It’s quite a thought that it’s possible to meet with God. He is our creator and sustainer, and as different from us as you could possibly imagine in so many ways.
And yet, in John 4, a woman found out exactly what it’s like to meet with God.
The invitation in John’s gospel is for you also to meet with God, and to realise that you do that through Jesus (God the Son). By looking at this beautiful conversation, look for yourself at how God comes to you, how you come to him – and how this is something everyone should hear.
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube delivered at Bromborough Evangelical Church, Wirral in June 2024. You can find more in the series in our sermon index.
How God comes to you (1-18)
The starting point is to remember the amazing claim in John 1:1 and John 1:14:
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The one through whom all things were created stepped into his creation. He became flesh. And as we saw last time, he did so because he loves the world (John 3:16).
So we’re going to see this God, this Jesus, as he met with a woman by a well in Samaria. She was amazed that a Jewish man would speak to a Samaritan woman.
But that’s a tiny fraction of the true reality of the moment: The truth was that she was meeting God himself. And in that meeting you can see how you also can meet with God. His grace and compassion compels him towards you.
Let’s look at four ways God comes to you:
Personally
Read John 4:7-9.
There was history between the Jews in Judea to the south, and the Samaritans in the north. Those in the north (the Samaritans) felt they were true Israel, and those in the south (in Judea) thought they were. Neither mixed or associated with one another.
Add to that that it was taboo for a man to talk to a strange woman at a well, and it’s no wonder she was questioning him.
But Jesus doesn’t follow national divisions or cultural taboos. He goes to people in need, and he goes personally, individually. And you need to know that God comes to you. You might think you’re not good enough. But he comes to you:
In your shame
Women generally were the ones who went to draw water. But they usually went in groups, and usually avoided the hotter parts of the day. Read John 4:4-6.
That well still exists, and it’s over 100 feet deep. Drawing water from it was hard work.
So why was she there on her own at noon? We find out later that she’s had 5 husbands and was living with another when she met Jesus. Read John 4:16-18.
With a life of public sin, she has learned to avoid the public. When Jesus questioned her about it, she went further and tried to evade the truth.
But Jesus will have none of it. He comes to you in your shame, knowing all your sin, all you’ve ever done. The idea that you need to get your act in order before you come to God is ridiculous. He comes to you in your shame.
In your (greatest) need
Read John 4:10-14.
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in chapter 3, Nicodemus didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about because he was thinking literally (in an earthly way) when Jesus was speaking spiritual truth. This woman is the same: She thinks Jesus is talking about water.
Obviously you need water to live, but Jesus is offering living water! In Jeremiah 2:13, God refers to himself as the “fountain of living water” – and Jesus is claiming that for himself in John 4:10. He gives you eternal life in himself.
You think you need things? Jesus is all you need. He brings hope instead of confusion or despair. Jesus is the nourishing life-giver, even as your body decays. You think you need money? Jesus is riches you can’t lose. And he comes to you:
Gently
Read John 4:17-18 again.
He went straight to her shame and called her out on it. And yet he did it in a way that drew acknowledgment and confession from her. Even better, it made her realise something about him.
That’s better because he is the actual remedy for her sin.
He didn’t even preach at her: He gently led her to the truth that he is the Messiah, the Saviour, and he could give her living water.
This, then is how God comes to sinners.
- Personally: God comes to you. Where you are.
- In your shame: No need to avoid what you’ve done; he already knows it, and comes to you anyway.
- In your (greatest) need: He knows your basic needs like food and water, but he knows your eternal needs better than you do: So he comes to you.
- Gently: He will call you out on your sin, and do so in a way that leads you to Jesus. He is the one you seek.
How you come to God (19-26)
When she saw that Jesus was more than just a random stranger on the road, she called him a prophet.
So she asks him about worship. She can see he knows about her sin anyway so she’s probing about something that troubles her: Who’s right about worshipping God, Judea or Samaria?
In the same way, you can come to him…
Enquiring & Questioning
Read John 4:20.
I’ve never met anyone who was persuaded to become a Christian the first time they heard about Jesus.
Everyone has questions.
- “How can a God of love send people to hell?”
- “Why does God allow war, illness, suffering?”
- “If God is in control of everything, why does he hold me to account for my actions?”
Or, a bit closer to that woman:
- “What makes you so sure that Christianity is right? Aren’t all religions just different ways of worshipping the same God?”
- “Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Did Jesus condemn her? “Who are you do question me?” No.
