“If Thou Knewest the Gift of God”

John 4:4 – John 4:42

This is one of my personal favorite passages in all the Bible. This passage has to do with the woman at the well. I want to go through this in detail. We love every word of God here. And every word is highly important.

John 4:5-6
Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. You can see proof of that right here. It was about the sixth hour. In the Gospel of John, time is measured from midnight as we measure time today.

“Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.”

If I asked you to meet me tomorrow at the sixth hour, you might wonder: “Does he mean 6 am or 6 pm?” There are two hours that could mean the sixth hour.

Jesus Is Tired Because He’s in this Flesh

Since Jesus is wearied from his journey, we know this means 6 pm. This is the time that women would come to the well for water.

Jesus is tired. He didn’t get any advantages over the flesh because He’s God. He was tired. He sat on the well around 6 pm.

John 4:7-9
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.  8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)  9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Jesus asks this woman of Samaria for a drink of water from the well.

She could see that Jesus was a Jew. The Jews didn’t have dealings with Samaritans. But Jesus is different. Jesus doesn’t have any bias. He isn’t willing that ANY should perish. He loves this woman here in this story. And she is one of my favorite women in the entire Bible.

Women Are Very Special to Jesus Christ

Women are very, very special to Jesus Christ.

So, imagine this. Jesus is tired. It’s around 6 pm. He’s been working all day long. He sits on the well to rest. This Samaritan woman comes to draw water from the well. Jesus says, “Give me to drink.” She wonders why Jesus would talk to her as she isn’t a Jew. Now, watch what only the Son of God could say back to this woman.

John 4:10
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 wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

We have to slow down and look at this closely because the woman at the well didn’t understand what Jesus just said.

Jesus says to her, “IF THOU KNEWEST THE GIFT OF GOD.”

She doesn’t know the gift of God. Do you know the gift of God? What does the entire Bible teach about the gift of God?

That phrase is in the Bible just 8 times. 2 in Ecclesiastes. 1 in John that we’re looking at right now. 1 in Acts. 1 in Romans. 1 in 1 Corinthians. 1 in Ephesians. And 1 in 2 Timothy. Let’s look at some of those.

What is the Gift of God in the Bible?

Ecclesiastes 3:13
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

Eating, drinking, and enjoying the good of all his labour is the gift of God. And it certainly is a gift. When you’ve worked extremely hard all day long, nothing is better than a great meal with great drink to go with it. God says, “Eat, drink, and enjoy.” And that we will do.

Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

We rejoice in our labor. We work extremely hard for God. And God gives us riches and wealth, power to eat thereof, to take our portion, and to rejoice in our labor. It’s a great gift from God.

So, we see rejoicing in our labor as the gift of God. What else do we see?

Acts 8:20
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

This is speaking of Simon the sorcerer who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved. When we first get saved, we don’t know or understand much of the Scriptures. Simon didn’t understand that the gift of God couldn’t be purchased with money.

This passage is talking about the Holy Ghost being the gift of God. Simon wanted the power of the Holy Ghost. But a gift can’t be purchased. A gift is free or it’s not a gift. You can’t work for a gift.

Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The gift of God, as seen in the Scriptures, is eating, drinking, and rejoicing in our labor. It is the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the life and talent that God gives to us. But most importantly it is the gift that Jesus speaks of to this woman at the well in John Chapter 4.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is THE GIFT OF GOD. God offers you a free gift. This gift is eternal life. And this gift only comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans Chapter 5 says free gift three separate times.

The Gift of God in John 4 is Everlasting Life

The gift of God that Jesus is speaking of to the woman at the well is everlasting life. Let’s go back to John Chapter 4. Remember, this woman of Samaria is not quite understanding what Jesus is talking about.

John 4:10
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 wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

He’s telling her that she should be asking Him for the gift of God which Jesus compares to living water.

During soul winning, or preaching the Gospel, I tell people that Jesus has the gift of everlasting life waiting for them. I say, “Hey, if I told you I had a great gift for you, let’s say a brand new car that you really wanted, and I said it’s a free gift from me to you.”

