People Who Said “Yes” to God – the woman at the well John 4:4-42
Introduction
Today’s sermon marks the end of our series on people who said yes to God. It has encompassed virtually the whole Bible and has included men and women of varying backgrounds and ages. In looking back over the series it is clear that saying yes to God has two components – hearing what God is saying and being obedient to it.
Whilst some of the people we have looked at have been exceptional people of faith, many have been ordinary, everyday people going about their day-to-day tasks. Our final subject is one such person, we do not even know her name, simply that she was a Samaritan woman from the town of Sychar.
The story of this woman and her encounter with Jesus illustrates the well-known truth that actions have their consequences. The action starts with Jesus and his disciples passing through Samaria on their way from Jerusalem to Galilee. They stop for a break in the middle of the day. As a consequence of choosing to stop – they could have pressed on – and choosing this particular place, Jesus meets this woman. There are all sorts of factors which govern the decisions we make, the important thing is to be open to the possibilities which come our way as a consequence. (eg choosing to walk / take the bus / car)
Despite their different backgrounds Jesus engages the woman in conversation and very soon offers her the gift of everlasting life – water to quench her real thirst – which she readily accepts. Note that the key to this is identity. “If you knew..who it is”v.10 “Are you greater than our father Jacob”v.11. “I see you are a prophet”v.19 “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming”v.25 “I who speak to you am he”v.26 “Could this be the Christ?”v.29 and “this man really is the saviour of the world”v.42. This woman has lots of questions – how can you get water without a bucket, why are you a Jew talking to a Samaritan woman, where should we worship and so on but the most fundamental question is “Who are you?”
This week someone called the vicarage while I was out and aked Janet “What is the meaning of life?” He had seen the banner advertising the Alpha course and wanted an answer. This week in Alpha we will be going to the heart of the answer when we consider the question “Who is Jesus?” In the light of this question and its answer all other questions pale into insignificance.
The final consequence of this woman’s action in saying yes to God is that other’s come to faith too. V.42. We have seen this time and again through the series and it is a natural outcome of our Christian life. Jesus encourages his disciples to look at the harvest fields and to get out there sowing and reaping. V35.
In what ways is God asking us to say yes to Him?