's hearts might become convicted in order for repentance and forgiveness to occur. Jesus did, and this
woman was here convicted.
|
|
vs.19-24
vs.26
Acts 5:1-11
Rom.8:1-10
Mt.6:9-11,33
|
5.
|
HE DEALS WITH HER NERVOUS DISTRACTIONS AND REFOCUSES HER ATTENTION BACK UPON HER OWN PERSONAL NEED.
a.
|
Like all who come under conviction, an attempt will be made to shift the intense scrutiny of themselves to
the greater need of others. This, Jesus recognized for what it was (as should we), and turned the Light right
back upon her own heart with greater intensity. So as there can be no mistaking the conditions for the
Father's acceptance, the Son must speak clearly the terms of agreement for this free gift He offers.
It is crucial at this point that she clearly understand what is expected from her before He next offers
Himself (the gift of 3:16).
|
b.
|
God is not A spirit; He IS Spirit. In his flesh, man cannot please (worship) God. His worship must be from
heart to Heart -- spirit to Spirit. It cannot come from outward observances of legal obligations in a localized
place. It is a worship that must not contain any deceit or reservations (but total truth), for this, God will
not accept. (See Annas and his wife's experience as an example made to the first early Church!) Therefore, the
carnal man cannot do or offer anything in the material as worship to God who is Spirit. Only from a spirit that
has been regenerated and dedicated to Him, will He accept any offering and sacrifice brought to Him with man's hands.
(Compare: Ps.51:14-17; Isa.1:10-18; Hag.2:10-19; and Jesus instructions to His disciples in their
approach in worship.)
|
TRUTH:
THE HOUSE OF GOD IS IN THE HEART OF PEOPLE, NOT IN ONE BUILT BY THEIR HANDS.
(See II Chr.16:9a; I Co.6:19-20; Rom.12:1-2.)
|
|
vs.25
|
|
c.
|
He has succeeded in His attempt for her refocus.
|
|
vs.26
|
6.
|
HE NOW CONFRONTS HER WITH A DECISION.
a.
|
Having indicated her honesty and willingness to Him, Jesus now fully reveals Himself to her, confronting
her with that eternal and personal decision all must experience and make.
|
b.
|
With her heart laid bare and all things clear to her, she now stands before the open illuminated Door of the kingdom.
It is her choice to step into, or turn away in her continued spiritual darkness to a previous life of sin and despair.
|
TRUTH:
CHRIST MAKES CLEAR TO ALL WHO SEEK HIM THE CONDITIONS OF ENTERING THROUGH HIM INTO ETERNAL LIFE
AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. HE TRULY IS THE ONLY WAY.
|
|
Mt.10:32
|
|
c.
|
He simply says to her, "I am the one for whom you seek." There is nothing more to be said. She is left for a response.
But, before it can come, they are interrupted by the materially-minded disciples who return in amazement at what they see,
and she is off. But unlike many who use interruptions or distractions to slip away unnoticed in such a crucial moment of an
uncertain decision, if unwilling, unprepared, or just undecided, Jesus knows she will return (she has left her waterpot in her
haste). He has won her heart; her confession will be to her fellowcitizens (as it is expected of any who receive Him), and she
will return shortly in excitement with the same haste in which she departed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
