John 4:39-45 Seeing others through Christ’s eyes
John 4:39-45 Seeing others through Christ’s eyes
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. John 4:39-45
Background
The overwhelming response of the Samaritan people towards Jesus stood in stark contrast with the Jewish people. This led Jesus to say, “A prophet has no honor in his own country.” The Jewish people who supposedly possessed the scriptures were the ones who rejected Him. The Samaritans, seen as rogues, ritually impure, were the unlikely candidates to obtain salvation. Those who seemed undeserving of salvation due to their moral background or religious heritage were the ones accepted by God. Who are those in today’s society seen as the unlikely candidates for salvation? How is the church reaching out to them?
Observation
“He told me all the things that I have done.”
The woman, a usual suspect in the eyes of the society and rejected as being a “loose” woman became an instrument of salvation for many. The feature of her testimony was, “He told me all the things that I have done.” A revealing confession of an immoral woman detested by society awakened the community into repentance. What captivated the people was not Jesus’s prophetic prowess of knowing the woman’s past, but her confession and the dramatic transformation that came over her.
“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
No doubt the woman’s testimony rallied the people towards Jesus, but it was not until after they encountered Jesus personally did they believed Him as the Savior.
“A prophet has no honor in his own country.”
This was what Jesus said to the people of Jewish descent especially those in Galilee. The Jewish race were stiff neck people, and used to killing their prophets (see 1 Thessalonians 2:15). Jesus knew that even with the warm reception He received in Galilee, He still was not really accepted because their hearts were evil. Not surprisingly, His followings in Galilee started to fall away within one year of His visit. It was the Samaritans, those whom the Jews regarded as ritually impure that accepted Christ and loved Him.
The Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast.
The Galileans’ enthusiastic reception was partly attributed to Jesus’s act of cleansing the temple at the Passover feast and His miracles. They saw Jesus as a radical figure worthy of popular reception.
Truth
People are moved by truthfulness and genuine confession.
True religion must be accompanied by genuine life transformation. For a woman who was condemned as the scum of society and yet willing to own up to her past with stark honesty was evidence of a life rebirth. Evidently, she had obtained complete forgiveness from God and released from guilt and condemnation.
No one can experience salvation unless he comes to Christ.
The woman’s transformation did intrigue the people, but fell short of converting them. Hence, we must never be trapped into lengthy debates concerning Christ as the only way to salvation. Many ended up discrediting other religion, which Jesus was never in the habit of doing. Instead, we must help them draw near to Christ through repentance and our acts of kindness. Help them communicate with God and feel His peace by releasing their anxieties to Him. Do not merely describe how good Christ is, but instead help them experience His goodness.
Do not take for granted the people who were closest to you that they would support you in all your endeavors.
More than often, it is the people who had no prior relationship with you that showed great kindred spirit. Jesus’s wasn’t honored in His own country and even His very own brothers did not believe Him (see John 7:5). Therefore, we must be open to the people who come by divine appointment, who will yoke with us in kindred spirit.
What make people faithful believers in the church is their conviction to obey God’s word.
People may initially be attracted by the display of power and excitement as did the Galileans. Ultimately, people stayed because they have acknowledged Christ as the Lord and obey Him. The Galileans were initially impressed by Jesus’s radical approach towards religion, they might even be thinking of using Christ to raise their religious profile. Nevertheless, Christ did not entrust Himself to the people because He knew their hearts (John 2:24).
Applications
In the process of evangelism, lead people into God’s presence by letting them experience Christ for themselves. There is a time to explain the gospel, and a time to experience it. People’s needs are windows where they can experience God’s love and power. Identify their needs and discover ways that God could minister to them. Leading them to pray with you in agreement and entrusting their problems to God is an effective way. Many would feel a peace and a lightness they have never felt before.
When deciding who to evangelise to, allow the Spirit to lead you without bias. More than often, it is those whom we thought least likely that received an unmistakable touch from God. Apostle Paul is a good example of one who passionately opposed the church but later became a martyr for the church.
Dear Lord, help me to discern others with compassion and the eyes of Jesus and not with my personal prejudice. Use me to speak the words of Jesus Christ with truth and with grace. Use me and my weaknesses to become a testimony of God’s love to encourage others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.