The Bad Samaritan Convicted of Sin

John 4:15-26

 

INTRO: This is the continued story of the Bad Samaritan at Sychar’s well.  As we read verses 16-18, there is no doubt that this woman, the bad Samaritan, is a sinner in need of spiritual water.   Just as there is no doubt in my mind that all who are lost need the water of life for the Bible says: “There is none righteous no, not one... for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rm 3:10, 23).

 

I.        VSS 15-21, THE BAD SAMARITAN CONVICTED OF SIN

A.       Vs 15, The bad Samaritan has come to realize that the water that Jesus is referring to is a special kind of water.  It is out of the ordinary water (Jn 7:37-39).

1. “Sir, give me this water.”  Although the bad Samaritan realizes that this water is special, she still believes it is physical and not spiritual.

2. “That I thirst not.”  The bad Samaritan believes that the water will prevent physical thirst.  Friend, it quenches spiritual thirst.

3. “Neither come hither to draw.” 

a. She wants water that will make life easier for her.  The walk to Jacob’s well took about ten minutes, and the trip had to be made every day.  Many folks want a religion that makes life easier.  They really don’t want or understand true salvation.

b. She wants water that not only quenches thirst, but prevents it.

4. This woman does not understand the spiritual nature of the gift offered in verse 10, nor does she know who the giver is.  She is still a natural woman, still lost, still blind (I Cor 2:14).  She is still in need of amazing grace!

B.       Vs 16, If this bad Samaritan wants living water, there must be a thirst for it.

1. Before the bad Samaritan can truly thirst for living water, there must be guilt over sin.  She must see herself as a sinner lost and undone.  She must see her need of a sinless Savior.

2. The Lord, knowing the sad history of her life, asks her to call her husband.

a. Jesus knows that before she can be saved she must see herself as a sinner.

b. For a sinner to be born again, there must be true conviction.  True conviction comes by the preaching of the Gospel (II Thes 2:12-14).

3. Unless we admit that we are sinners, we cannot be saved.

a. Have you said things you should not have said?

b. Have you had unclean thoughts?

c. Have you looked upon ungodly things?

d. Have you ever told a lie?

e. If you are honest with God, you must admit that you have sinned (I Jn 1:10).  Don’t justify your sin; admit it.

4. “And come hither.”

a. This is an expression of grace to a vile sinner.

b. Jesus, the sinners friend, welcomes her.

c. Jesus invites sinners to come to Himself (Mt 11:28).

d. The Spirit, the bride, and believers invite you to Christ (Rev 22:17).

C.      Vs 17, When she said I have no husband, she was telling the truth.  Was she a widow?  Was she divorced?  Jesus knew, even if she did not elaborate.

1. Jesus commends her confession by saying: “Thou hast well said.”  Jesus commends marriage (Heb 13:4).

2. She may not have wanted to reveal her sordid life, but Jesus already knew it as is states in verse 18.  Jesus knows you today; He knows where you are spiritually.

D.      Vs 18, Jesus here lays bare her sinful past, a past marked by adultery.  Jesus tells her about her present sin, living with a man who is not her husband.

1. Jesus exposes her sin.   Many folks rebel at this.

2. Jesus prepares her for the reception of the gift of life.  Jesus wants lost sinners to be saved.  Jesus knows that judgment is coming to the unrepentant ones.

E.       Vs 19, The bad Samaritan does not try to justify her sin.  We too often spend our time and spin our wheels trying to justify our sin.  Sin is sin.

1. She calls Jesus a prophet.  By calling Jesus a prophet, she admits her guilt (4:29).

2. She did not yet see Him as Messiah, but she knows He is no ordinary man.

F.       Vs 20, The mountain spoken of here is Mount Gerizim.

1. Coming under conviction, she now tries to change the subject.

2. She is now coming to see her condition as sinful.  What must she do; where must she go to worship?  Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem?

a. “Our Fathers.”  Abraham and Jacob.

b. The Samaritans placed great stress on Mt Gerizim.  Samaritan tradition wrongly gives this mount as the place where Abraham offered Isaac.  Genesis 22:2 and II Chronicles 3:1 tell us that Mount Moriah is the place where Abraham offered Isaac.

G.      Vs 21, Jesus here reveals some great truths about true worship.

1. “Believe me.”  This is the only time Jesus says this.

a. What Jesus is going to tell her requires faith.

b. Jesus wants her to trust Him, to depend on Him, to rely on Him.  Will you believe in what He did for sinners (3:18, 36).

2. In the Christian age, it is not where one worships, but how.  It doesn’t take a beautiful temple or a mountain to worship God.  A prisoner in a deep, dark cell can worship God.

a. Ritualism, such as temple worship, is not true worship today.

b. We do not have to bow before a statue or burn candles in certain places to worship God.

 

II.       VSS 22-24, INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRUE WORSHIP

A.       Vs 22, The Samaritans had rejected the poetical books (Job - Lamentations) and prophetic books ( Isa- Malachi) of the Old Testament; so they did not know what or who they worshiped.

1. The Jews knew what they worshiped.

a. They believed the whole Old Testament.  The types and shadows pointed to the Messiah.

b. They worshiped the God of the Old Testament. 

2. “Salvation is of the Jews.”

a. Salvation is the Hebrew Jehoshua from which the Greek “Jesus” is derived.