The Church: Our responsibility To The World Cont.
John 4:1-29
Today we wrap up our study of the Church. We look at a familiar passage in John chapter 4. First, I want you to notice that Jesus was in Jerusalem and was going north to Galilee. The Jews would normally journey across the Jordan River, then north, then back across the river to avoid travel through Samaria. The Jews and Samaritans were like oil and water. However, Jesus did not do this. He told his disciples that He must go through Samaria. Our responsibility to the world involves reaching all people, no matter what their ethnicity, social standing, location, etc. We are to give the gospel
message to all.
Second, we see the woman came to get water at noon. Normally, they would get water in the early morning to use it for the rest of the day. It is highly likely that this woman was a social outcast. Upon their meeting, Christ began to give her the gospel through use of the law. He met her where she was. He did not invite her to church. He did not set all these rules in front of her to clean her up. He realizes that this is the Holy Spirit’s job after salvation begins. Not only did Christ go out of His way to reach all people, He also met people where they were.
Lastly, Christ spoke plainly to her with compassion. In verse 25 she says to Christ that she knows that the Messiah is coming and when He does, she would know because He would reveal all things. Remember, Christ just got done telling her about the ever quenching water which He offered. Then he told her about her immoral living arrangements she had and about her past husbands. The truth is that she did not see and yet Christ compassionately told her that the one to who she talked to was indeed the Messiah. Instead of making her feel ignorant or beating her up, Christ simply reached out to her even in her ignorance. People are blind and we are the vehicle in which God chooses to reach them. We are the last line of defense between them and the eternal judgment of a just and holy God. Will you defend to the last or let the devil flank them?