John 4:7-26

Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 4:7-26

1. We should mark the mingled tact and condescension of Christ in dealing with a careless sinner.
2. We should mark Christ’s readiness to give mercies to careless sinners.
3. We should mark the priceless excellence of Christ’s gifts when compared with the things of this world.
4. We should mark the absolute necessity of conviction of sin before a soul can be converted to God.
5. We should mark the uselessness of any idea of Christianity which only consists of formality.
6. We should mark Christ’s gracious willingness to reveal Himself to the chief of sinners.

"It is foolish to expect that such persons will voluntarily come to us and begin to seek knowledge. We must begin with them and go down to them in the spirit of courteous and friendly initiative."

"The Lord Jesus is far more ready to hear than we are to pray and far more ready to give favors than we are to ask them. All day long He stretches out His hands to the disobedient and rebellious. He has thoughts of pity and compassion towards the vilest of sinners even when they have no thoughts of Him."

"There is no heart satisfaction in this world until we believe in Christ. Jesus alone can fill up the empty places of our inward selves...The waters may have their ebbing times, but they are living waters and they will never be completely dried.

"Till men and women are brought to feel their sinfulness and need, no real good is ever done to their souls. Till a sinner sees themselves as God sees them, they will continue careless and unmoved."

"The most gorgeous cathedral service is offensive in God’s sight if all is gone through coldly, heartlessly and without grace. The feeblest gathering of three or four poor believers in a home to read the Bible and pray is a more acceptable sight to Him who searches the heart than the fullest congregation which is ever gathered in the great church in Rome."

"Whatever someone’s past life may have been, there is hope and a remedy for them in Christ. If they are only willing to hear Christ’s voice and follow Him, Christ is willing to receive them at once as a friend and to bestow on them the fullest measure of mercy and grace."

Questions:

1. We see, in this passage, Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well, which carries lots of instruction regarding conversations with unbelievers. We see, firstly, that Jesus’ initiates conversation. Ryle encourages us in this as well when he tells us we shouldn’t expect unbelievers to come and seek spiritual conversation. We must find avenues to their hearts. Do we expect people to come to us? How good are we at initiating such conversations? How can we grow?

2. The turning point in this conversation was when Jesus pointed out her sin, namely, that she had no husband currently, and had 5 previously. This is a breach of the 7th commandment. Ryle exhorts us that no good can be done for souls if they do not feel a need for a cure to their disease. This means that we must talk about sin and help other observe themselves before God’s holy law and then apply the healing balm of the gospel. In conversations with unbelievers, do we get to talking about sin or do we just jump to talking about Jesus?

3. In talking about Christ with others, do we believe that no sinner is so far gone that Christ cannot reach them? Do we believe that He holds out his hands to a disobedient people, willing to receive them? Do we believe that Jesus has treasures forever more for all who trust Him? May we believe these things ourselves and hold them out to those around us with confidence!