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Sermon #1182

A Man of Authority

A Sermon on John 4:28-30

Originally preached Jan. 21, 1968

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Scripture

John 4:28-30 ESV KJV
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What does it look like to follow Christ? In this sermon titled “A Man of Authority,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the extraordinary encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4:28–30. The woman believes in Jesus and then goes into her village to tell them of the great man she encountered. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that this woman is an example of what it looks like to follow Christ because when she leaves behind her sin, she is not content to rest until she has told others of her Savior. This woman realizes that the most important question to answer is: “Who is Christ?” It is not debating about religion and politics, but the identity of this man, Jesus Christ, that is most important. What is found in Jesus that cannot found elsewhere? In Jesus is the glory of God made manifest and dwelling among His people. He alone has true authority over all. The coming of Jesus is the most important thing to ever happen to this world because He is the Savior of all who believe upon His name. There should not be concern with anything else until the Christian knows that they are believing and trusting in Him as Savior.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon examines the reaction and response of the Samaritan woman after meeting Jesus. Her response is typical of a true Christian's response to meeting Jesus.

  2. The woman's response was spontaneous. She didn't have to be told to share her experience with others. Sharing one's faith should come from within, not imposed as a duty.

  3. The woman had something to give to others - her testimony of meeting Jesus. Christians have something to share with others about Jesus.

  4. The woman realized the uniqueness and glory of Jesus. She recognized He was the Christ. Christians should focus on the greatness of Jesus, not themselves.

  5. The woman had a personal experience with Jesus. While faith is objective, it is also experimental and practical. There needs to be a balance of the objective truth of Jesus and a personal experience of Him.

  6. The woman found authority in Jesus. Everyone is looking for authority and answers in life. Jesus speaks with authority as the Son of God.

  7. We need Jesus' authority for rest of mind, peace of conscience, new life, a new view of life, and great happiness.

  8. Jesus gives rest of mind by giving us the truth about God, life, and our purpose. He answers the deep questions of life.

  9. Jesus gives peace of conscience through forgiveness of sins by His atoning sacrifice. He satisfies the demands of God's law through His death on the cross.

  10. Jesus gives new life by giving us new desires to live for Him and the power to live that new life.

  11. Jesus gives a new view of life where we see beyond this world to eternity. We have a heavenly citizenship and destiny.

  12. Jesus gives great happiness and joy as we experience Him and what He has done for us. True faith results in rejoicing in the Lord.

  13. We can test ourselves by whether we have joy and share the joy of knowing Jesus with others. True Christians rejoice in the Lord always.

The Book of John

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.