No-one is condemned for having questions. That’s why we do things like Christianity Explored – it gives you a space to air your questions, to see what God says in the Bible.
Please: Ask your questions. You will find answers, and then you will find Jesus waiting to receive you.
You must come to him…
In spirit and in truth
Read John 4:21-24.
“Salvation is from the Jews” simply means that they were the nation through which God revealed himself to humanity. The Old Testament, pointing to Jesus, came through them. Jesus the Messiah, the saviour of the world, came through them. They were given a temple in Jerusalem: A place where God dwelt among them, a system of sacrifice that atoned for sin, a place they could approach God.
So Jesus first corrected the woman by saying that worship at the temple in Jerusalem was correct, but then went further.
“An hour is coming, and is now here…” – Jesus replaced that old system: He is God among his people; he is the sacrifice atoning for sin; Jesus is the way you approach God – you go to him.
Jesus said (v24) that “God is spirit.” What did he mean?
- God is divine, uncreated, existing in himself, not made.
- He doesn’t comprise of “stuff” – he’s invisible.
- To us who are made of “stuff”, he’s unknowable, unreachable.
- You can’t see him. Nor can you find him even if you go to the most lovely church building you can think of.
- In Old Testament time, he blessed Israel by putting his particular presence among them in the temple. But not now
Many church buildings try to capture a sense of God’s majesty with their ornate windows and architecture. But they are a substitute glory: God’s true glory is only seen with the eyes of faith.
He is spirit; to know him you need him first to come to you, which he is pleased to do. You must be born again, born from above, given spiritual life by the Spirit of God. Only when you worship in spirit and truth are you truly coming to God – something he desires you to do (v23).
How can you know if you’re worshipping in spirit and truth?
- You don’t need a special building, or time, or place. You can worship him anywhere.
- If you find you can only worship in specific places, you might be substituting God’s true spiritual glory with something you can see.
- Some people take it too far: “I don’t need to go to church because I can worship God anywhere.” But God calls us together to worship him, always. One Church is the goal.
And it should be clear by now that you go to God…
In Christ
He is God who came to you. He is the truth in “spirit and truth”. Jesus is the one you go to as the communication and representation of the Father to you. The very Word of God.
There can be no other way to come to God than to go to the God who comes to you!
You pray: “Lord, forgive me my sin. Turn me around. Grant me life with you in your kingdom, your lordship.” That woman was soon convinced, and she went and told everyone. And here’s why:
Everyone must hear (27-42)
Read John 4:27.
The woman had been amazed that this Jewish man (Jesus) had spoken to her. It’s clear that Jesus’ disciples felt the same. In fact, they’d have been appalled. But as the people of the town say in v42, Jesus is the saviour of the world.
You have prejudices, biases, and discriminatory attitudes you’re barely aware of.
- Sometimes those are about skin colour, sometimes gender (or sexual orientation), or wealth.
- Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (the educated leader) and that woman (sinful in shame) with dignity, clarity, and truth.
- You, me, this church – we must all put prejudice aside and reach everyone. All have sinned, but Jesus is the saviour of the world.
And look to the harvest! Read John 4:34-38.
The disciples needed to realise that everyone in front of them was precious to God and in need of the Good News. Some will “sow” the gospel, demonstrating God’s love in action, inviting people to church events and services, offering to pray, giving Bibles. Others will “reap” – leading someone those last few paces to Jesus himself.
Like Jesus’ disciples, you’re to have an eye to the harvest! So sow with anticipation. And reap with thanksgiving. But with the harvest all around you, never stop.
And the woman herself is a lovely example of witnessing winsomely!
Read John 4:28-29, 39-42.
She was so enthusiastic and compelling that she went to tell the very people she’d been avoiding! And they were clearly affected by what she said, so went to see Jesus for themselves. The very essence of evangelism is right there: Tell people about Jesus; lead them to him so that they can discover him for themselves.
And if you’ve never come to Jesus, be like those townspeople. You already know plenty of Christians who delight in Christ. Now go to him yourself and be convinced of him for yourself. There’s no such thing as second-hand faith. You can’t outsource it to a priest.
You go yourself to God in Christ, and you find that he has already come to you and is waiting to grant you eternal life.
How does God come to you? Personally, in your shame, in your (greatest) need, and so so gently.
How do you go to him? Enquiring, questioning, in spirit and in truth, in Christ.
Everyone must know: Put all prejudice aside; look to the harvest (sowing and reaping with joy); witness winsomely.