If you really wanted it, and you believed me, you would say: “Josh, give me the keys. I want the gift. GIVE ME THE CAR.”

Same thing with everlasting life. If you want to go to heaven, and you believe Jesus can save you from all your sins and give you everlasting life right now, you would ask Him to save you. “Jesus, please give me that gift. Please give me that living water.”

Jesus tells the woman at the well to just ask Him for it. “Give me to drink. And he would have given thee living water.” It’s that simple to be saved. Believe in Jesus. Ask Him to save you. He saves you because you believe in Him or trust Him or have faith in Him only for salvation.

He has the living water. You don’t. No one else does. He has it. He’s the only one that can give it.

Now, let’s see what this woman says back to Jesus.

John 4:11-12
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?  12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus Has Something Better Than H2O Water

She is beginning to see that Jesus is offering her something better than just regular water.

She asks Jesus, the Almighty Creator of all things: “Art thou greater than our father Jacob? He gave us this well. He drank of it himself. His children drank of this well. His cattle drank of this well.”

She doesn’t understand who she’s talking with yet. Jacob was just a man like you and I. She’s talking to her Creator who knows everything about her. He knows the thoughts and intents of her heart. He is the Word of God.

So, the woman asks if Jesus is greater than Jacob. Let’s see what Jesus says.

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Jesus answers her question. Is Jesus greater than Jacob? Jacob built that well of water.

Jesus says, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” Jacob gave them water, but they thirst over and over and over again with that water.

For example, I give you some food and water today. Some chicken and some lemonade. But I promise you that you’ll be hungry and thirsty in just a few short hours.

Jacob gave them normal water. They got thirsty again. The woman is at that well that Jacob built getting water again and again and again.

Here’s where Jesus tells her who is greater. Is it Jesus or Jacob? Jesus says: “But, whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall NEVER thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Is Jacob or Jesus Greater?

Now, whose greater? The man that built that well that quenches your thirst over and over again. You have to continue coming to the well to get that water every day.

Or is it the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus?

Jesus has living water. Jesus will give you that living water ONCE and you will NEVER thirst again. That means you only need to drink of it once. Once you drink of the living water that Jesus GIVES to you, AS A GIFT, you will NEVER thirst ever again. Once you’ve taken it, it’s yours forever. Once saved. Always saved.

“The water I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

This water Jesus has is everlasting life. That sounds like some great water to drink there. The woman is there to get water from Jacob’s well, but Jesus is offering her something far better.

I equate this situation to a works based salvation. False preachers will teach that you have to keep coming back over and over and over again with your sacrifices, your works, and your good life to get to heaven. You’ll never make it that way. Jacob’s well is just normal water. Jacob’s well couldn’t save her soul from hell.

But thank God Jesus was there that day. Thank God. The greatest soul winner in existence there in the flesh at this well with this woman.

This woman is a wise woman. Do you think she wants this water Jesus has?

Many People Say No to Living Water

Many people out there today are foolish. They would have said no to that water Jesus is offering. They say no to us when we come with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s foolishness. The wise will take that free gift. Yeah, I’ll take it. Watch what this woman says to Jesus.

John 4:15
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Jesus is offering up this living water. If thou knewest the gift of God, thou wouldest have asked of him.

She says, “SIR, GIVE ME THIS WATER.” I don’t to thirst ever again. I don’t want to keep coming here over and over again to draw out this water that keeps me alive. I want that living water that you have so I never thirst again. I want everlasting life. Give it to me. SMART WOMAN.

Jesus isn’t done yet, though. Watch what happens next. She doesn’t yet know who Jesus happens to be. She’s about to find out.

John 4:16-18
Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.  17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:  18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

Jesus is telling her everything he knows about her.

This woman has had five husbands. And now she’s fornicating with a man that isn’t her husband. This is a great sin according to the Bible.

