John 4:39-42
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
The Samaritan woman at the well could not keep the news to herself. Her immediate response to knowing Christ was to go and tell everyone she could, “Come and see a man who told me all that ever I did.” Our verses today teach us about the power of personal testimony. She was not a theologian; I doubt she understood Christ the way a practicing Jew would understand Him, but she knew she had met the Savior, and her lack of theology did not hinder her testimony for the Lord. Many times it is not the theologian who has the biggest impact on the lost world, but rather the redeemed sinner who can’t keep his mouth shut about Jesus. Even Paul, the greatest theologian that ever lived, would often refer to his personal testimony when standing before a group of his peers. Don’t belittle your testimony—the story of how Christ came to you and how you came to Him. Tell the world what He has done, and I believe many will believe on Him because of your words.
It was this particular phrase that seemed to catch the Samaritans’ attention: “He told me all that ever I did.” This seemed to be the part of their conversation that “sealed the deal” for her, letting her know indeed that He was who He said He was—not only convincing to her, but to all who heard it. I believe this points to Jesus’ condescending nature and willingness to forgive. If you remember, the first words Jesus spoke to her were, “Give me to drink,” which shocked her. She was a Samaritan, a “black sheep” of Israel—a deserter, a half-breed, an idolater. These were the sort of titles given to the Samaritans, a mixed race of the ten rebellious tribes of Israel who had intermarried with surrounding cultures and forsaken the worship of Scripture. She was shocked because He was apparently a Jew, and yet He spoke to her, unashamed to drink from the vessel that she drew with. Already, she knew there was something different about this Jew. As the conversation progressed, each time He would speak, she would realize He was altogether different from any Jew she had ever met. Not only was He willing to drink from her vessel, but He was willing to offer her a drink from His.
It seems that she had grown accustomed to hiding her sinful life, which is why she came to the well at a time when no one else would be there. And it was for that very reason that Jesus “must needs” be there at that time. Despite her best efforts to not be found out that day, she was. The conversation progressed, and as Jesus always does, He brought out her sinfulness—not to shame her before others, but to convict her before His presence, showing her that He makes His offer of eternal life with full knowledge of our sinfulness. Jesus does not offer salvation just to the “good” people; He offers it to adulterers, murderers, rapists, the vilest of sinners. Oh, thank God! No wonder the Samaritans came running at the words, “He told me all that ever I did.” He offers a drink from the well of eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and associates Himself with the least of us, knowing exactly who we are and what we have done! Dear reader, won’t you hear the words of the Samaritan woman today, “He told me all that ever I did!” He knew her, yet He loved her; He knew her, yet He associated with her; He knew her and still offered eternal life. He knows you. The sins you have tried so hard to cover are bare and open to Him. He knows every grisly detail, every secret encounter—He knows all of it. And perhaps this morning, His Spirit has sat down beside you to make this same offer of eternal life. Won’t you accept it?
It seems that everyone had the same thought: “If He will save her, He will save me too!” So many believed and came to Jesus themselves. No longer did they tell that woman’s story, for they had a story to tell of their own: “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” So it is today with some of us reading; we have been content to tell someone else’s story but have no story of our own. You’ve never heard Him, never gone to Him with your sins, never heard Him speak peace to your heart. If that is your case, don’t let today pass you by. Jesus was only in Samaria for two days, and then their opportunity to go and speak to Him was gone. So many people have let their opportunity to go to the Savior pass them by. Don’t let that be you. If you have heard today that He is the Savior, and that He forgives and loves, then today, go to Him and you can go home with a story of your own—with forgiveness of your own—and no longer have to live on another person’s testimony of Christ.
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