The Abandoned Water Jar

Text: John 4:1-42

Introduction: The animosity between Jews and Samaritans in Jesus’ day was similar to the feelings between Israelis and Palestinians today. The woman at the well verbalized that animosity precisely in John 4:9: “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” This practice had gone on for centuries and was traceable to the intermarriage of the Northern tribes of Israel (Jews) and their Assyrian captors (Gentiles) that had resulted in what was considered tainted blood. This is why the Samaritan woman, coming to draw water at noon, was shocked when an obviously Jewish man asked for water. In this important story, Jesus confronted prejudice. And the length of the dialog confirms the concern He had with this issue. But in addition, this conversation gives us a helpful model of evangelism, which is the focus of this outline.

A. Why is this conversation important?

1.    Because of its length. This is the longest-recorded conversation in the Gospels that Jesus had with anyone. And it’s significant that Jesus spent quality time with a woman who was shunned in Sychar. Religious leaders continually criticized Him for spending time with “sinners.” In Luke 15:1-2, we read: “Then all the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ ” When Jesus passed through Jericho on His way to the cross, He had lunch with Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector of the region. The Pharisees complained again, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). If we are to live the Jesus way, we too will move toward those who are marginalized by society and engage them with the good news.

2.    Because of its issues. In the US, our recent presidential primary campaigns surfaced the issue of prejudice, both racial and gender. No matter who was nominated by the Democratic Party, it would signify a breakthrough. Now that the campaign and election are over, we have answered the prejudice issue by electing our first African-American President and acknowledged the leadership qualities of a woman by the appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
Jesus was the trailblazer centuries ago when He went through Samaria. John 4:9 raised the racial issue: “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” And John 4:27 revealed the gender prejudice: “And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman.” Jesus broke down the walls and built some bridges as He not only accepted the woman at the well, but also gave her a drink of the soul-satisfying living water.

3.    Because of its model of evangelism. G. Campbell Morgan included this conversation in his famous book Great Interviews of Jesus. And A. T. Robertson selected this dialog for his book Jesus as a Soul Winner. Both of these evangelical leaders considered this dialog between the Samaritan woman and Jesus an outstanding illustration of sharing the good news of the gospel.

B. This story teaches five lessons for sharing our faith today.

1.    Jesus asked for help (John 4:7). He asked for a cup of water from a Samaritan. This went against the acceptable customs. Jewish men didn’t talk with Samaritans, especially women. When the text says Jesus needed to go through Samaria, I don’t think He was referring merely to geography. But rather Jesus met prejudice head on by asking for water. While we have made great strides both in racial and gender prejudice, we still have room to grow. If you doubt it, read Lynn Andersen’s powerful chapter on the woman at the well in The Jesus Touch.
Our starting point can be the one Jesus used. A relationship can be launched when we ask for help from our neighbors. My wife and I have found it effective in our multicultural neighborhood. When my wife broke her ankle, our neighbors were there with a ride to the ER, meals to make life easier, and innumerable small kindnesses.

2.    Jesus made a connection (John 4:20). Jesus is the master of connecting with people on a personal basis. With Nicodemus, master teacher of OT Scriptures, He spoke of a new birth and expected this teacher to remember things taught in Ezekiel 36 about a new life and a new heart. With Zacchaeus, it was the real meaning of being a child of Abraham by faith. Zacchaeus was by birth a son of Abraham, but Jesus offered a whole new relationship. This is what Paul was teaching when he wrote in Galatians 3:6-7: “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” And for this thirsty woman standing by Jacob’s well, the connecting point was “living water.” Connecting points, in 21st-century outreach, come through intentional places of interest. For football fans, a Super Bowl party can make a great gospel connection. For hunters, a wild game dinner, followed by a shared faith story, can do the same.

3.    Jesus offered hope (John 4:12-13). This weary woman had had five marriages, followed by five divorces, and was gripped by unbelievable feelings of rejection and loneliness. Her latest venture was a common law relationship, but her heart was still empty. Jesus was the first man in her life to offer a ray of hope. Jeremiah had written about broken cisterns in Jeremiah 2:13: “They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Turning away from Jehovah to other gods, they missed the fountain of life. So also this thirsty woman had tried relationships with six men, but they turned out to be broken cisterns. Her soul was not satisfied. She was thirsty for a different kind of life. Jesus offered her a life that would satisfy her soul thirst (John 4:12-13). In our world today, we can do what Jesus did—offer the living water.

4.    Jesus took her on a spiritual journey (John 4:42). Her journey can be tracked by her growing knowledge of who Jesus is:

• “A Jew” (John 4:9). Jesus was clearly Jewish.
• “Sir”—a good man (John 4:15). She was growing more respectful in her conversation.
• “A prophet”—a wise man (John 4:19). She was willing to elevate Jesus to the class of men like Elijah and Isaiah.
• “Messiah”—the anointed Christ (John 4:25). She acknowledged Jesus as the long-awaited and God-anointed Messiah.
• “The Savior of the world” (John 4:42). She was so effective in explaining her transformed life that the men of Sychar testified that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Nothing in our Christian experience compares with being used by the Spirit of God to take a seeker on this journey.

5.    Jesus’ gave her a new passion for life (John 4:39). When we met this woman, early in the John 4 story, her first remark to Jesus was shocking. The change in attitude and testimony as the chapter closes is dramatic. The drudgery of her daily trip to the well was replaced by a joyous return to Sychar with the good news about Jesus and living water. Is there any life experience more fulfilling than to see the passion of a new believer as they share their faith!

Conclusion: Let’s not miss the harvest that Jesus defines as ripe by being busy with everyday life, or be so concerned about our next meal that we miss the power of Jesus’ words in John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”