John 1:10-14
Only One Way to Experience Salvation
John 1:15-18
The Incarnation of Christ
John 1:24-28
“Why are you baptizing?”
John 1:29-34
Jesus The Lamb of God
John 1:35-42
The First Disciples
John 1:43-51
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathaniel
John 2:1-12
Changing Water into Wine
John 2:13-25
Jesus Turns Over the Tables
John 3:1-12
What Does it Mean to be Born Again?
John 3:13-24
What does it mean to believe?
John 3:22-30
Confusion About The New Birth
John 3:25-36
“He must increase, but I must decrease”
John 4:1-15
Jesus Meets the Samaritan Women
John 4:16-26
It is not Where You Worship But How
John 4:27-38
The Harvest is Ready
John 4:39-45
Jesus’ time with the Samaritans
John 4:46-54
Jesus Heals the Nobleman’s Son
John 5:1-13
Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
John 5:14-18
Jesus Claims to be God
John 5:19-29
Four Types of Resurrections
John 5:30-47
Blindness to the Truth of the Scriptures
John 6:1-14
Philip Fails the Exam
John 6:15-27
Jesus Calms Their Fears
John 6:28-40
What’s Your Motive for Following Jesus
John 6:36-44
The Reaction of The Jews
John 6:41-59
Confusion of The Body And Blood of Christ
John 6:60-71
Rejection by Many Followers
Jesus’ time with the Samaritans
John 4:39–45
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In Streams of Living Water, Richard Foster told of Billy Graham preaching at Cambridge in 1955. For three nights he tried to make his preaching academic and enlightened, but with no ... More
Many Samaritans from Sychar believed in Jesus after hearing the testimony of the woman at the well, “He told me all that I ever did” (v. 39). There’s a lesson here for believers. When we share our personal testimony of what God done in our lives, God can use our story to help point others to himself. People can easily dismiss the existence of God, but they can’t so easily explain away your story of life change brought about by God working in your life.
The Samaritans asked Jesus to stay with them, and he agreed, remaining with them for 2 more days (v.40). The openness of the Samaritans is contrasted with the hostility of the Jews (1:11; 2:23-25). It would have taken considerable humility mixed with genuine faith for these Samaritans to welcome a Jewish rabbit into their midst. Many more came to faith in Jesus because of His words (v. 41), his testimony about himself. A powerful gospel presentation includes the testimony of believers combined with the Word of God.
They said of Jesus, “We know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (v.42). And they were right! Jesus came to save all, not just the Jews, but also Samaritans and even Gentiles. This verse is not about universalism – the belief that all will eventually be saved. Rather, it is saying that all people have the potential to come the saving knowledge of Christ. This is the first mention of cross-cultural evangelism in John’s gospel.
At first these next few verses read like a contradiction. If a prophet really does not receive any honor in their hometown (v. 44), then why does it say “the Galileans welcomed him” (v. 45)? Again, it’s helpful to contrast the Jews with the Samaritans. The Jews welcomed Jesus on account of the signs they had witnessed in Jerusalem. The Samaritans however believed on him because of his testimony about himself (v. 41). Faith based merely on signs is a shallow faith at best.
Application
Like the Samaritans, I want to take God at his Word. I want to live a life of humility; a life where God is welcome to come and dwell inside of me.
John 4:39-45 (English Standard Version)
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