John 4:25-30; 39-42 “Telling other’s about Jesus”

Introduction: This woman sets for us a good example of how to tell other’s about Jesus. The most outstanding thing is the fact that she simply shared with others her experience with Jesus. Believers do not have to have deep theological knowledge to tell others about Jesus. Anyone who has been saved can tell other people about their experience. Tell other’s what Jesus has done for you and how you came to know Him as your savior.

(John 4:25) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

I believe that the woman is saying that when the Christ comes he will set every one strait as to what the truth is. She was, no doubt, confused by what Jesus had said concerning the proper worship of God. The things He had pointed out were contrary to what she had been taught and practiced. Every one ought to want to worship God acceptably. This woman certainly wanted to do so. She did not know for sure what to believe about worship but she knew that when the Christ would come He would set things strait.

There are many religions and denominations today and a person seeking to worship God and serve God may be bewildered as to which church is the right one. When Jesus comes He will set all of this strait and we will know which church is right for He will dictate how men are to worship in His kingdom. The Church is the organization which Jesus has authorized to carry out His Kingdom business till He comes. Till He comes we must join a church which traces its origins back to the shores of Galilee and the calling out of the disciples by Jesus. We must join a church which teaches salvation by grace through faith apart from works for that is what Jesus taught. We must join a church which believes in the security of the believer for that is what Jesus taught. We must join a church that practices baptism by immersion of a repentant believer for that is what Jesus commanded. Which is the right church? We must join a church that observes the Lord’s supper as a memorial ordinance which has no saving power. I believe that the church that I belong to is a true New Testament Church of Jesus Christ which worships God in spirit and in truth. Do not join the church of your choice by join the church of God’s choosing. This will require you to study the Word of God and examine the teachings of the church you attend. Without this examination you will not know if your worship is acceptable to God for to be acceptable requires worship in truth.

The woman at the well may have been confused by Jesus’ explanation of worship but she knew that one would come that would set things right. She believed in the coming Christ and Jesus lets her in on the good news in verse 26.

(John 4:26) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he].

He is the Christ the son of the living God the savior of men. He has always been God and by Him were all things made. He did not become God, He has always been God. The woman believes in Jesus as the savior and is saved.

(John 4:27) And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

The disciples are amazed that Jesus is speaking to the woman. They, no doubt, saw Him speaking to her as they approached. They did not question the actions of Jesus. They did not ask about the conversation. They perhaps feared rebuke. They have great respect for Jesus and would not dare to accuse Him of wrong doing. When a respected man of God seems to be in error those who respect him are slow to question him and are caused to reflect and study before speaking. The disciples are going to assume that what Jesus is doing is appropriate and necessary though they do not understand his actions such is their respect for His knowledge and authority.

There are two questions which they did not ask but was on their minds. What seekest thou? They wanted to ask this question but did not. What is Jesus looking for? What does this woman know that Jesus does not? Jesus knows everything and does not need to inquire of men in order to gain knowledge. Jesus has come to seek and to save that which was lost. The answer to their question is the lost. He seeks the lost to draw them to repentance and faith.

The second question is “Why talkest thou with her?” They wanted to know why Jesus is talking to this woman. What could He possibly accomplish by talking to this woman? He is talking to her because it is through hearing the Word of God that men are saved. She must hear in order to be saved. If you will not talk to people and share with them the Gospel they will not be saved. The Bible says (1 Cor. 1:18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. People must hear the word to be saved. This is why Jesus is talking to this Woman and it is why we must talk to those around us.

(John 4:28) The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

The Woman left her waterpot. Her memory must be like mine. I often forget what I am supposed to be doing. She had come to get water but her spiritual thirst has been quenched and she has forgotten all about her physical needs.

Let us examine the two ways of this text. There is the way of the disciples and the way of the woman of Samaria. The text says she went “her way.” The disciples had also gone their way into the city. The primary purpose for their going to the city was to by food. This should have been their secondary reason but it was not. Their primary reason should have been to seize opportunities to invite men to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. But their way was to speak to no one about Jesus and to buy food and get back on their way to Galilee. These were supposed to be fishers of men. They failed to accomplish the purpose for which Jesus had sent them. He sent them into the fields to harvest the lost but they came back saying the time for harvest was not yet come. They denied the power of the Holy Spirit of God for they thought that the time was not right to invite men to come to Jesus. The time is always right to tell others about Jesus. We are to be, in our witnessing for Christ, wise a serpents and harmless as doves. It is good to pick and choose the best time to speak to the lost. There are times when it is not advantageous to speak to them about Jesus but we should take every opportunity to draw closer to the lost and gain their confidence and then tell them about Jesus.

