Jesus is the Messiah (John 4:1-42)
Sermon Summary
22 March 2026
Ps. David Yan
John’s purpose is that his readers should come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God – the Messiah.
Jesus manifested his Messiahship in two ways. First by his omniscience. Secondly by his declaration of what pure worship is. Only the Messiah could have done this.
His omniscience is manifested in his knowledge of the Samaritan woman’s adulterous life. She was overwhelmed by his omniscience and perceived he was a prophet.
His declaration that pure worship is worship in spirit and truth was revolutionary. Neither the Samaritans nor the Jews at that time understood what pure worship was. They relied on location and ceremony. A change was about to occur.
On these two matters Jesus spoke like a prophet, indeed, more than a prophet, he spoke with divine authority. Only the Anointed One could speak as he did.
The woman had a conscience. When confronted she denied she had a husband. She was religious but her religion had no power to change her. She had an appearance of godliness but lacked the power thereof.
Jesus went on and taught that pure worship did not need a mountain or a city. True worship would be in spirit and truth. Such worship does not need external props. It is within a person – in emotions and in mind. This worship was brought about by Jesus Christ.
The woman responded by leaving her water pot. She rushed back to her town and told her friends she had met someone who might be the Messiah. She showed the right priorities. She had met the Messiah. Her water pot could be left. The men came and met Jesus. They also believed. Such was the powerful testimony of Jesus.
Pure worship does not need physical props. It is from within a person wrought by the Holy Spirit in the human spirit.
Consider some instances of such worship. The Hebrew patriarchs wandered from place to place. They had no temple but they called on the name of the Lord in pure worship. David committed adultery and murder. At the time of his restoration he worshipped in spirit and truth saying God would not despise a broken and contrite heart. At the resurrection of Jesus, the women held his feet and worshipped. At his ascension the disciples gazed into the sky and worshipped. Stephen, as he was being stoned to death uttered his last words, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” In all these instances the people worshipped in spirit and truth. There were no external props – no mountain, no city, no priests, no pastors, no pilgrimages, no crucifixes, but just the human spirit elevated by the Holy Spirit to worship the Creator.
Jesus restored pure worship in the world. Who but the Anointed One could do this? Jesus is the Messiah. The Samaritan woman came to see this. How blessed she was. How liberated you are if you also come to see Jesus as the Messiah.