John 4:1-42
In Mark 1:16-18 we read:
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)
Fishing for people is a metaphor for the gospel. We do not catch people in order to make them our slaves. We catch people in order to save them from eternal death in hell and the lake of fire.
How can we become successful “fishers of men”? By following Jesus, by imitating him. In John 4:1-42 we see how Jesus shares the gospel with one woman, and through her with an entire people.
DO NOT BE AFRAID OF ENCOUNTERS WITH UNBELIEVERS — USE THEM!
John 4:1-4:
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. (John 4:1-4)
Jesus and the apostles had their ministry, and they also had persecution from their opponents. But their road led through Samaria. For us, Samaria is a symbol of this world. Just as the Jews had no friendly relationship with the Samaritans, so we must not have a friendly relationship with the world. For 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 says:
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
We are not of this world, but we live in this world. And our goal, like God’s, is the salvation of the lost. Jesus did not come only for the Jews or only for the Galileans. Jesus came for everyone.
Evangelism begins with our befriending worldly people. We must use our contacts with the world in order to evangelize it. When we are in the world, this is not a limitation but a favorable opportunity to share the gospel. When we have to move among unbelievers, this is a good time for personal work. We must use our contacts with unbelievers in order to share the gospel with them.
But how we look at people matters greatly. In Samaria Jesus met a woman. How did he look at her? He saw her as a woman who needed salvation. When he met her, he saw the emptiness in her soul and had compassion on her. Matthew 9:36-38 says:
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:36-38)
The first requirement for being a harvester or a fisher of human souls is to see the lost — how harassed and helpless they are, and how much they need salvation.
The disciples also saw the woman, but it never even occurred to them to speak with her. In her they saw simply a Samaritan woman. Indeed, verse 27 says that they were “surprised” that Jesus was talking with a woman. In other words, if it had depended on them, this woman would never have been saved.
We must keep within ourselves this concern for the lost and this refusal to make peace with sin. Acts 17:16 says that the apostle Paul was outraged at the degree to which idolatry had taken over Athens.
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. (Acts 17:16)
This distress over sin prompted him to begin preaching the gospel to the Athenians.
USE YOUR OWN NEEDS AS AN OCCASION TO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION!
John 4:5-8:
5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) (John 4:5-8)
Jesus sits by the well. It is noon. The sun is scorching. Jesus is tired and thirsty. His needs were simple and easy to understand. He needed rest and something to refresh him. But instead of satisfying his needs, he used them as an occasion to share the gospel. We must learn how to use our own needs as an occasion to make contact with people we do not yet know.
BE THE FIRST TO BEGIN — DO NOT WAIT!
Create a favorable opportunity by asking for a favor.
John 4:6-7:
6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (John 4:6-7)
Use your needs as an occasion to make contact. By asking her for a drink of water, Jesus made the Samaritan woman feel needed and important. By revealing his need to her, he created an atmosphere of acceptance in which she could relax and begin to speak about her own needs.
USE THE RIGHT BAIT!
Fit your approach to the particular person. In verse 10 we see that Jesus offered the Samaritan woman a gift and stirred up her curiosity.
John 4:9-10:
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:9-10)
The bait must be suited to the person. Nicodemus — with him Jesus took a theological approach, dealing with the way a person can enter the kingdom of God.
BE POSITIVE!
Speak good news. This awakens the desire to receive. The good news is the answer to the thirsty man — that he will thirst no more; to the poor man — that he will be poor no longer; to the sick man — that he will be sick no more.
John 4:11-14:
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:11-14)
CHOOSE YOUR ANSWERS CAREFULLY!
In the course of the conversation, the person we are talking with may ask us a question. “May I ask a question…?” But this does not mean that we must necessarily answer all of their questions. Choose which questions you answer, and leave the rest unspoken. Jesus chose to pass over the point of dispute (verse 9):
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:9)
Jesus did not answer this question, but said directly:
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)
After this she asks him again:
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” (John 4:11-12)
Once again, instead of answering her question, Jesus chooses to share the gospel with her.
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
In verse 20 the Samaritan woman again raised a disputed question, this time about the place where people ought to worship God. This time she was touching on a fundamental matter, and Jesus chose to answer her. Rather than leaving the disputed question unanswered, he steered the conversation so as to meet her needs, instead of getting drawn into peripheral debates.
