3. Gospel of John Series [13]
The Savior of the World
Gospel of John Series [13]
John 4:27-42
© August 25, 2019
Pastor Paul K. Kim 3

4. THE STORY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN REVEALED ABOUT JESUS
So far [John 4:1-26]…
It revealed Jesus’ radical love for broken people in sin like this Samaritan woman.
It revealed Jesus’ living water that quenches the soul’s thirst that only God can satisfy.
It revealed Jesus’ holiness that disturbs the conscience of sin in order to satisfy the soul.
It revealed Jesus’ Messianic identity that leads us to be true worshippers.

5. 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:25-26
41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:41-42

6. THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF REVIVAL IN THIS STORY [JOHN 4:27-42]
Key Element #1: God uses an unlikely person’s testimony to bring revival.
27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man  who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. (vs )
The Samaritan woman finally opened her eyes to see who Jesus was and was quenched by the living water that Jesus the Messiah can only give.
Notice that her simple testimony (perhaps, the most unlikely person’s testimony) was used by God to bring revival to the whole town.
She shared three simple things: (1) her discovery of who Jesus is, (2) what Jesus has done for her, and (3) her invitation to others to come to Jesus.

7. *An Excerpt from an Interview with Becket Cook (Author of A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption):
It was such a relief to be in this relationship with Christ. It didn’t feel costly, because I was so full of joy. But it did cost me some friends, some really deep, lifelong relationships. A lot of my friends were semi-supportive, but some of my closest friends were not. That was painful, but at the time I was so euphoric I didn’t care. Once the book came out, some of the friendships that were lingering and semi-alive vanished for good. I was cut off from several people, some of the closest friends of my life. The gain is like Paul said: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8) The gain is this relationship with God through Christ. Eternal life. It’s this impenetrable joy because of not only knowing Christ, but knowing the meaning of life—where I came from, what I’m doing, where I’m going. It gives me such peace. ( posted on 8/23/2019)

8. THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF REVIVAL IN THIS STORY [JOHN 4:27-42]
Key Element #2: Jesus calls us to do the work of sowing and reaping of God’s sovereign grace for revival to breakout.
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”  32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”  33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

9. THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF REVIVAL IN THIS STORY [JOHN 4:27-42]
Key Element #2: Jesus, as the Lord of the harvest, calls us to do the work of sowing and reaping of God’s sovereign grace for revival to breakout.
36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.  37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” (vs )
Here we see Jesus’ divinity again; though humanly he was thirsty and hungry, his food was self-replenishing work to do the will of God (harvest).
Jesus embarked the Messianic age that the sowing and reaping may come together; as the Lord of the harvest, he calls us to be sowers & reapers.

10. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.” Amos 9:13

11. THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF REVIVAL IN THIS STORY [JOHN 4:27-42]
Key Element #2: Jesus, as the Lord of the harvest, calls us to do the work of sowing and reaping of God’s sovereign grace for revival to breakout.
36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.  37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” (vs )
Here we see Jesus’ divinity again; though humanly he was thirsty and hungry, his food was self-replenishing work to do the will of God (harvest).
Jesus embarked the Messianic age that the sowing and reaping may come together; as the Lord of the harvest, he calls us to be sowers & reapers.
In other words, the root cause of revival is God’s sovereign grace to which we are called to be the workers in the field of the Lord’s harvest!

12. His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!
Revivals begin with God’s own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones…Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder
His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!
Andrew Bonar
We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again.
G. Campbell Morgan

13. THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF REVIVAL IN THIS STORY [JOHN 4:27-42]
Key Element #3: Jesus is central to the signs of true revival in believers.
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of  the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (vs )
Note that the woman’s simple-yet-genuine testimony caused the whole town to be drawn to Jesus and many ended up believing in Jesus as well.
Their revival had the marks and signs of true revival, all pointing to Jesus.
Four signs were: (1) desire to stay with Jesus, (2) desire to trust Jesus more, (3) desire to be taught by Jesus, and (4) desire to tell others about Jesus.

14. THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
In what ways do you realize your need for sharing your simple testimony so that God may use it to bring revival?
What would it mean for you to trust and obey Jesus’ call to do the work of sowing as well as of reaping in the Lord’s harvest?
How will you respond to the Spirit’s work in you to bring revival to those around you as well as to yourself? What is your first step?