FISHING AT THE WELL
Today, we get to look at an example of everyday evangelism, or what is casually known as an evangelism conversation or gospel conversation. Jesus demonstrates how to fish in an everyday situation by a well, a local source of water at that time. Today's equivalent local well may be a coffee shop, grocery store, laundry mat, auto repair shop, waiting room, ice cream shop, and so on. What's very interesting is the location. This was not an easy fishing spot. This location was full of history and hostility. Jesus immediately faces a wall built by religious and cultural division. When the Assyrians captured Samaria in 722–721 BC, they removed many Israelites but migrated foreigners from other nations into the city with those left behind. As they intermarried with the surviving Israelites, they also adopted their foreign idolatrous worship. Jews returning to their homeland viewed the Samaritans as defiled or impure. Around 400 BC, the Samaritans built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, but toward the end of the second century BC, this was destroyed by John Hyrcanus, the Hasmonean ruler in Judea. This combination of events fueled religious and theological animosities. By the first century, the Samaritans had developed their own religious heritage based on the first five books of the Bible (Did not accept the other books of the Hebrew Bible), continuing to focus their worship not on Jerusalem and its temple but on Mount Gerizim. Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 216). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.
Scriptures: John 4:1-42
Notes:
John 4:1-42
V. 1-9
V. 1-3 Jesus and the disciples were on a mission, teaching and ministering to people from town to town.
V. 4 “He had to go through Samaria” Jesus could have taken the eastern route on the other side of the Jordan river but this “had to” language, D.A. Carson says, suggests that the ‘had to’ language (edei) reflects the compulsion of divine appointment, not geography Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 216). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.
V. 5-8 Jesus was thirsty and approached the Samaritan woman for hospitality.
V. 9 Here’s the divisive wall I mentioned before…
Later on, in v. 27, we see the disciples are shocked to find Jesus speaking to a woman. It was very uncommon for Jewish religious leaders to speak with women in public. The woman was shocked to hear a Jewish man ask for a drink from her. The normal prejudices of the day prohibited public conversation between men and women, between Jews and Samaritans, and especially between strangers. A Jewish Rabbi would rather go thirsty than violate these proprieties. Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 285). Victor Books.
This did not stop Jesus because His message is for everyone…
V. 10-15
Jesus masterfully connects her need for water to His Kingdom message. He goes beyond the physical need to her spiritual need, even though it doesn’t hit her yet.
V. 13-14 This water from Jacob’s well would satisfy only bodily thirst for a time. But the water Jesus gives provides continual satisfaction of needs and desires. In addition one who drinks His living water will have within him a spring of life-giving water (cf. 7:38–39). Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit who brings salvation to a person who believes and through Him offers salvation to others. Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 285–286). Victor Books.
“Drink” in verse 14 means to continue drinking. It is not only a one time moment but to continue drinking, a continuous relationship of faith and dependency in Jesus.
V. 16-18 Jesus has a word of knowledge for her, a prophetic word only she or God would know, which becomes a sign to her that Jesus is a prophet of God.
You may think, well, Jesus has a leg up on this evangelism life because of that, but this is a spiritual gift and ability that God gives us too, through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8). God can give you a sense or insight about a need or situation in someone's life which acts as a sign to that person that God is real and involved in this encounter.
V. 19-26 Jesus reveals the truth about her and Him
Jesus reveals her sinful lifestyle. The woman, instead of being offended, is intrigued to hear of his knowledge about the differences between Jewish and Samaritan worship.
V. 19–20. Her response was most interesting! Jesus was not just a passing Jewish Rabbi. Since He had supernatural knowledge, He must be a prophet of God. But instead of confessing her sin and repenting, she threw out an intellectual “red herring.” (A red herring means it involves introducing a new, often irrelevant, issue to shift the focus away from the main point and derail the argument. While a red herring might seem related to the main topic, it ultimately serves as a diversion.) Could He solve an ancient dispute? Who was right in this controversy? Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 286). Victor Books.
V.23-24 Jesus doesn’t even go down that path and says it won’t matter what location or what type of building you worship God, because all true worshippers of God will worship Him in Spirit wherever they are, not confined to a sacred spot. It will be through faith in the Messiah, the Christ, that makes you a worshipper in spirit and truth.
Jesus says something poignant: “You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship.” The Samaritans only knew the first five books of the Bible.
V. 25 It looks like she is wondering if Jesus is the Messiah. It’s like Jesus’ explanation was so wise and clarifying that she brings up the Messiah’s arrival and how he will explain everything.
This conversation allows Jesus the opportunity to reveal that He is the Messiah.
V. 27-30 The woman runs away
She runs away…leaving her water jar. Jesus never received the water he asked for, and now she is no longer thirsty for water and is excited about Jesus. This is awesome!
She runs away to testify! Jesus caught her, and now she goes to catch a crowd. She must have been deeply impacted because she lived a life that wasn’t something to be proud about, but didn’t care about her reputation; she wanted everyone to meet and hear Jesus.
V. 31-38 Jesus teaches the disciples the will of God and the urgency of this will
Jesus is tired, thirsty, and hungry, but this doesn’t stop him from seeing an opportunity to meet a woman’s greatest need, and now a whole village. Jesus finds fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction from reaching and ministering to people who need the kingdom of God.
