Henry Ogbuchi - July 14th, 2024

Northbrook Bible Chapel

Henry Ogbuchi July 14th 2024 - The Samaritans Question 1: In John 4, Jesus Ministered to a Variety of people, name them? Answers:  The sinful Samaritan woman.  The many Samaritans who trusted in Him  His Own Disciples.  A nobleman and his household. Question 2: What did they have in common? Answer:  Faith in Jesus Christ. The Word – John 4:1-42 Mixed race – partly Jew and partly Gentile.  That grew out of the Assyrians captivity of the ten northern tribes in 727 BC.  Rejected by the Jews because they could not prove their genealogy.  Established their Alternate center for worship on Mount Gerizim (parallel to Jerusalem temple).  Believed the Jews were demonically possessed – Even accused Jesus to be a Samaritan (John 8:48).  Orthodox Jews avoided Samaria because there was a longstanding, deep seated hatred between them and the Samaritans. John 8:48 John 8:48 — King James Version (KJV 1900)m John 8:48 — New Living Translation (NLT) Four Stages of Experience Stage 1: He is “a Jew” (vs 7-10).  It’s unusual for a Jewish man to even be in Samaria.  It was out of the ordinary that a man would be talking to an unknown woman in a public place.  This woman was a Samaritan, a member of a hated mixed race with track record of living in sin. No respectable Jewish would talk to a woman under these circumstances. But JESUS did Gospel is for everyone- irrespective of race, tribe, or social position. Jesus’s LOVE towards the woman(us) rose above all the petty distractions of men. (John 4:16) Stage 2 “Greater than Jacob” (vs 11-15)  If he had something better, why asking for water gotten from Jacob’s well. Salvation  The woman was ignorant of 3 important facts (Who He was, what He had to offer and how she could receive it) -Messiah/Christ  Jesus, fruitful vine by the spring (Jacob’s well) that ran over the wall (of separation between the Jews and the Samaritans). Gen 49:22 Of course, Jesus is greater than Jacob – greater than the well itself. He provides the “breath” (spirit) of God (John 3:8; 20:22). He is the bread of life (John 6:48). He is the light of life (John 1:4-5). He gives us the water of life (John 7:37-39) Stage 3 “A Prophet” (vs 16-24)  Jesus pointed out the woman’s sin in a loving manner: He praised her for telling the truth and revealed that He knew her sin.  Jesus progressively guided her with His words into a full revelation of who He is.  Jesus fruitful vine by the spring (Jacob’s well) that ran over the wall (of separation between the Jews and the Samaritans). Gen49:22 Salvation is from the Jews because Jesus is born a Jew, as a descendant of David. (Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua, literally means “salvation”). Today our worship to/of God is not confined to a physical location. We can worship God anywhere, at any time because through faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is inside us, and we have a true revelation of who God is.  Stage 4 “The Christ” (vs 25-30)  Knowing who “Messiah/Christ” is and that HE will come - IN SPITE OF HER IGNORANCE.  “When he does- and will reveal the secrets of the hearts (will teach ALL things.) -WHAT A GREAT CONFIDIENCE!  She was (Just as us) least likely prospect for salvation, Yet Christ used her to win almost an entire village. EFFECTIVE EVENGALISM The Samaritans - Lessons Learnt Never underestimate what can happen when you sincerely impact one person. Jerusalem -John 2:23 to Judea -John 3:22 then to Samaria -John 4:4 AND Samaritans declared Jesus as the “SAVIOR” of the world. ‘vs42 (Perfect Parallel to Act 1:8) The unnamed Samaritan woman was a fruitful believer: bore fruit (“many believed”), more fruit (“many more believed”), and much fruit today. (John 15:1-5) Our Lord, “Jesus Christ, the Messiah” has set the example. If we follow, He will give us the harvest. Amen.