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.” ~ John 4:39-42
Many come to believe in Christ by believing the testimony of others. For me, when I saw what God was doing in another man's life, I was moved. But that was not the end of my Christian growth. I continued to believe because what happened to my friend, happened to me, as well. We must never forget the incredible impact a life yielded to the Lord Jesus brings about in this world.
In today's text, after two days with the Lord Jesus the whole city was beginning to believe in Him. Jesus had not experienced this among the Jews. Here were these nobody Samaritans believing the Lord Jesus to be the Messiah.
The Samaritans discovered the fountain of water springing up in their own souls due to the fascinating testimony of a woman with a past. How often has God been known to use our ugly past to help others believe. The woman’s word leads to faith. An unlikely woman becomes the means of an unlikely people turning to the Jewish Messiah, even though they were not even full-blooded Jews.
Then Jesus’ word leads to more faith. This reminds me of Romans 10:17, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The word that is used here in Romans 10:17 for the word "word" is rhema, which is the "spoken word" of God. People do not believe because they do not hear and understand the spoken word of God. Rhema is the word of God that is associated with faith; faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God. So unless a person hears God’s voice and senses His Spirit when receiving the words from God, there is no rhema, there is no faith, and there is no life.
In out text, the people heard the word of Christ for they were with Him physically. For you and me, the Holy Spirit quickens God’s Word, He makes it real and personal to us. As we listen to His imparted spoken word, and we are receptive to it, faith is born. The Holy Spirit knows just the word we need at any given moment. He directs us to God’s Word and then He makes it come alive for us. When that happens, we have heard the very voice of the living God speaking to us through His word. As we listen to His voice, faith comes—faith for what we need, and for whatever God wants us to have at that time.
In contrast to this passage, there were times when people were not receptive to the presence of the Lord Jesus in their town. Such was the case in Matthew 8. Recorded there is the account of the two demon possessed men who were released from their possession. Matthew 8:34 reads, "And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region."
The Lord Jesus had delivered two men who had long been demon possessed. Then, the people of the town begged Jesus to leave. Why when Jesus offers us freedom from our bondage, forgiveness from our sins, and a future of eternal hope, why would we turn Him down?
Jesus disrupts and disorders our lives (which is really already messed up). He is going to change us. The pain of life change and the humility necessary to let someone else be Lord of our lives is scarier than the pain of bondage and the pride of staying in control. So rather than celebrate what Jesus did and ask Him to do more, they beg Him to leave.
Finally, notice the conclusion of the Samaritans. In John 4:52, we read, "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." They acknowledged the Lord Jesus as "the Savior of the world." They looked beyond themselves to the world. When we come into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, and we experience Him, our understanding of life naturally expands and we look for opportunities to tell the world of our Savior.
