Guest speaker Justin Nash
John 4:1-29
Henry Gerecke was a WWII chaplain who agreed to minister to Nazi leaders on trial at Nuremburg after the war was over. Knowing that some or all of them may be hanged at the end of the trials, he felt an urgency to bring them to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ despite their horrendous crimes against humanity. It is believed that four of the men who were hanged gave their lives to Christ in their last days. Henry’s motto came from the hymn “Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me.” See also:
No one is beyond Jesus’ grace of salvation Vv 1-6
1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
1) Unlikely times:
Jesus was weary, hungry, and thirsty, but didn’t let that get in the way of sharing the gospel at an inconvenient time at the hottest time of day. Evangelism is the most important work we have to do, so we must be ready at all times.
2) Unlikely places:
On the edge of the wilderness — Nowhere
Sychar = Drunkentown or Lyingtown
God is God everywhere, wherever we are.
Some of the deadest, most lost people are in the church every week.
3) Unlikely people:
Vv 16-19
16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”
Nobody is beyond hope. We need to avoid personal pride and bias in sharing the gospel. Jesus spoke to an immoral woman in Samaria at the well at noon. He goes to the lowest of the low, not the popular and beautiful. Jesus attracted the hurting, damaged, and marginalized. Every person has value and worth. We must engage everyone with respect. “His blood can make the foulest clean.” Never give up on anyone.
Evangelism prepares us for the Second Coming
21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
The grace of Jesus saved at least 4 Nazi leaders, they will be with us in the Kingdom. We don’t know who He will save. Our job is to share the message. The woman received Living Water and left unconcerned about her water jar.
Compare:
2 Timothy 4:2
Luke 4:43
Acts 8:27-35
Romans 10:15
