How The Gospel Spread Through One Woman Who Met Jesus? John 4:39-42

John 4 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.”

Yesterday, we learned that the Samaritan woman went to the well in shame and came back into town excited to share the Good News about the man (Jesus), she met who knew everything about her.  When she shared her story, many of the people were curious and went to check Jesus out for themselves.  Apparently they found what they were looking for, as many of them came to believe her testimony.  

Though they believed in him, they wanted more.  They wanted to get to know him, and perhaps he knew as much about them as they did the woman.  Jesus stayed there two days indicating his willingness to engage them and share more about who the kingdom of God, which has come to them through Him.  It would have been interesting to be there and know what he taught them during those two days.  It says because of his "many words", they becaome believers. I am sure some of those words connected with them as to how as Samaritans they too are included in God's plan of salvation. The result was that the many more who came to visit became believers.  

We see the trajectory of the Good News.  The woman gave her testimony to the town, and many came to believe.  Jesus came to their home and taught them more, and many more believed.  Note too it would have been unusual for a Samaritan to invite a Jewish rabbi into their home based on the relationship between Jews and Samaritans.  

Importantly, the end result of the woman's testimony and their time with Jesus is that they came to the conclusion that Jesus REALLY was the Savior of the world.  They had investigated Jesus on their own, and had personally accepted him as THEIR Savior.  Also, they concluded Jesus is the Savior of the WORLD, not just the Jews.  They had personally experienced this as Samaritans.  

This is an amazing passage, which has many implications for how we spread the Good News of Jesus as the Savior of the World Today. 

1. Our own testimony is of infinite value as we share the Good News of Jesus connected to how we met him.

2. Jesus knows us intimately and knows "everything we have done". 

3. Like the woman, Jesus fully accepts us and gives us the living water which leads to eternal life.

4. The Good News spreads, as we spend time in community leading others to listen to Jesus' words as recorded in the four gospels.  The four Gospels are living letters and continue to speak to us and lead us to him today!  

Where is God calling you to share the story of Jesus' acceptance of you and the new life (living water) he has worked in you?  Have you come to the point to say what the Samaritans said, "We no longer believe because of what you have said, because we have heard for ourselves, and KNOW he REALLY is the Savior of the world"?  I.e. Has Jesus become your PERSONAL Savior? As a church when we gather as a community and listen to the Good News and share it together, God can do amazing things for the spread of the Gospel!


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