He knows that man does not live by bread alone, but “by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). His priority is spiritual, not material. It is the Father’s work which must be done (cf. John 17:4). Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 287). Victor Books.
The fields are already ripe for harvest. They didn’t have to wait four months for the harvest to be ready. Jesus was saying these people are ready now, and they need to stay here to bring these people into eternal life.
V. 36-38 What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester. The disciples didn’t even plant the seed of the good news, and they are getting the opportunity to harvest the seed that had already been sown. Some of us sow and plant, some of us water, but Jesus makes it grow, and some of us get to bring in the harvest.
V. 39-42 Many Samaritans believe
Jesus stayed to reach and teach
Personal testimony plus the message of Jesus is still God’s means of salvation. Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 288). Victor Books.
Faith based simply on the testimony of another is only secondary. True faith moves to its own experience and confrontation with Jesus. We have heard for ourselves is a more adequate basis. Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 288). Victor Books.
This reproduction of more people being saved happens today, too. When you reach one, you tend to reach many because family members, friends, and associates witness and hear your testimony and follow you to meet Jesus. The word in Greek is oikos, and is used when the household or network of people in a person’s life also believes.
Application
The Mission: A Samaritan woman and her village
A Samaritan woman and then a whole Samaritan village. Many things would have repelled the religious priests, such as religious rules about gender, divisive differences about her religion and race, or her disreputable life of sin. But Jesus chose to stay with her and stay with that village to love, care, and teach them the truth of God’s kingdom. Jesus demonstrates that the kingdom of God is for all people. No matter the history, race, culture, creed, or religious background, everyone needs Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and all need to know!
The Motivation: To offer the woman eternal water (eternal life)
The Samaritan woman and Samaritans in general know very little about the one they worship. Jesus wants to fix that. Samaritans only followed the first five books of the Bible. Their Messiah figure would be someone like Moses to deliver them, but they had no knowledge of a Messiah like the rest of the Old Testament predicted and testified about.
The woman has an emptiness and desire for love and relationships, but falls into sin in her pursuit. She most likely carries a lot of shame with little to no hope of changing.
The Message: Jesus is eternal water (eternal life). A source of life that will never run dry
She’s longing for more, and she demonstrates this longing in her pursuit of romantic relationships with men. There’s an emptiness deep down in the well of her heart. She draws life from others, but they cannot satisfy because they, too, are like broken cisterns or wells, empty and incapable of giving eternal fulfillment and life. She is used by others who are also looking for something deeper.
Jesus has come and longs for a relationship with her. Jesus is the living and eternal water that fills and heals the broken hearts of humanity. She needs to know that Jesus is the true source of life, love, joy, and acceptance. She needs to know that even though Jesus knows every bad thing she has done, He isn’t there to condemn her but to show mercy, love, forgiveness, and new life.
True worship of God is not a space or place. We worship God first and foremost, not a sacred place, and we worship Him in Spirit because we have the Holy Spirit in us through faith in Christ. We worship in truth when we have faith and live like true worshippers of God.
The Method: A conversation at a local well
Jesus visited the local well. (Modern day: coffee shops, parks, restaurants, community events, or a shopping bench). Jesus sparked a conversation by asking for some water and connected the kingdom to the moment, turning it into a gospel conversation. Jesus masterfully connected an everyday need to her spiritual need.
Jesus was Spirit-led and spoke only what the Holy Spirit knew about the woman’s life. We can sense and get insight from the Holy Spirit a need or truth that can be spoken to help reveal that we are sent and being used by God.
Bonus method: The woman’s testimony became a method, spreading the word about Jesus for Him. The people believe based on her testimony and the words (word) of Jesus. Tell your story, but give them a copy of the story of Jesus! (Give a Bible)
Tips for Gospel Conversations
Look
Be aware and present where you are. You may be at a “well” and not even realize it. (Stay off your phone. Candy Crush can wait.)
Look for an opportunity to start a conversation
Listen and learn
Listen to the Holy Spirit and the person intently. Care about what they have to say.
Learn who they are and what they are going through, or what they are celebrating and accomplishing.
Admire what can be admired and ask questions (have a conversation)
Link
Connect your own life to the conversation.
If relevant, bring up your passion for Jesus. Brag on God about something He has done in your life. Or again, if appropriate to the conversation, share what the gospel message offers.
Close
Someone out there is praying for God to show up, and it may be you this week. Someone is out there not realizing they need Jesus, and we can help share what He has to offer. Ask God to give you a well this week and ask Him to guide you in that opportunity.
Discussion
What is one thing from the message that resonated with you?
What is significant about Jesus going through Samaria instead of the usual route?
Who are the “Samaritans” in your life? (People you might try to avoid or ones you overlook)
How do we sometimes try to satisfy our own spiritual thirst with things other than Jesus?
Why do you think Jesus brought up the woman’s personal life?
How can we balance truth and love when sharing the gospel, especially with people who carry shame or brokenness?
Jesus used a well as a place to have a gospel conversation. What are the modern “wells” in your life?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
What can we pray for regarding the sermon? Do you have any prayer needs?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!