Introduction
In this compelling message, Pastor Gil Tartaglino examines one of the greatest examples of personal evangelism in the Bible: Jesus Christ’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Setting the historical context, Pastor Tartaglino explains the deep-seated, 700-year prejudice between the Jews and the Samaritans. While the typical Jewish traveler would endure significant hardship to bypass Samaria entirely, Jesus intentionally charted a course straight through it because He was pursuing a spiritual harvest. Through this profound interaction, Jesus demonstrates exactly how believers today should approach a lost, thirsty, and deeply divided world: by rising above cultural prejudices and political arguments to offer the life-changing “living water” of the gospel.
Main Points
I. The Lord’s Perspective
Looking 800 feet ahead of Him, Jesus saw Mount Gerizim—the ruins of the Samaritan temple of false worship. Looking behind Him toward Jerusalem, He saw Herod’s temple, representing a religious system that had also lost its way. Regardless of which direction He looked, Jesus saw the emptiness of false religion. In the quietness of that moment at Jacob’s well, His perspective was solely focused on the souls of men. He was more hungry for a spiritual harvest than for physical sustenance.
II. The Lord’s Person
Jesus deliberately opens the door for a conversation by asking the Samaritan woman for a drink, bypassing her social expectations. Pastor Tartaglino notes that Jesus modeled three essential character traits for us to emulate when engaging with the lost:
- He was Principled: Jesus rose far above the philosophical opinions and anger of His day.
- He was Humble: He did not come to be ministered unto, but to minister.
- He was Purposed: He did not get distracted by the historical feud between Jews and Samaritans. He stayed firmly on purpose, pointing the woman directly to the gift of God.
III. The Lord’s Perseverance
Instead of arguing, Jesus pieces together a perfect puzzle to make the woman think. The woman was not looking for spiritual enlightenment that day; she was just carrying out her daily routine. Yet, Jesus persistently and gently guided her away from insignificant religious feuds and toward her deepest spiritual need.
IV. The Reality of the Issue
Mankind is constantly chasing satisfaction, going from well to well, filling their own buckets with temporary pleasures or false religious practices (like relying on baptism or good works). When the woman tried to focus on physical water and historical claims about Jacob’s well, Jesus revealed the ultimate reality: anyone who drinks of the world’s water will thirst again, but the water He gives springs up into everlasting life. He is the well, and He does not need our man-made buckets to save us.
Key Scripture Passages Quoted (KJV)
- John 4:13-14: “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But 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.”
- Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
- Matthew 20:26, 28: “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister… Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
- Galatians 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
- Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Pastor’s Illustrations and Examples
- The Italian Seamstress: Pastor Tartaglino shared a story of a talented Italian seamstress in South Carolina who was rejected by wealthy clients simply because they did not want to associate with the poor area where she lived. This illustrated the irrational nature of the prejudice the Jews held against the Samaritans.
- The Connecticut Detour: To explain the Jewish detour around Samaria, the pastor compared it to a local traveler taking a long, painful route through Naugatuck and Watertown just to avoid driving through Waterbury out of personal disdain.
“No Righteousness, No Peace”: Recalling the George Floyd protests where crowds chanted “No justice, no peace,” the pastor noted that true peace only comes when there is righteousness*—Christ’s righteousness. He shared an experience of parking far away at St. Mary’s Hospital to hand out gospel tracts to protesters, emphasizing that the gospel, not politics, is the only way to heal our land.
- The Delivery Driver: Pastor handed a simple gospel tract to an unsuspecting delivery driver. The man later called the church seeking discipleship, proving that people who are just going about their daily routines can be reached if we are willing to hand them the truth.
- The 75-Year-Old Father: Pastor read a powerful testimony of a 75-year-old man who had stubbornly rejected Christ for decades. Attending church solely for his 50th wedding anniversary, the man was moved to tears and saved at the altar after an unknown woman mysteriously stepped up to sing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The woman was never seen again, suggesting she may have been an angel unaware (Hebrews 13:2).
Application Points
- Remove Politics and Prejudice: Do not waste time arguing about Washington D.C., Hartford, or political parties. Get the conversation straight to Jesus Christ. Arguments only cause anger; the gospel changes lives.
- Cast Aside Your Own Buckets: Stop trying to bring your own efforts, philosophies, or good works to God. Rely entirely on Jesus Christ, who is the true well of living water.
- Take Responsibility for the Harvest: The government will not fix the moral decay in society; the church must be about the King’s business. We must courageously share the gospel for the sake of the next generation.
Conclusion / Invitation
Pastor Tartaglino concludes with a fervent plea for the church never to give up on the lost. Drawing from the story of the 75-year-old father who was saved after decades of prayer, he urges the congregation to persistently bring the gospel message to anyone, in any situation, at any cost. Stop trying to find satisfaction in the temporary wells of this world. Turn your eyes to Jesus Christ, the only one who can truly satisfy your thirsty soul. The service closed with an invitation to the altar to do business with God while the congregation sang, “Lord, I Need You”.
