Jesus The Soul Winner

Note some parallels between Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus in John 3 and the Samaritan woman in John 4:

• In John 3, Jesus dealt with a man—In John 4 He dealt with a woman.
• Nicodemus was named—the woman was not named.
• Nicodemus was an up-and-outer—the woman was a down-and-outer.
• Nicodemus was a Jew—the woman was a Samaritan.
• Nicodemus was moral—the woman was immoral.
• Jesus’ encounter of Nicodemus took place at night—His encounter with the woman was during the day.
• Both Nicodemus and the woman were ignorant of Who Christ was.
• Both responded to Jesus’ first statement with a “How” (John 3:4; 4:9).
• Both misunderstood the symbolic language and message of Christ (spiritual birth/human birth—spiritual water/material water).

BOTTOM LINE: Nicodemus and the woman both got saved!

Let’s observe and learn from Jesus as He gives us a soul winning demonstration at Jacob’s well.

I. His COMPULSION (v. 4—“…he must needs go through Samaria.”)

1. Going out of His way—Jesus was going from Judaea to Galilee (cf. 2:22-23; v. 3).  Jews would avoid Samaritans (v. 9).  But Jesus was compelled to go out of His way keep a “divine appointment” with this woman at Jacob’s well who needed to be saved. He set aside Jewish traditions and racial differences to win one sinful woman.
2. The extra effort—Winning a soul sometimes takes some extra effort. It was a tiring walk traveling over mountainous terrain to Sychar. John 4:6—“Jesus therefore, being WEARIED with his journey, sat thus on the well.” We must go when we are tired. We must not be weary in well doing (Gal. 6:9).