How to Confront Someone With a Past

How to Confront Someone With a Past
(To get the maximum benefit from this message, read lesson 021 in Getting To Know Jesus - Volume 02.) This book is available at www.gettingtoknowjesus.org.

Occasionally you encounter someone who has a past. They have garnered a reputation for some kind of behavior that makes them a social outcast.

Jesus’ ministry is now in full swing. He is preaching, doing miracles, etc. In John 4:1-26 and parallel passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus is traveling to Galilee. There is starting to be some opposition to Him from the Pharisees in Judea and it is way too early to die for man’s sins. After all, He has to train some people to establish His Kingdom after He is gone!

Know When to Retreat (Leave) – Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14a; Luke 4:14a; John 4:1-4
Matthew says Jesus “withdrew” suggesting a removal from those who are already showing hostility. Sometimes the best way to handle a situation is get away from the troublemakers! Luke notes Jesus is “led by the Spirit”. There are times when the Holy Spirit will lead us to confront and times when he will lead us to break off contact with opponents. (Luke will never show Jesus in Jerusalem until the end of His ministry to emphasize the rejection by the Jews and ministry to the Gentiles!)

Therefore, Jesus goes to Galilee via Samaria. Most Jews go down the Jericho Road and cross the Jordan River rather than go through Samaria. Jews are known for their strong hatred of Samaritans – half-Jew and half Gentile. Jesus doesn’t have a problem with another person’s race, gender or place in life!

Engage in a Conversation - John 4:5-9
Like you and me, Jesus gets tired and thirsty along the way to Galilee and stops at Jacob’s Well just outside the village of Sychar, 31 miles north of Jerusalem. While resting, He sends the Apostles into town to get some food. (6th hour is 12:00 noon or 6:00 PM)

While they are gone, a Samaritan woman comes to the well to draw some water and Jesus engages her in a conversation. Lets listen in and see if there is anything here that applies to our life.

Sandwich the Truth with Love – John 4:10-18
Jesus begins the conversation by talking about the obvious – a need for water to survive. When witnessing to others, it is best to initiate on common ground and build some rapport.

This woman will feel very uneasy approaching a well with a Jewish man sitting beside it, but she swallows hard and proceeds so she can get her water, pretending that there is nothing to worry about. She comes to the well during the day to avoid the women from town who look down on her living in adultery! Are you hiding something in your past that you are ashamed for others to know about? Jesus knows all about it and He still loves you as you are!

She initially reacts with some alarm that He, a Jew, would even speak to her. Men seldom would engage in a conversation with a woman and a Jew would never talk to a Samaritan, especially a woman. Women were treated more like possessions than persons and she already has a past that makes her feel very ashamed.

Jesus doesn’t judge a person by their race, sex, status in life, or even their past. However, He does confront sinners with their behavior and exposes their need for repentance and a Savior.
Jesus takes the current circumstances and builds into a conversation that will establish Him as someone with whom this woman would want to identify. He gets her attention by asking her for a drink and then proposing that He is someone whom she should be asking for living water.
Jesus has initially gained her attention and makes her an offer of living water. She is tired of having to walk out to the well and draw water. No plumbing or public home delivered water supply!

Jesus has now gained this woman’s full attention. It is time to expose her need for salvation! He doesn’t judge or condemn her, but he will confront her with her sinful behavior and the need to change her life! She first tries to avoid her shame, but Jesus exposes that He knows the truth. She has been married five times and is now living with a man outside of the laws of marriage. Adultery and living together outside of marriage is sin!

Point the Way of Forgiveness and Healing – John 4:19-26
The Samaritan woman first marvels that a Jew would talk to a Samaritan woman and that He claims to have some kind of water that she would never thirst again. Then, after He confronts her with her sin, she turns theological and engages Jesus about where is the correct place to worship. She tries to soften her guilt and shame by talking about something else to draw Jesus off of her sin.

She challenges Jesus on the Jewish belief that Jerusalem is the proper place to worship God. Samaritans worship on nearby Mt. Gerizim. Jesus replies that God is not worshiped in a place, but in the heart of the one who loves Him and wants to worship Him.

CONCLUSION
The woman acknowledges the Samaritan expectation of the Messiah. Jesus declares that He is the Messiah! WOW! Is He Your Messiah?

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