John 4:39-42 (ESV)
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
It all started with an awkward encounter at a well. The Jewish traveler who decided not to avoid Samaria. The Samaritan woman with a checkered past. Private and embarrassing information brought to light. A few profound questions and a gentle, compassionate response. The shepherd who left the ninety-nine to pursue the one (Mt. 18:12). A simple testimony shared. An entire town introduced. Many are saved.
Oh, how I wish I would have more encounters with unbelievers like this one in the Gospel of John! Don’t you?
The Samaritan woman’s testimony must have been quite moving to draw such a response. Surely, they knew of her multiple marriages as well as her sinful current relationship. How could her words be trusted? Whatever she said—and however she said it—it proved to be effective as more and more people from Sychar flocked to see the man who could be the Christ. As they came, Jesus taught, and as he taught, more and more believed. He had moved from being perceived as a prophet, to being considered as the Christ, to being accepted as the “Savior of the world.”
I can only imagine what the disciples were thinking. At first, they would have been upset that they had to go through Samaria at all. Then, Jesus is found conversing with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. The next thing you know, more Samaritans come to visit, and Jesus and his disciples end up staying for a few days. What current context could we place this in to fully grasp its significance? A visit to Hollywood? Mecca? Tehran? Beijing? Where Jesus is introduced—with love, compassion, patience, and sincere interest in the people—Jesus will move. He may move on thousands or he may only move on one, but He will always be about His Father’s work.
Are you and I willing to be the Jesus in this story? The woman at the well? The townspeople? Are we willing to engage with the unlikely convert? The outcast? The sinner? Will we speak to them lovingly and with compassion and patience? Will we seek to turn the conversation in a spiritual direction, especially when prompted to do so by the Holy Spirit? Perhaps we just need to share our own “well story” with a friend, neighbor, or co-worker. It might be that we need to spend some time teaching others about Christ, as he did Himself back there in Sychar. Whatever the case may be, let us pray that we will be about our Father’s business, as Jesus was when he stopped to speak to the woman at the well.
Amen.
