Study# | A Change Of Plans

Scripture:

7: There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

28: The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29: Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Theme:

Introduction:

The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel written by the Apostle John.
- Some believed that it was to fill the gaps left by the first three gospels, but no concrete evidence makes this universally true. However, it does in a unique and genuine way divulge the depth of the relationship between God and the Son and the relationship between the believer and the Godhead.
The scripture is taken from a well-know story in the Bible often named “The Woman at the Well”.
- Samaritans were an “impure” people to the Jews.
- The Jews hated Samaritans.
- The Land of Samaria represented a den of temptation to the Jews.
- Jesus replied with the specific need to go THROUGH…not TO…Samaria.
- Jesus asks for water
- She questions his interaction with her, being a Samaritan.
  - He tells her about a preferable Living Water — John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
- She asks for the Living water
  - Jesus tells her of her “lack of a husband” – John 4:18, “For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” In other words, “and the one you got now ain’t yours”
- Jesus preaches to the woman
- The disciples come and notice but don’t interrupt
- The woman leaves her waterpot, goes back to the town, and says, “Come see a man!”

Body:

The woman experienced a change in her life.

She was converted –
- As it says in Acts 26:18, “To OPEN THEIR EYES, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
She became a witness of Jesus, the Christ –
- As it says in John 4: 29, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

Conclusion:

This passage also has a very tangible, realistic, down-to-earth interpretation also –

It is the change of plans that is the primary indication of the change of life.
- Mark 8:34, “Whosoever will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
- John 4:28, “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city,”
  - “left her waterpot” – Left the old life, the old ways, and the old environment (In but not of anymore)
  - “went her way” – The new direction in Christ is now HER direction…total acceptance

The change can clearly be seen when the story is analyzed in three parts:

The woman’s plans were changed by the presence and ministry of Jesus at that well.

The song sung by Sandra Couch says:

“A change, a change, has come over me. He changed my life, and now I’m free.”

God freed me because:

#19

A Change Of Plans