The Only Way to God
A Sermon on John 4:27-38
Originally preached Oct. 8, 1967
Scripture
27¶ And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, …
Sermon Description
In Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, the outworking of God’s great plan of salvation is seen. In this sermon on John 4:27–28 titled “The Only Way to God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones unfolds the words of Jesus Christ who boldly proclaims to the woman that He is the living water and the source of eternal life. He says that this is the Father’s mission and the very reason He came into the world. Jesus brought redemption to the whole world by the atoning work of the cross. It is this truth that is at the heart of true Christianity; the Son of God dying upon the cross for sinners. It is only because of this great and glorious work that anyone can approach God as children and heirs. It is only through partaking of Christ, the bread of life, that anyone can come to have true knowledge of God. To reject that Christ came as the Son of God and his deity is to reject the gospel. For only by the redemptive work of Christ on the cross is anyone saved. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, one cannot ever forget that Christ willingly went to the cross in their stead because He knew it was the will of God his Father, and this desire to fulfill the will of God marked not only His death, but His whole life as the perfect Son of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- Jesus is always in control of every situation. Nothing happens by accident or interrupts his work.
- Jesus does surprising and unexpected things that go against our preconceived notions. We must be open to following his lead.
- Jesus commands respect and should be approached with reverence and awe.
- Jesus reveals himself as the "I am" - the Son of God, not just a man. He is the sent one who has come from heaven.
- Jesus' purpose is to do the will of the Father who sent him and finish his work - the salvation and redemption of the world.
- Jesus finished the work the Father gave him to do - reconciling us to God through his death on the cross. There is no access to God or blessing apart from Jesus' finished work.
- Jesus took delight in doing the Father's will and saving souls. It was his "meat" and brought him joy.
- Jesus sacrificed himself and put aside his own needs and desires to serve others. He humbled himself for our sake.
- Jesus is infinitely condescending, speaking even to a sinful Samaritan woman. He will never refuse anyone who comes to him in humility and faith.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers: Christ's Character and Purpose
What is the main theme of the Gospel of John according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the great theme of John's Gospel is that "the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, has come into this world to give us the right and the authority to become the children, the sons of God, that we may be filled with all his fullness, that we may receive of his grace and of his fullness, grace upon grace." He emphasizes that Jesus repeatedly states this purpose: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" and "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
How does Lloyd-Jones explain the timing of the disciples' return in John 4:27?
Lloyd-Jones points out that the phrase "upon this" or "at that moment" in John 4:27 is significant. The disciples didn't interrupt Jesus' conversation with the woman - they returned at precisely the moment Jesus had finished his revelation to her ("I that speak unto thee am he"). Lloyd-Jones says this demonstrates that Christ is "always in charge of the situation. He knows everything. Nothing is accidental." He explains that this timing shows Jesus controls all circumstances - "He can control time. He can control persons. There is nothing that he doesn't control."
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as one of the greatest dangers facing Christians today?
Lloyd-Jones identifies "talking about Christianity instead of talking about Christ" as one of the greatest dangers facing Christians. He warns against starting with ourselves, our problems and difficulties rather than with Christ himself. He cautions that we can turn Christianity into "a sort of philosophy, a kind of view of life, or indeed, we may even turn it into a collection of doctrines and of teachings concerning him" while forgetting about Christ himself. He emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with Christ over mere doctrines about Him.
How does Lloyd-Jones explain Jesus' statement "I have meat to eat that ye know not of"?
Lloyd-Jones explains that when Jesus says "I have meat to eat that ye know not of," He is revealing that He has "hidden resources" beyond what the disciples understand. Jesus' true nourishment and satisfaction come from doing "the will of him that sent me and to finish the work." Lloyd-Jones interprets this as showing that Jesus' spiritual activity of saving souls was more refreshing and sustaining to Him than physical food. It reveals Christ's priorities - that spiritual work took precedence over physical needs - and demonstrates His self-sacrifice and devotion to His redemptive mission.
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the uniqueness of Christ?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes Christ's uniqueness through Jesus' own words: "I" in contradistinction to "you." He states emphatically that Jesus "is not a man. He is a man. But he's not only a man. He stands amongst us as a man amongst men. But... he's not in series with us." Lloyd-Jones calls it blasphemy to reduce Jesus to our level, warning against those who "reduce him to the level of an earthly human teacher... just one in series with the great men of the ages." He stresses that Jesus is "the Lord Jehovah, appearing as the son in the flesh" and that our salvation depends on recognizing His unique deity as the Son of God who was sent into the world.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as essential to receiving spiritual blessings?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that understanding and accepting Christ's finished work is essential to receiving spiritual blessings. He explains that many people seek spiritual experiences but never find them because they don't understand "the way of salvation." He states, "there is only one way to this blessed fullness...and that is to realize that it is only possible as the result of his finished work." He emphasizes that reconciliation with God through Christ's atoning death is the prerequisite for receiving spiritual blessings: "Without the finished work there is no access...Without this atoning death, no blessing is offered us and you have no right to expect any blessing."
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about approaching Christ despite our weaknesses?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes Christ's "glorious and amazing condescension" in how He spoke with the Samaritan woman despite cultural taboos and her sinful lifestyle. He teaches that Christ's willingness to engage with her should encourage us: "Don't let your weakness keep you from him. Don't let your sin keep you from him. Go to him. His heart is the tenderest in the whole universe." Lloyd-Jones assures his listeners that Christ "will never refuse you. He'll never reject you if you go to him penitent and repentant, humble and contrite." He describes Christ as "infinite in his glory, infinite in his condescension, infinite in his pity, his sympathy, his tenderness and his readiness to deal with us."
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.