The Gospel of John: John 4.27-42

Read and meditate on John 4.41, 42.
The people of Samaria show us that coming to Jesus can require more than a testimony or a single witness. They may need time with Him, to get to know Him and hear His Word for themselves. Conversion is a process, just like evangelism, as hearts are gradually softened toward the Lord Who woos them.

                                                ⁴¹And
then many more, who came to understand
His Word, believed in Him. ⁴²They said unto
the woman, “We believe in Him now, too,
and not because of what you said, for we
ourselves have heard Him, and we know indeed
that this Man is the Christ, the Savior of
the world.”

- John 4.41, 42

Reflect
1.  Many of the Samaritans believed because of the testimony of the woman (v. 39). But “many more” believed “because of His own word” (v. 41). What makes the Word of Jesus so powerful in converting people to the Lord? Complete the following brief prayer: Lord, I trust in Your Word. Help me to trust it as…

2.  Notice that those who believe in Jesus immediately testify concerning their faith. How would saying this to the woman, and to one another, have helped in firming up their faith? People who know You, Lord, need to talk about You with one another. Help me to encourage my fellow believers to…

3.  Are people today looking to someone or something to “save” the world? What would be some examples of what people hope in for such “salvation”? Do you think this feeling is widespread? Do people in your Personal Mission Field have such hope? I’d like to know the answer to this last question, Lord, so help me…

4.  Our witness for Christ must include the words of Jesus Himself – not necessarily just words He spoke in the gospels, but all the Word of Christ in Scripture. What Scriptures would you use to help someone hear the words of Jesus? Guide me in answering this question, Lord. Show me some Scriptures that will help me…

5.  This whole wonderful situation began with Jesus seeking a single person. He went out of His way to encounter her, and everything else resulted from that. Jesus sought lost people. Should we? What should being a seeker of lost people look like in your life? What role should prayer have in this? How do you envision this coming about, and with what kind of results? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed from questions 1-4.

Summary
“They acknowledge Christ not just as one of the many Christs but as the Savior. And yet, who did they see who had been saved at this point? They had only heard his words, and yet they spoke as though they had seen all these great and wonderful miracles. Why, then, don’t the Evangelists tell us what these words were and how admirably he spoke? By not doing so, they show that they pass over many important matters, and yet, by reporting the event itself, they lead us to understand everything. For he persuaded an entire people and a whole city by his words alone!” John Chrysostom (344-404 AD)

How would you describe Jesus’ mission to earth as we have seen it thus far in the Gospel of John? Why was He sent? Meditate on John 20.21. What are the implications of this for your life? How are you working to fulfill this high and holy calling?

Closing Prayer
Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your judgments are a great deep;
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36.5-9

Psalm 36.5-9 (Landas: My Faith Has Found a Resting Place)
Your lovingkindness, Lord, is great, it reaches heav’n above;
Your faithfulness mounts to the skies, and keeps us in Your love.
Your righteousness like mountains high and judgment like the deep
Preserve Your creatures one and all and in Your mercy keep.

How precious is Your love, O Lord; we shelter in Your wings.
We drink refreshment to the full from Your abundant springs.
You give us freely of Your grace, we drink it with delight;
Life’s fountain is with You, O Lord, in Your light we see light.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.