How Jesus Evangelises...

 

In the second part of our latest evangelism series 'How to Share Christ with Passion', Lindy takes us to some of the practical examples in the Bible - in particular, how Jesus and Paul walk the talk - to help us glean from them in our evangelistic endeavours. This article has been adapted from one of her talks.

 

 

A well-known evangelistic conversation initiated by Jesus is chronicled in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John.

 

Jesus sat by a well and when a Samaritan woman came to draw water from it, He asked her to give Him a drink. This provoked a response from her, who answered Him back - how is it that a Jew like Him is asking for water from her, a Samaritan woman?

 

 

The back story is that Jews and Samaritans had no dealings with each other because Jews regard themselves as racially and religiously pure, while viewing Samaritans as half-breds because they and their Jewish ancestors married non-Jews.

Jesus' reply to her is like a teaser; he is basically saying 'If you knew the gift of God and my identity, you can ask me for living water'. This is the start of Him pointing the Samaritan woman to Himself and what He offers.

The Samaritan woman asked back:

1) Where does He get the living water, since he have no instrument or vessel to draw water from the deep well?

2) Is He greater than Jacob, who built this well during his time for him and his family, livestock and descendants to drink from?

Jesus then replied that the water He gives will "become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life"; unlike water from the well, the water He offers will quench our thirst forever.

The Samaritan woman then 'bites the bait', and asked Him for such water.

However, instead of saying "here it is", or "yes", or showing her the water, he enquired and exposed her sin. The woman then asked a question that side-tracked away from this, to which Jesus answered her queries and corrected her perspective.

The Samaritan woman responded, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." Her answer shows us that she, like the Jews, have at least some knowledge and expectation that a Saviour is going to come. This parallels our modern society where a good portion of people we are evangelising have heard about Jesus and have been told that He is going to come again soon.

Finally, Jesus revealed directly to her - He is the Messiah i.e. the Christ.

Next thing we know, the woman left her water jar and went away into town, saying to the people "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (John 4:28-30)

Without Jesus physically reaching out to them, the people who heard her went out of the town and were coming to Him.

 

 

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His Word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.”—John 4:39-41

In short, against societal norm, Jesus' evangelism to a sinful woman of a different, hostile race open doors to many people from her town through her witnessing. And boy was He tired travelling from Judea towards Galilee (John 4:3,6).

Looking at the above account, what are the learning points for us?

 

 

 

If we could summarise them 'neatly'...

 

 

1. There is no "right" moment or person for evangelism.

 

Even when we are tired, or our friends and colleagues are of a different race, religion, gender or are leading sinful lifestyles, or if they said things like 'I've heard it before', don't let these stop you from evangelising.

 

 

2. Let us not confuse believing, witnessing and evangelising.

 

Evangelising points people to Jesus and His offer of eternal salvation.

Witnessing points people to Jesus by telling them what He has done for you.

Believing can happen when people accept Jesus through your witnessing.

Genuine belief, as John in his later passages showed us, happens when people accept Jesus because of His Word.

 

 

3. Be prepared to call out sin in your evangelism.

That's what Jesus did, conversationally, when the woman wanted to take up His offer.

 

Bear in mind He did not confront her sin in a judgmental or hostile manner, but in a matter-of-fact way. However, it is a different story for the Pharisees and scribes who burden others and use God's name to enrich themselves at the expense of others.

 

  

Are there any more learning points you can glean in from Jesus' exchange?

Further Reflection:

What can you work on or change in your evangelism?