To an Entire Village
Opening Prayer
Think of what Christ has done for you. Praise him today.
Read John 4:27–42
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Many Samaritans Believe
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 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 Savior of the world.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you excited about Jesus? Do you enjoy telling others about him, or do you feel ill- equipped?This is a fascinating passage. First, the woman is so excited that she leaves her water pot and dashes off to share her news with others. Did she forget the water? That seems unlikely. That was the whole reason she’d come to the well. Perhaps she didn’t want anything to slow her down. She obviously planned to come back.
Then we see how she blurts out her news to everyone. Not just her friends. Not just other women. She speaks to “the people” of the town. This includes those she avoided by going to the well in the middle of the day, and men who didn’t think a woman knew anything about God (and certainly wouldn’t be seen talking to her). But they listen (30,39)—and many believe in Jesus because of her testimony.
She is a brand new convert! She hasn’t been to Bible school. She hasn’t had training. She probably hasn’t read the Torah, nor does she necessarily understand sound doctrine. But Jesus has touched her life and she just has to share her excitement. Through her simple sharing of what Jesus has done in her life, albeit somewhat exaggerated (39), a good portion of an entire village comes to know Jesus.
Apply
Don’t wait until you feel qualified. Share your own good news—and leave the outcome to the Holy Spirit.
Closing prayer
Loving Savior, I am overwhelmed by what You have done for me. May my joy overflow in my conversations with those around me.
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