Matthew 5:32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Divorce Is Not Valid For Any Reason But Fornication

If a man divorces his wife, according to Jesus Christ right there, for any other cause but fornication, that man causes his wife to commit adultery. Fornication is a physical relationship outside of Biblical marriage. If a woman lies to the man she marries about being a virgin, and he finds out, he may divorce her for that fornication.

That’s the only valid reason to put away your wife. Why? Because that woman has joined with someone else first. She became one with that other man.

So, this woman has been put away 5 times by 5 different husbands. Jesus says those men have caused her to commit adultery. And on top of that she is with another man and they are not married.

Exodus 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

So, adultery and fornication are very serious sins as seen by God’s penalty within the camp of the children of Israel. Adultery is committed when a man lies with another man’s wife. That’s a very wicked sin. The adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Thank God that Jesus is a merciful God.

Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Jesus tells us that looking on a woman with lust is committing adultery with that woman already in his heart.

Looking on a Woman With Lust is Sin

Every man in existence would be dead if the penalty applied. God has mercy on us. And Jesus is going to have great mercy on this woman here. Instead of her being put to death according to God’s perfect law, Jesus wants to give her everlasting life. That’s mercy.

I deserve death and hell. But God saved me. Jesus offered me this same gift He’s offering this woman at the well. And he offers you that same gift too.

Watch what this woman says to Jesus next.

John 4:19-20
The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.  20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

She thinks Jesus is a prophet. He is a prophet. But He is the Son of God. She doesn’t know this yet.

John 4:21-22
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.  22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:23-24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Now, to one of my absolute favorite parts in all the Scriptures in all the King James Bible.

The Woman At The Well Knew There Would Be a Messiah

John 4:25
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

From the Scriptures, this woman knows that there’s a Messiah or Savior coming. He is called Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things. And watch what Jesus says.

John 4:26 
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

He directly tells this woman that he is the Savior of the world. He is the Messiah. He is the Christ. And understand that Jesus has never once told a lie. He is who he says he is. And he is the same thing today, yesterday, and forever. You’re hearing the exact same words that woman at the well heard from Jesus.

Jesus directly says, “I that speak unto thee am he.”

He tells the blind man in John Chapter 9 the same thing. Jesus asks him, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” That blind man responds, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” Jesus says, “It is he that talketh with thee.” And he said, “LORD, I BELIEVE.” And he worshipped Jesus.

Jesus tells us that he is good in Matthew 20 verse 15. There’s none good but one and that is God. Jesus is the Son of God, Savior of the world, and the Almighty God himself.

Mark 14:61-62
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Jesus Is Equal With God

They accused Jesus of blasphemy and put him to death. Jesus made himself equal with God by telling the people he is the Son of God.

Many false preachers in false religions will tell people that Jesus never said he was God. There are scores and scores of Scriptures showing us that Jesus is the Almighty God. Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Almighty.”

Jesus tells us over and over within the Scriptures that he is God himself. He is God manifest in the flesh.

And this woman at the well gets to speak to the Son of God face to face, eye to eye, and mouth to mouth. What an honor for Jesus Christ to come directly to this woman. He loved her. Was she perfect. Far from it. Did she believe in Jesus Christ? Let’s see.

John 4:27-29
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?  28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,  29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

She believed. As soon as she believed, she left her waterpot. She left it behind. She didn’t care for that water that wasn’t living water. “THE WOMAN THEN LEFT HER WATERPOT.”

Hey, it’s time for you to do the same thing. Leave that other stuff behind. Put your eyes on the prize of Jesus Christ.

The Woman At The Well Is An Immediate Soul Winner

She immediately goes on her way into the city. Imagine this. She gets saved. And she immediately goes and tells everyone about Jesus Christ. She didn’t need years of experience. Some people will tell me, “Well, you can go out and win souls, Josh, because you’ve been doing it for years. You have the experience.”

No, you’re wrong. You can go out and win souls to Christ right now too. It’s all about Jesus Christ. This woman did it.

God loves women. We usually have more women wanting to come to church than men. Women give their heart and soul to Jesus Christ. Jesus loves women. They are awesome. They are amazing. They are his creation. Next to God Almighty, no one makes me happier than my wife and my four daughters.

