Jesus the Master Soul-Winner
Francis Dixon
During His earthly ministry our Lord Jesus Christ practiced what He preached. For instance, He commanded His disciples to be soul-winners – look up Matthew 28:19; but He was the master soul-winner – look up Luke 19:10. When He said, Follow Me! (Matthew 4:19), He meant that we were to follow His example; in effect He was saying, “Watch Me as a soul-winner and follow Me!” He is our great example, not only as the sufferer but also as the soul-winner – look up 1 Peter 2:21. He came from Heaven to earth, and He died, rose again and lives in order to save the lost – this was His Father’s business (Luke 2:49). In the four Gospels we have a record of the methods He adopted in doing personal work, one of which is the story of His interview with the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). Our method of approach to souls must always vary according to the person, the time, the place and the circumstances, but the following points suggested by this incident will help us.
1. HE SHOWED A VERY GREAT CONCERN FOR ONE PERSON.
On this occasion our Lord set out to win just one sinful woman. He frequently had an audience of one person only; in Matthew’s Gospel, sixteen private interviews are recorded, and in John’s Gospel there are seventeen. How tremendously important one soul is! In Luke 15 we read of one lost sheep, one lost piece of silver and one lost son, and Mark 8:36-37 emphasizes the value of just one soul. Let us remember that the one we are seeking to win may become an outstanding soul-winner – look at verses 28-30.
2. HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO WIN ONE SOUL.
Verse 4 tells us that He went through Samaria. He was willing to put Himself to some inconvenience to win one sinful woman to Himself. Too often we are so preoccupied with our own affairs that we pass by those in need to whom God is giving us a glorious opportunity of ministering (Luke 10:31-32).
3. HE WORKED UNDER A STRONG SENSE OF CONSTRAINT.
“He had to go through Samaria” (verse 4). There was a necessity for Him to do so, a tremendous imperative in His life – compare John 3:14 with John 4:4; 9:4; 12:32-33. His food was to do His Father’s will (John 4:31-34) – and this was His Father’s will. Is there a constraint in our life? – Look up Romans 9:1-3.
4. HE WAS FRIENDLY, ENGAGING AND SYMPATHETIC IN HIS APPROACH.
He was not cold or self-important, though there would have been a due propriety and a marvelous dignity about His person and His bearing. The apostle Paul longed to “save some”? (1 Corinthians 9:22). We cannot find a better illustration of this than Luke 10:33-37.
5. HE ALLOWED THE ORDINARY HAPPENINGS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL SOUL-WINNING.
Verse 6 tells us He was tired and sat down. He could have made that an excuse for relaxation, but instead of viewing His tiredness as a disadvantage He turned it to an advantage. How seldom we view the happenings of our lives in the same way! ’I wish I hadn’t gone on that journey!’ We say, whereas it might bring us into contact with someone to whom the Lord would have us witness.
6. HE ASKED A FAVOR OF THE ONE WHOM HE WOULD WIN.
Verse 7 tells us that it was in this way our Lord established a point of contact. People often like to be asked a favor. Ask someone to direct you to a certain place and see how often that person is delighted to help. This is also true in relation to soul-winning. Think of a sincere request you can make of your contact and ask for his help; in this way you may win his sympathy.
7. HE SPOKE TO HER ALONE.
Verse 8 tells us this. There are times when it is unwise to do this. There are times when young Christians need to be careful about speaking in private to a member of the opposite sex; but the point we wish to make here is that we must not embarrass anyone by speaking to them of spiritual matters in front of others. There may be exceptions to this rule, but generally the rule holds good.
8. HE OVERCAME THE BARRIERS THAT SHE PUT UP AND THAT ALREADY EXISTED.
First, there was the barrier of sin (verses 16-18). This woman was an outcast because of her notoriously sinful life. She came to draw water in the heat of midday when she knew that other women would not be present. Second, there was the barrier of race (verse 9). Our Lord was a Jew and she was a Gentile. Third, there was the barrier of sex. It was ‘not done’ to speak to a strange woman in a public place. Finally, there was the barrier of religion (verse 20).
9. HE PROVOKED ENQUIRY AND CREATED SOUL-HUNGER.
Verses 10-13 tell us how He captured her curiosity and interest. We too can employ this method as we tell the burdened about the Burden-bearer (Matthew 11:28); as we tell the bound about the Emancipator (John 8:36); as we tell the bereaved about the One who is the life (John 11:23-25).
10. HE DID NOT REPROACH OR SCOLD HER, BUT HE MADE HER FACE UP TO HER SIN.
Until people are convicted of their sin, and thus of their need of Christ, they will not come to Him. Verses 16-19 tell us how tender, how firm and how persistent our Lord was. We cannot convict people of sin, but the Holy Spirit can, and He will if we use “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”? (Ephesians 6:17). We can tell people that because they have broken the greatest commandment they have therefore committed the greatest sin (Matthew 22:37-38).
11. HE SPOKE OF THE ONE THING WHICH COULD MEET HER NEED.
She needed eternal life, as verse 14 tells us; salvation, as verse 22 tells us – in other words, she needed Him as her Savior.
12. HE CONCLUDED ONLY WHEN HE HAD FULLY REVEALED HIMSELF AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
Look at verses 25 and 26. What a wonderful moment that must have been for her, and for the people of Samaria! – see verses 40-42.
The above article, “Jesus the Master Soul-Winner” was written by Francis Dixon. The article was excerpted from www.wordsoflive.co.uk web site. May 2016.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
