John 8:11 & John 4:4-28
March 26, 2017
It is important to see ourselves in our true condition. We need an honest view of ourselves, in our own eyes and in the eyes of the LORD. It is equally important for us to understand how God views us. While most will think that sin and our sinful condition as all that God sees and cares about. but that is not at all true. Our sinful condition is described in Romans 3:10-23 but that is not the end of the story.
The Bible is full of stories about the little person, the seemly insignificance, the unworthy by society's standards. There are people that are overlooked, not considered important, left out, living in despair without hope. Where would any of us be if
not for the grace of God, the love of God and the call of God? The kindness and love of God brings hope to the hopeless, Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
The gospel message always finds its way to the one who needs Him.
There were many, many people in Jericho but yet the messengers were sent to Rahab house, Jos_6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. The LORD knew where Rahab was living and sent salvation to her. Joshua 2:9-12; 2:17-21. The scarlet line represented she was a sinner (see Isaiah 1:18).
There were many people living during the drought but the LORD sent Elijah to a widow woman living in Zerezpth1Ki_17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 1Ki_17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 1Ki 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
There was the woman who wanted to be healed, Luk_8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Luk_8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
There is the thief on the cross, Luk_23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
The Samaritan Woman
"an attitude to women is reflected in the writings of the rabbis: 'One does not speak with a woman in the street, not even with his own wife, and certainly not with another woman,"
"Women normally did not converse with men in public, only in the privacy of the home, and certainly they would not mention in public-private marital experience or sexual affairs. It was Jesus' supernatural knowledge of her personal life that had impressed the woman, and this led her to conclude he was a prophet (16–19). Then Jesus had revealed himself to her as the Messiah "
Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 137,138). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
In John 4:4 Jesus must go through Samaria, " And he must needs go through Samaria. " He met a Samaritan woman who needed to know the way of salvation. Even though she was a religious person, a person that knew a Saviour would come into the world, 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. She did not know that He was the Messiah. He had just led her to the point where it was possible for her to see the truth.
Jesus tells her He is the Messiah
Two things about this woman: 1. She had to see herself in her true condition and see the Messiah as her Redeemer. 2. She had to drink of His water or believe on Him as her Saviour
- He went to her John 4:4-7.
- His difference in attitude toward the Samaritans caught her attention, John 4:9. People know if you are real, truthful and compassionate.
- He was presenting Himself to her, John 4:10. He knew what she did not know! He knew the error of her religion! He knew that He came to the world, for Jew and Gentile. What He is wanting her to see is the fact He came for her and that she needs to believe in Him for eternal life. John 4:11-15
- He created a hunger in her for something greater than her present hope for eternal life, John 4:15,
Most people have a religion, something in the place of Christ. They know the tenets, the creed of Christianity, even to be able to say, "I believe that Christ died on the cross". But as this Samaritan woman found, one must have a need to believe on Christ for their eternal life. That need is there because of being created in the image of God and the fact we have sinned and we know our sin is against God. That we have done wrong toward our God and we want to be forgiven.
- In response to her as she asked for this well of water that He spoke of in verse 14 "....but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. and she said, "Give me this water...." meaning: What I have does not satisfy: ".....Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. This well , Jacob's well, was symbolic of her religion.
- · He led her to think about her condition, 4:16
- · He revealed He knew all about her. Things that the Messiah know and He handled things as only the Messiah would handle. 4:17-18. There is a very important lesson here that I believe is overlooked. Certainly, satan wants it overlooked. The Lord always does this with compassion and without condemnation. We feel a sense of condemnation because of our sin but the LORD does not condemn us. He came not to condemn but to save, John 3:17.
- · He told her that her religion was not sufficient, John 4:21-23. The Samaritan Bible contained only the law Genesis through Duet. Therefore, she knew nothing of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The same as He spoke to Nicodemus about in John 3:6. And the same in John 7:37-39
She believed in the Samaritan's messiah but now Christ reveals Himself as the Messiah. She has the opportunity now to believe on Christ for eternal life. I believe she does for in John 4:28-29 she leaves her waterpot... The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? In leaving her water pot, I believe she left her religion and took Christ as her Saviour.
It is clear from John 4:42 that she testified to her belief that He is the Christ.
Five Words of Grace for the Woman in John 8:1-12
Some background about the law. "The law applies to both the adulterers and adulteresses: 'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbour—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death' (Lev. 20:10); 'If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die' (Deut. 22:22). If the law demanded the death of both the adulterer and the adulteress, and if the woman was 'caught in the act of adultery', one wonders about the discriminatory action of those who seized only the woman
Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 198). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"According to the law (Deut. 17:7) witnesses were required to cast the first stone. That the teachers of the law say 'in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman' could reflect the fact that they were witnesses."
Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 198). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Jesus did not deny the woman's sin but drew the accused into the circle of condemnation, John 8:6-9.
It is said by some theologians, that the priests were required to then, before stoning, to stoop down and write the broken law and the name of the accused in the dust on the floor.
Now think of his: After being caught she was dragged onto the Temple grounds. Most likely half dressed or not at all, ashamed and terrified, and then made to stand before them. What a bunch of hard-hearted, self-righteous hypocrites for not bringing the man. Maybe the man was one of them!
I am not sure what Christ wrote on the ground but whatever was contained in the writing, it was sufficient to bring condemnations to each one of them. For they started leaving one by one beginning at the eldest unto the last: ?p? t?? p?esß?te??? ??? t?? es?at??, from the most honorable to those of the least repute. In this sense is most likely the meaning. But if they all went out, how could she be in the midst? It is not said that all the people whom our Lord had been instructing went out, but only her accusers: see John 8:2. The rest undoubtedly continued with their teacher.
"Beginning at the eldest even unto the last" As being conscious of more sins, and, therefore, being desirous to leave the Lord Jesus. The word "eldest" here probably refers not to age, but from those who were in highest reputation to the lowest in rank. There was conviction and they were getting out as quick as possible. Jesus was left with the woman, all of the accusers had left being convicted.
I am sure she was convicted the same as the accusers but she stayed and faced her sin and Christ. Look what she found: grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Consider what happened: 1. The charged was dropped. 2. There was no one to accuse her. 3. She could live without the stigma of her sin. 4. The wagging tongues of gossip were stopped. 5. She was forgiven by the LORD. 6. She was given a new life to live.
The number five (5) is the number of Grace: her word of Grace is found in these "five" (5)words: "Neither do I condemn the". You can hear the same word of Grace from Christ, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18
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