20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (John 4:20)
When we are asked a question, we must ask ourselves: Is the question being asked a matter of decisive importance for the person we are speaking with, or is he simply trying to divert the conversation? If the person we are speaking to knew the answer to his question, would it change his relationship with Jesus? If not — this is a question to pass over in silence. If so — then do everything in your power to answer it. If you do not know the answer, be honest. Admit that you do not know, and assure him that you will make every effort to find out the answer.
STEP ON THE SORE SPOT!
Stepping on the “sore spot” will make the other person reveal his need. Jesus is the answer to every human problem, but first we must uncover what the need is. Get to know the person; discover what his needs are. If he is in difficulty — help him get out of the difficulty, and then speak to him about Christ.
John 4:15-18:
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (John 4:15-18)
DO NOT ALLOW THE CONVERSATION TO WANDER FROM THE SUBJECT!
Do not let the conversation drift away from the subject (verses 18-19). She tried to divert attention from the moral problem by raising a theological question.
John 4:18-20:
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (John 4:18-20)
SPEAK THE TRUTH, EVEN IF IT HURTS!
Tell the truth even if it hurts (verse 22). If we keep silent about things we know to be true, it will leave our hearers with the impression that we do not trust our own convictions enough.
John 4:21-22:
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. (John 4:21-22)
Jesus did not spare her the truth that salvation is from the Jews, even though this was not very pleasant for her to hear. In the same way, we too must not spare people the truth about judgment, eternal death, and hell.
AGREE WITH THE PERSON YOU ARE SPEAKING TO AS FAR AS POSSIBLE!
Agree with the other person as far as possible (verses 20-24). By agreeing with the woman as far as he could, Jesus said, in effect: “Well, you are partly right. The question is not whether in Jerusalem or on this mountain (verse 21). God is spirit, and you must worship him in the Spirit and in truth (verse 24).”
John 4:20-24:
20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:20-24)
BE SENSITIVE AND TACTFUL!
Show a feeling for the way the Holy Spirit is working in the life of the other person. Jesus did not force her. Salvation arose as her idea too, not only as his (verse 25).
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (John 4:25)
We see a similar development in Acts 2:36-38. There, after they listen to Peter’s sermon, those present ask on their own: “What shall we do to be saved?”
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:36-37)
It is very important that we not force people, but wait for this question: “What shall I do to be saved?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
When you speak to people about Christ, you will often be able to guess how far they have come by the change in their understanding of who he is. This can easily be observed in the Samaritan woman’s reaction to Jesus Christ.
- First, in verse 9 she calls him a “Jew.”
- Then, in verse 11 she addresses him as “Sir.”
- After that, in verse 19 she calls him a “prophet.”
- Finally, in verse 29 she confesses him as the “Christ.”
This shows her movement in faith, in attitude, and in understanding of Christ. Sometimes, under the working of the Holy Spirit, this change can happen very quickly, but sometimes it takes more time.
MAKE THE PERSON YOU ARE SPEAKING TO A FISHER OF MEN!
When Christ revealed himself to her and she believed in him, the Samaritan woman “left her water jar.” She dropped her task, because she was occupied with something far more important — telling others the good news about the Lord. If we truly experience our own personal encounter with the Lord, we too will not remain silent — we will tell others about God.
John 4:25-30:
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 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. (John 4:25-30)
The Samaritan woman was evidently extraordinarily persuasive, since her words made the Samaritans come out of the town and set off toward Jesus.
It is very important, when we witness to someone about Christ, not only to “catch” him for the kingdom, but also to make him himself a fisher of men. Christ made the Samaritan woman a “fisher of men” (verse 39).
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” (John 4:39)
Notice that the woman “testified.” This is expected of us as well, if we have tasted of God’s great grace — to “testify.” What does it mean to testify? To tell what has happened to us and what we ourselves have witnessed.
Lead people to Christ, and not to some human being, even a well-known spiritual leader (verses 40-42).
John 4:39-42:
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42)
THE GOSPEL IS OUR “FOOD”!
Is it God’s will that we share the gospel? Let us regard our work for God as food. Jesus did the will of God. And what was he doing? He was sharing the gospel (verse 34).
John 4:31-38:
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” (John 4:31-38)