Name

 

Sermon Reflections from Name | Alex Hardt | May 12, 2024

Throughout his sermon Pastor Alex reminded us how Mothers or Mother figures are vital to our emotional health. By providing that listening ear and gentle guidance they emulate Jesus’ loving care and help us to lead stronger and more resilient lives.

For his text this week, Pastor Alex chose the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4. Jesus’ encounter with this unnamed woman showed his great love and careful counseling that led to her transformation. When he first met her in John 4:1-9 she was what we would consider today a ‘hot mess’. She was an outcast in her village because of her immoral behavior but Jesus reached out to her when she least expected it. Jesus was tired and thirsty sitting strategically at the well knowing she would arrive. He asked her for a drink of water. She was doubtful and filled with trepidation as men did not speak with lone women especially one like her. She had come in the heat of the day to avoid the other women who had shunned her. Since Jews did not associate with Samaritans, she did not expect him to speak let alone ask her for something. He realized her fear and led her into a discussion that pointed her towards a deeper meaning as he introduced the idea of living water. She was intrigued and asked him about this thinking this living, eternal water could be the solution to her having to come to the well and face those she lived around. Just like many of us, she sought to avoid her problem emotions and was structuring her life so that she could avoid conflict. However, Jesus is teaching us here that we need to openly discuss our issues and realize that HE is the solution. I love 2 Corinthians 2:20 which assures us, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Next, Jesus invites her to partake of the living water. John 4:13-14 “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” She was eager to embrace this idea and was joyful at the thought of such water. Then Jesus caused her to have to confront her sin. John 4:15-18 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” His words caused her to think and reevaluate who this man could be. She saw him as a prophet and moved the conversation to religious differences between the Jews and Samaritans. Jesus was not waylaid, he confronted her with the truth of her sin and guided her to seek the truth of who he was. 4:25-26 “ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” When she realized the truth of his words, she was transformed!

Jesus had made her world turn upside down. She was no longer afraid or cowering when thinking about those around her and their criticisms. She became bold and returned to them changed. John 4:39-42 “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” She was transformed by Jesus and his message and taking his message of how he had changed her life impacted on those around her. Jesus not only transforms our lives through faith in Him but it spills out and over as we share with others. Just like the Samaritan women did for those around her, we too are God’s plan to share and spread His Good News to those around us!

Blessing,
Linda
​
MESSAGE LINK
Click Here to View the Message on Youtube
Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
​Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass