Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 166th Year

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Lent 2
February 20, 2005
John 4:5-26
“Jesus Leads Us To Know The Gifts of God”

+++

INTRODUCTION: Although the Jews generally avoided Samaria, Jesus did not! He sat down to rest but forgot His weariness when the opportunity presented itself to lead a lost soul to know God’s gift. Jesus, who suffered weariness and thirst for us, has come to us and pleaded, “If you knew the gift of God…” He comes to us again today and offers that gift, His own self, to be known and to be enjoyed by all who would come to Him by faith.

I.    Jesus makes us aware of our need for God’s gift.

A.   He reminds us that earthly wells cannot quench spiritual thirst. “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.” (v. 13)

1.   We, like the Samaritan woman, have earthly wells of whose waters we boast. “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well to drink for himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” (V.12)

a.       Money – success

b.      Possessions, savings, a strong bottom line.

c.       Ambitions, our own agendas and plans.

2.   There are times when we yearn for something more than the water of these miserable wells. “The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” (V. 15)

B.    Jesus put His finger on sin as the cause of our thirst. “He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’” (V.16)

1.   Jesus condemns as sin an action and choice we may have excused. “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (Vv. 17-18)

2.   We can no longer hide or equivocate. We can’t quibble or fudge. We are dead to rights. Our own sin condemns us especially when Jesus through the preaching of the Law shows us our sin. “Sir, the woman said, “I can see that You are a prophet.” (V.19)

3.   What is wrong in our life must be made right if we are to have satisfaction.

4.   Jesus stimulates in us a desire for the gift of God. “but whoever drinks the water that I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (V.14)

Transition: Jesus leads us to know the gift of God by first bringing us to an awareness of our need for that gift. Then He shows us where to find it.

II.    Jesus shows us where to find God’s gift.

A.       We find it in the true church.

1.   We may be perplexed as to which church is right. “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (V.20) Both Samaritans and Jews claimed to know the perfect will of God yet they argued as to where He was to be found.

2.   The true church is present where God’s Word is taught purely and the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s command. There we find the gift of God – salvation. “Salvation is from the Jews.” (V.22)

B.       We find it among true worshipers.

1.   They are not bound to any particular place or ritual. “Jesus declared, ‘Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” (V.21)

2.   They worship the true God in spirit and in truth. “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (V.23)

a.    God is not bound to any outward group or building.

b.   Church organizations can cease to exist. What is the LCMS would cease to exist? What is this parish would disband? True worshipers, who make up the church, will continue!

C.       We find it in the Savior Himself.

1.   Jesus reveals Himself to us in the Word. “Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am He!” (V.26)

2.   We can have Him now, as we are, in our emptiness and thirst.

3.   He is the gift that satisfies. “Then leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (Vv. 28-29)

CONCLUSION: The woman’s question really starts our meditation. Could this Jesus be the Christ? Do you know the gift of God? Jesus who answered this woman speaks to you this day as He says to you, “I who speak to you am He!”

 + Soli Deo Gloria +