Samaritans meet the Saviour of the world
John 4:39-42 [1]
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I’ve ever done.’ 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.’
The Samaritan woman met Christ Jesus who is the true husband and the true object of worship (John 4:1-26). That was the turning point in her life (John 4:28a). She received the living water, was filled with the joy of salvation, and became a missionary to evangelise her town (John 4:28b-30). She invited them saying “Come, see…” (29a). They came out of the town and made their way towards Jesus (30). Today let us study the result of her Come & See invitation.
I. He told me everything I’ve ever done (39)
See v39.
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I’ve ever done.’
She was forgiven (John 4:17-18), freed from her past and no longer hiding her past. She testified, ‘He told me everything I’ve ever done.’ (39, John 4:29). Jesus knew that the Samaritan woman had had five husbands and the man she now had was not her husband (John 4:17-18). Jesus knew the uncommon and unthinkable fact that happened in reality. Only God and herself would know the exact number of her husbands in her past and her current situation. The above knowledge of Jesus indicated that He was God and knew everything she had ever done. The omnipotence of knowledge Jesus had was indicated in John 2:25 as well. See John 2:25.
25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
God knows about us more than we know about ourselves. God knows every sin we have ever committed more than we can remember or recognise. Let us ask God to help us recognise our sins, mourn and humbly repent. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), the tax collector was forgiven because he humbled himself.
II. Now we have heard for ourselves (40-42)
When the Samaritans came to him, they urged Jesus to stay with them (40a) They were truly ripe for harvest (John 4:35b). And Jesus stayed for two days (40b). And because of his words many more became believers (41).
See v42.
42 They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.’
People come to the Lord via believers’ testimonials and invitations. However, it is important for them to study the Holy Bible, the written Word of God. This will help them have the biblical basis for what they believe. It is necessary to enable them to say the truth with “it is written” as Jesus did in Matthew 4:4, 7, 10.
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