The woman went her way into the city. Her way was to run and tell every one about Jesus. Her primary reason for returning to the city was to tell others about Jesus. Her primary reason for going to the well had been replaced by a zeal to tell others about Jesus. She did not want to leave anyone out. She invited them all to come see a man who told me everything I have ever done is not this the Christ.

This woman’s way was the way we ought to go. Believer, when you leave your house keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to invite the people you meet to come to Jesus. Our primary reason for going anywhere should be to share the Gospel to of Jesus Christ with those who are lost. Jesus told his mother that “I must be about My Father’s business.” We should also be about God’s business everywhere we go. Go God’s way not your own.

(John 4:29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Jesus is a man. Jesus is God also. He is all man and all God. He is not like any other man who has ever lived. His love is deeper. His grace is more abundant. His mercy endures longer. His compassions do not fail. His pardon is free. His understanding is complete. His obedience is perfect. His life was without sin. His knowledge has no limits. His ability to save is certain and unique. There may have been other men named Jesus but there is no other name but His given among men whereby we must be saved.

(John 4:30) Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

The men, she spoke to, believed her words and they came to see Jesus for themselves. Those who would come to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. My father believed in Jesus and he told me about Jesus and I believed. Some people will not believe. They refuse to believe the things you say about Jesus. I have told many people about Jesus and I have had many, by their actions, to say that I have been deceived and that what Jesus has said is not true. These men accepted the testimony of this woman and came to see if what she said was indeed true. You must experience Jesus for yourself in order to be saved. You must believe what the Bible says about Jesus and you must personally trust in Him.

(John 4:39) And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

The verse says many believed because of the saying of the woman. They believed her story about Jesus telling her all that ever she did. This woman must have had a reputation for frankness and honesty. She was probably the type of person who would tell you the truth without regard for your feelings. She was most likely known for honesty even though she had lived an immoral life style. If she had not had a good reputation for solid honesty and integrity they would not have believed her. This woman was a woman of influence and she used her influence to invite men to come to Jesus.

(John 4:40) So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

The Samaritan men come to Jesus and they begin to ask him questions. What questions they asked we are not specifically told. I am sure they started with the experience of the woman. Did Jesus indeed know all about her? They would soon find that what she had told was true. It did not take many questions nor much persuasion, on the part of Jesus, to convince these men that He was the Christ. They invited Him to come into town and stay a while for they wanted to hear more of His teaching. Jesus agreed, I suspect that this was much to the dismay of the disciples.

What can these men learn in two days with Jesus? Jesus will teach them what they need to know in order that they might be saved and that they might worship God acceptably. I suspect that he explained to them as He had with the woman at the well that true worship is in spirit and in truth. God wants repentance and a broken heart He will not despise.

(John 4:41) And many more believed because of his own word;

Many more believed during the two days that Jesus taught in the city of Sychar. There were many who had gone out to see Jesus at the invitation of the woman. Many more, according to this verse believed when they heard Jesus for themselves. Had Jesus not stayed there would have been many who, because of work and other activities, would not have heard Jesus for themselves. Jesus had been to Jerusalem and had been rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes. It was refreshing to come to a town were so very many would accept Jesus as the Christ the savior of men.

I want to remind you here of the prejudice between Jews and Samaritans. The disciples were Jews and Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. To spend two days having to eat and sleep with Samaritans was uncomfortable to say the least for the disciples. Peter, over in the book of acts, reverted to prejudice by not eating at the same table with gentiles when Jews were present. The apostle Paul rebuked Peter for this action. God is not a respecter of persons.

(John 4:42) And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard [him] ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Here is the idea conveyed by this verse. The men who heard Jesus teach now believed because of their own personal experience with Jesus. They had come to Jesus because of the story they had been told by the woman but now they no longer believe just because of what she said. They believe because of what Jesus said. The worst reason to believe something is because I said it. The best reason is to believe because God said it.

Their conclusion is exactly correct. Jesus is the Christ the savior of men. These men may well have heard the preaching of John the Baptist and were ready to repent and trust in Jesus whom John called the Lamb of God.

Conclusion: Believers should always be ready to invite the lost to come to Jesus. This should be the primary purpose of our activities. The lost need to accept God’s invitation to come to Christ for salvation. If you will repent and trust in Jesus He will save you now.