The woman at the well leaves the well behind. “Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” She becomes a soul winner immediately.

I want all of you here to do better than me, and I know you can do better than me. If I can go out and win souls to Christ, I know you can as well. Let’s do this together. I’ll teach you everything I know. There are many soul winners in here that will teach you everything they know.

John 4:30-34
Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.  31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.  32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.  33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?  34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Our Meat Is To Do The Will of God

Hey, just as the living water, we have meat. Our meat is to do the will of God.

John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God wants you to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation; to be saved from hell today, right now. Let’s continue in John Chapter 4. Jesus continues to speak here in verse 35.

John 4:35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Hey, I’m telling you right now that fields are white already to harvest. This speaks of souls that are ready to be saved. They are all around us out here right now. I can go straight to a place now and know that we would get souls saved. We need to be getting there as soon as possible. This is urgent. This is eternity.

John 4:36-38
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.  37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.  38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Soul Winning Is Gathering Fruit to Life Eternal

Hey, when you go out and win a soul to Jesus Christ, you gather fruit until life eternal. There’s no better or more important job in this world. This job of winning souls will bring you joy, happiness, peace, and wages from God Almighty. He pays the best.

And you and I will rejoice together. You sow. I reap. I sow. You reap. Let’s get out there and give it the best we’ve got.

John 4:39
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

From this simple testimony of the woman at the well, HE TOLD ME ALL THAT EVER I DID, many of the Samaritans believed on him. Soul winner. She won many souls to Christ because of her words about Jesus Christ.

So, I want you to remember how Jesus won the soul of this woman to himself.

John 4:10
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 wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Here’s one of the keys to being a successful soul winner. People must know that going to heaven is the gift of God.

If they don’t know that salvation is a free gift, why would they ever ask for it? If they think they have to work for it, they wouldn’t ask Jesus to give them that living water. Some people go their entire lives thinking they have to live better, do better, be better, stop sinning, go to church, get baptized in water, pray every night, and more to earn their way to heaven.

Heaven Is Not A Reward For Being Good

They think heaven is a reward that they earn by being good. No. If thou knewest the gift of God, thou wouldest have asked Jesus, and he would have given you everlasting life.

This woman at the well wasn’t good. She wasn’t perfect.

Can a woman who has been married 5 times be saved? Can a woman who is fornicating with a man be saved? Can a sinner be saved? Well, this woman at the well gives you all the proof you need.

Churches look down on people. I’ve given the Gospel over and over to people living out on the streets. I’ve given hugs and handshakes to those people. I’ve turned around and had church people say don’t shake my hand. I asked why. They said, “Because you touched that woman. You shook her hand. She’s homeless.”

Hey, I would rather shake hands with that homeless woman than with that man who needs to repent.

Luke 18:11-13
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Here, we’re going to be like that publican. We know what we are. We are sinners. I don’t even deserve the ability to lift my eyes unto heaven. We will smote upon our breast instead of acting like the righteous Pharisees, and we will say: “God be merciful unto me a sinner.”

The Woman At The Well Was Surprised Jesus Spoke With Her

Hey, that woman at the well was surprised Jesus talked with her. The Jews wouldn’t speak with her. Jesus loved that woman. The King of the Jews spoke with her that day. Thank God.

We are to love these people all around us everywhere. We do not look down on people as we think we’re something better. Makes me sick. Those same people should be looking down on us. We decrease. We are sinners deserving of hell. Our only righteousness comes through Jesus himself.

We will preach against sin because I want you to change your life and live it for Jesus Christ who died for you. I’m not better than you. Not even close. But I’ve decided to give it all I’ve got for Jesus Christ who saved me just as he saved that woman at the well.

I thank God for the sacrifice Jesus made for you and I. Today, will you be like that woman at the well? Will you be wise today, know that everlasting life is a free gift, believe that Jesus is the one who gives it to you, and simply ask Him right now to give you that free gift of everlasting life.

And once you do that, will you go tell everyone you know and everyone you see?

Let’s pray.