John 4:39-42 -- Now many Samaritans from that city believed in Him and trusted Him [as Savior] because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked Him to remain with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed in Him [with a deep, abiding trust] because of His word [His personal message to them]; 42 and they told the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; for [now] we have heard Him for ourselves and know [with confident assurance] that this One is truly the Savior of [all] the world.”
In today's verses the harvest of Samaritan's from the city of Sychar arrive at the well. Something amazing is that "MANY" already believed in Jesus as the Messiah just at the testimony of the Samaritan woman. This woman who went to the well at noon, when no one else was around, all the sudden comes tearing into town. Telling everyone who will listen about Jesus. This caught their attention. This was WAY outside their normal. So, they all pile out of the city and go to see this Jesus.
Christian, are you so excited about Jesus that it overflows from your words, your actions, your life? If not, why?
We now find Jesus, on the surface a Jewish Rabbi who is leading a group of Jews, being asked by Samaritans to stay with them. He accepts and stays another two days there, talking and teaching them.
It was already wild that Jesus traveled through Samaria instead of going around like most Jews. It was totally against all social/religious customs for Jesus to speak to the Samaritan woman. Now, we find Jesus doing something unheard of, He not only stays for two days in Samaria, but talks with them and teaches them! It's just completely illogical, humanly speaking, what he's done here.
Now the bible says nothing of this, but I do wonder just how deeply this challenged His disciples. They're processing a lot of stuff at this point. Jesus saying that doing the will of God is His nourishment. Him warning them to not be idle and lazy as there is no time to just plant and sit back. Then He has them look at the Samaritans coming towards them from the town and talks about the harvest being ripe. Now, here they are, two days deep into being surrounded by these "cursed" and "unclean" people and their Messiah is teaching and talking to them. Everything they were ever raised to believe or had heard is being turned upside down here.
I came across something I had written in a journal back in 2018. It said, "Am I an ADULT Christian or a Child of God? As an adult I do things from habit and because they are good for me. As a child I listen to my dad. I do what he tells me to and go wherever he goes. I am free to run, laugh, and play under dad's protection and boundaries.". It was just something that got my brain to thinking...
Then as I was watching Jesus interact with those who needed Him most, regardless of what anybody, anywhere thought or said, the question popped back in my mind. Adult Christian or Child of God? This made me think of the internal confrontation inside the disciples, where everything they ever knew about social traditions, religious rules, and cultural boundaries were being tested just by believing in, following, and staying with Jesus.
Christian, do you find following Jesus and being in the Word challenges your thoughts, experiential beliefs, and your status quo? If not, why? Are you just checking boxes because it's what you should do or what you've always done?
Well, that's some tough questions to end on but it's where the journey went today in prayer and the Word. I hope you think and pray about them. I'm no scholar and even if I were I'd tell you the same thing, don't take my word on anything. Be the Berean get into the bible and see for yourself!
Remember, you are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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