Jesus, in John 4 said He must go through Samaria. Why was it necessary for Him to do this? In this lesson we examine why.

1. Breaking down Barriers
By
Brian Birdow
Sermon text: John 4
www.cmcoc.org

2. Objectives
1. To understand God’s plan for one nation
2. To understand the divide (John 4)
3. To know that division is conquered in
Christ!

3. Sermon text
• John 4:1-3 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 Judea, and departed again into
Galilee.

4. Sermon Text
• John 4:4-5 And he must needs go
through Samaria.
• Then came he to a city of Samaria, which
is called Sychar, near to the parcel of
ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
• Why did He have to go through Samaria?

5. (1) One Nation
• Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless
you, and curse him that curses you: and in you
shall all families of the earth be blessed.
• Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall
surely become a great and mighty nation, and
all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in
him?

6. (1) One Nation
• Genesis 22:18 And in your descendants shall
all the nations of the earth be blessed; because
you have obeyed my voice.
• Galatians 3:8-9 And the scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the Gentiles through
faith, preached before the gospel unto
Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be
blessed. So then they who are of faith are
blessed with faithful Abraham.

7. (1) One Nation
• Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his
flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances;
to make in himself of two one new man, so
making peace;

8. (2) Jews and Samaritans
• John 4:9 Then said the woman of Samaria
unto him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask
drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria? for
the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
• How did she know He was a Jew?
• Mark 14:70 And he denied it again. And after a
little, they that stood by said again to Peter,
Surely you are one of them: for you are a
Galilean, and your speech agrees with it.

9. Why the divide?
• Because they intermarried with Jews. They
were Jewish, Assyrian, and Persian blood.
• The did worship the God of Israel but not fully
(2 Kings 17:24-41)
• The Samaritans interrupted the work and
rebuilding of the temple. (Ezra 3 & 4 note
4:10) (Neh. 4:1-2)

10. Notice!!
• The divide of Jews and Gentiles goes back
centuries!
• We can pass on foolishness from generation to
generation!
• Old issues simply don’t fade away!
• Sweeping things under the rug does not
dissolve an issue!

12. The Divide Cost!
• If you go straight through it is a three day
journey.
• If you cross the Jordan it would take seven
days to get to Galilee.
• What great lengths we will go because of
division!

13. Are we divided?
1. In our marriages or do we have common
goals?
2. In our method of child rearing?
3. In our finances and how money should be
spent?

14. Are we divided?
4. In our vision for the church in Caddo
Mills?
5. In how what we believe is right and
wrong?
6. What we expect of each other?

15. Division = Disharmony
• Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except
they are agreed?
NO

16. Unity = Harmony
• John 17:20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also who shall believe on me through their word;
• That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me,
and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that you have sent me.
• And the glory which you gave me I have given them;
that they may be one (perfected in unity), even as
we are one: I in them, and you in me, that they may be
made perfect in one; and that the world may know that
you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have
loved me.

17. Division conquered in Christ!
• Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for you
are all one in Christ Jesus.