“Witness”

Witness John Chapter 4

Introduction: Samaritans

2Kings 17:24 Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel 

The Samaritans are descendants of two groups

The remnant of the native Israelites who were not deported at the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B. C.

Foreign colonists brought in from Babylonia and Media by the Assyrian conquerors of Samaria

There is no place for racism in His Kingdom. People of other religious back grounds are of no less value to Him than you or I 

John 3:16 17:33 They Feared the Lord yet served their own gods

Divine Necessity

Jews hated Samaritans and avoided Samaria at all costs 

4:4 And He HAD to pass through Samaria 

HAD = it is a must it is necessary to have to often implying inevitability often as in the plan of God out of DIVINE NECESSITY

Out of DIVINE NECESSITY we must

Go to the addict Go to the homeless and hurting we must to to the homosexual

Serve the Lord with all our heart mind soul and strength

The Samaritan Woman

4:6 it was about the sixth hour = Noon 

4:7 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water

As a woman with a bad reputation she wanted to be alone.  It was customary to go to get water from the well at morning or evening when it was NOT hot she went at noon 

4:7 give me a drink a command! 

4:9 How is it that you being a Jew ask (DEMAND) me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman 

She responded somewhat defensively possibly rude saying, What are you doing talking to me don’t you know my ethnicity?  You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman

4:9 Jews have no dealings with Samaritans DO NOT SHARE THINGS IN COMMON do not associate with she was surprised He was there talking to her drinking out of her water pot

Living Water

4:10 If you knew the gift of God and who it was who says to you give Me a drink you would have asked Him and He would have given you LIVING WATER 

4:11 SIR you have nothing to draw with She knows something is up her tone has already changed 

The well Jacob dug had provided life giving spring water for hundreds of years

4:12 Are you greater than our father Jacob 

4:13 Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again 

What well are you drinking from?

4:14 But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst but the water that I will give him will become in him well of water springing up to eternal life

We were all sinners saved by grace 

4:16-18 Go call your husband

Samantha may not have been an immoral woman.  It was easier to divorce back then than it is now.  A man would have to say I divorce you 3 times in a public place and it was done.  A man could divorce his wife if she could not cook, had a physical defect or could not bear children.  Five different times she was damaged goods and was rejected 

4:19 Sir I perceive you are a Prophet = an interpreter of God’s will

A religious answer

4:20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship 

This was a religious answer.  She brought up an age-old religious dispute between Jews and Samaritans 

She was trying to get the focus of the conversation off her and on to something else

Jesus did not come to debate Theological differences that drive a wedge between people

When witnessing keep the main thing

True Worshippers

4:21 Woman Believe Me the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father

4:21 The worshiper will be emancipated from bondage to place

4:22 You worship what you do not know. Salvation from the Jews = Jesus was of Jewish decent

4:24 God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth

Worship in Spirit = when we are born again we are born of the Spirit of God 

There is spiritual falsehood and spiritual truth Jesus is the truth

4:26 Jesus said to her “I who speak to you am He” God is right here!