YOUTH STS LESSON 139 CONVERSION OF THE SAMARITANS

TEXT: John 4:1-54

MEMORY VERSE: “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42).

Jesus, on a journey from Judaea to Galilee was tired and needed to rest. He stopped at Jacob’s well in Sychar, of Mount Ephraim, a province of Samaria to evangelise an adulterous woman he met at the well. This woman had turned down the message initially because of the hatred that existed between Samaria (the capital city of Northern Israel) and the Southern Israelites (known as the Jews of Judah and Benjamin). The discrimination, rivalry, hatred and contempt existed because the Samaritan (who boasted being of Jacob’s race) had gone into idolatry, unholy relationships and sinful marriages. The Jews, therefore, saw them as a mixed multitude unworthy of father Abraham’s race.

However, Jesus was able to minister the gospel to the woman who got convicted and accepted the gospel. She further went ahead to invite her neighbours and people to “…Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (verse 4:29). Christ did not allow the age-long hatred to affect His message. Today, He expects all believing youths to put aside all racial, tribal and man-made divisions and ensure we reach out to all youths and have true fellowship with the brethren.

PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE SOUL-WINNING (John 4: 1-9, 11-15, 17, 20; Matthew 10: 22- 26; Acts 8:4; 18: 24 -28; 1 Corinthians 9: 19-22; Proverbs 11:30)

“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee” (John 4:1-3). As Jesus went about preaching the gospel and doing good to all, the Pharisees began to envy and oppose His ministry because their evil ways were exposed by the gospel. Jesus was not distracted but relocated to ensure many more people get the gospel of salvation. “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come” (Matthew 10:23). The action of Jesus in moving to Galilee teaches us that,

one, while on earth, believers who preach the gospel can also face persecutions.

Two, the devil and his agents are never pleased whenever we share the gospel of Christ or live a holy life.

Three, when faced with life threatening persecution, youths can relocate. In our schools and homes, we are to separate from all who make us do things that go against our faith, so as to be focused on God’s service and not plunge ourselves into avoidable sufferings.

Question 1: Why was the Samaritan woman unwilling to listen to Jesus Christ initially?

Samaria was the capital city of Northern Israel where Prophet Elisha prophesied saying “…Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria” (2 Kings 7:1). After Prophet Elisha’s time, Shalmaneser invaded Israel in the days of Hoshea, and laid siege to Samaria (at about B.C. 723), for three years (2 Kings 18:9-12; 17:3), and removed vast numbers of the tribes into captivity. Many foreigners were brought into Israel after the conquest of Samaria and they intermarried creating a mixed race.

The Southern Israelites were outraged at this impurity and betrayal which resulted in serious hatred and discrimination between the Samaritans and other parts of Israel. This tribal sentiment and prejudice made this woman to initially decline the message by Christ. Today, many youths remain unreached and unsaved because some believers promote racial discrimination.

Question 2: What are some principles youths could learn from the example of Jesus witnessing to the Samaritan woman?

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark
16:15). Jesus did not allow tribal sentiments or racial discrimination to influence the gospel which He preached. Like Christ, we must be prepared to take the gospel to every place and everyone, at any time and in any circumstance. We must apply wisdom in preaching and should not count anyone as being outside the love of God. Jesus crossed all barriers to share the gospel message to this woman and we cannot afford to do anything less if we are indeed His followers. To reach all youths around us, we need to:

(i) create the right opportunities and openings;

(ii) ensure that we utilise every opportunity we have to share the gospel;

(iii) be gentle and patient in disposition, presentation and conduct;

(iv) do not condemn the sinner by being judgmental;

(v) avoid arguments and distractive discourse;

(vi) depend fully on the Lord and ensure you speak only the truth and facts while preaching.

PERSEVERANCE TO PREACH CHRIST AS THE ONLY SAVIOUR (John 4:10,13,14,26-39; Ephesians 2:8; John 7:37; Luke 24:47,48)

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10). Christ said to the woman, “If thou knowest the gift of God”. Most times, ignorance makes youths not to benefit from the living water that only comes from Christ.

Question 3: What are the benefits of the living water that Christ gives?

