"The Standard of Evangelism"

The Standard of Evangelism! The Gospel of John was obviously written by the Apostle John, my mention about the author is that the Gospels were written as eyewitness testimonies, but in the passage of Christ and the Samaritan woman, John 4:1-26 in verse 8 the Bible tells us that no disciples or anybody, were present except Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
So, some how this story got repeated for John to record it, and we can tell by the way John writes the story. But why did this story have to be in the Bible, Jesus is only asking for a cup of water? Why did the Holy Spirit promote this story? I believe He did so because Jesus shows us the prefect way to evangelize in this passage. "He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria." (John 4:3-4)

So after Jesus and His disciples were done baptizing people Jesus left for Galilee, but instead of going around Samaria, along the Jordan River as the Jews often did to avoid the Samaritan people. He traveled directly through Samaria, that's the first step in evangelism in this passage, Jesus didn't avoid the Samaritans because His race avoided them. Instead He went right in and through their own land.

I like verse 6 because although Jesus had deity it shows that He is showing us that He lived a life like us, for us! Then in verse 7, Jesus being tired said to the Samaritan Woman "Give Me a drink" Classic! Notice He didn't say "I'm Jesus, repent!" in the same way when we approach a non-believer we don't say "I'm a Christian, repent!" Jesus started the conversation with common understanding, that's how we need to start our conversation with non-believers making them feel comfortable to talk to us. Now her response in verse 9, is in the same tone of a response that we would get now a days. She says "how is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" she's basically saying "why are You being nice to me?" in the same way we get the same tone of expression from people now just different wording, their always wondering why were so nice.

Then Jesus from her response goes directly to the truth and freedom of life. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink', you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (4:10) "gift of God" meaning salvation, then He says "who it is who says to you," showing her His position of authority. Then the verse goes on to say "you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

So in that verse Jesus shows her three things:
(1) There's something far better then earth.
(2) He gives her an assurance of His authority.
(3) And He shows her how to obtain salvation.

In the same way, we must do the same.
(1) Show that there is a heaven and a God that loves them.
(2) Claim the assurance of salvation with the book of authority itself-the Bible.
(3) Then walk them through the sinner's prayer.
But after verse 10 we see in verse 11 that the Samaritan woman did not comprehend Jesus' spiritual message. She was only concerned about physical water and how Jesus could provide water without a way of drawing it, especially since the well was deep. She says "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and livestock?" (John 4:11-12) (notice in this verse that her tone of voice changes) she calls Him "Sir" showing a sign of respect.

Again in the same way, when we evangelize don't expect the Spirit to just fall upon non-believers and they suddenly have knowledge of Christ. No, they still have that carnal mind set and can't see the supernatural. (2 Thessalonians 2:10) Then she goes to something that she admires most her father Jacob, asking if Jesus is greater than him. Unbelievers always wonder if Jesus is greater than whatever it may be that is holding them back from having a relationship with Him. Then Jesus said "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in Him a foundation of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14) Verse 13 shows that unbelievers do things to satisfy themselves at that give time and moment. But they will never be satisfied with earthly possessions, because it's shameful and leads to destruction. "whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame-who set their mind on earthly things. (Philippians 3:19) that verse shows us what happens when we live just to satisfy our "belly" in other terms our carnality. Then in verse 14 He shows her how she can be satisfied not only on earth but in life after death. Now in verse 15 comes the turning point she shows "interest" in the Gospel she says "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." We see now that she wants satisfaction in life and she wants to know how to get it. Then in verses 16-19 shows us, that just like an evangelist once He has her interested in salvation He seals her salvation by showing her signs and wonders, He exercises the gift of knowledge by mentioning she has "five husbands, and the one she's with now is not her husband;" (vs. 18) So now she's attentive, and knows He has power because she goes on to say "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet." (vs. 19) Then she changes the subject in verse 20 she talks about where to worship on the mountain where her fathers worshiped or in Jerusalem where the Jews worship. This could mean two things (1) either she's trying to shift the conversation away from her own sins, (2) or she recognizes she's a sinner and wants to know now where to truly praise God.
I'm going to lean more toward number two seeing as what Jesus is going to tell her next. He says in verse 22 "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship," This verse tells us that the woman wasn't completely unaware of God.

Did you know that 95% of the people in our world today uphold some type of religion. But religion with God is not worship, relationship with God is worship. Then in verses 23-24 Jesus says "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Now Jesus is telling her you don't need a certain mountain, you don't need a rosary to pray, you don't have to light candles with pictures of apostles around your house, to worship. True worship is "spirit and truth" that's only what the Heavenly Father can see, our heart! Then in verses 25-26 she says and I'm paraphrasing "when Christ comes He'll teach us all things." Then Jesus says "I who speak to you am He." Now obviously when we evangelize we can't have as much of assurance as Christ did by saying "I am He" that's why we always now matter in evangelism or life in general, must leave the results up to God!