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again” (John 4:13). The living water of Christ:

(i) satisfies (John 7:37,38);

(ii) wipes tears away (Revelation 7:17);

(iii) makes life fruitful (Revelation 22:1,2). Youths should seize the opportunity to drink of this living water so as not to thirst again or run dry (verse 14). “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Effective soul-winning is borne out of perseverance in seeing souls get converted in spite of their initial reluctance in accepting the gospel message.

Despite the Samaritan woman’s resistance, Christ was determined to reach her and her race with the gospel. Though He was tired and needed to rest, He had a consuming passion and propelling desire for souls that made Him set aside His personal comfort and hunger to minister to those who were spiritually hungry. The food which He was to eat could not be compared to the worth of the soul, as the work of God the Father was His delight and happiness. We need to passionately follow the footsteps of Christ if we are His true followers. We should devote ourselves to His work and ensure we do not lose any opportunity to present the gospel of Christ to others.

Question 4: What do we learn from Christ’s decision to set aside His physical need for food and minister to the Samaritan woman?

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). We learn from Christ that:

(i) Spiritual food is more valuable than any physical food. We need to utilise every opportunity to feed others.

(ii) The worth of a soul is great and we should ensure we do not let any sinner remain unreached.

(iii) Ministering to the youths require discipline.

(iv) We should preach the gospel with the urgency it deserves. Time is short and life is shorter.

(v) Priority should be given to the business of the Father more than any earthly business. We should, however, apply wisdom in ensuring we create a proper balance between our spiritual business and academics.

(vi) The love of God in the heart of a believer gives him passion for evangelism. Jesus had passion because of the love He had for God and sinners. We need to show forth the love of God through the passion with which we minister the gospel of Christ to the youths around us.

(vii) The field is ripe, and we cannot afford to lose souls. When Jesus was preaching to the Samaritan woman, no one knew that she would go and bring many more people who would eventually be saved. Whenever the Spirit of God ministers to us to preach the gospel, we must do so and not delay as we do not know what God intends to do through the person He wants us to minister to.

PRACTICAL EFFECT OF BELIEVING IN CHRIST (John 4:40- 45; Mark 16:19,20; 1 Timothy 1:12-16; Acts 26: 15-19; 5:31; Acts 1:8; 8:4)

“And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (verses 41,42). The excitement of salvation and the joy of the new-found
Messiah made the Samaritan woman go to the town to tell everyone what she knew about Christ. Many youths today, after conversion, fail to tell others about Jesus Christ. This attitude is unbecoming of genuine believers. As soon as we become saved, we should tell others about Christ. We should not allow the knowledge of Christ to remain in us without telling others.

Question 5: Mention people who shared their faith in God with others in Bible day.

The Scripture is filled with people who shared their faith in God with others. We have Naaman’s maid (2 Kings 5:3), who shared her faith with her master’s wife; Daniel also shared his faith with Nebuchadnezzar when he admonished him to break off his sin confirm through data; Paul to
Agrippa during his trial (Acts 26:19,27-29), Stephen and Philip (Acts 7:2-57; 8:5). After Jesus left Samaria, He arrived in Galilee and the Galileans who were present during the miracles at the feasts in Jerusalem welcomed Him warmly. His own people in Nazareth did not honour Him because of familiarity since He was raised among them. There are youths today who do not honour their parents, ministers of the gospel, youth leaders and school fellowship officers because of familiarity. This will only result in loss of the blessings of God. We need to ensure that we are obedient also to ushers, officers and leaders in the church. While Christ was in Cana of Galilee, a nobleman travelled from Capernaum to Galilee to ask Him to follow him to Capernaum to pray for the healing of his child.

He did not know that the power of God is not hindered by distance. Jesus gave a word of command and he believed. Before he got home, his son has already received his healing. Christ has the power to heal all manner of diseases and sicknesses. His power as of old remains the same. As we preach the gospel, we should pray for the sick faith in His word and they will be healed. Christ has promised us several benefits. All we need to do is to ask and He is always ready to accomplish whatever He has promised, provided we do not shut the door to our blessing through unbelief.