They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
At first many of the Samaritans from the nearby town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony about Jesus.
Now they urge Jesus to stay in their town for a few days. They overcome their prejudice against the Jews to listen to the Rabbi.
The result?
And because of His words many more became believers – this man really is the Savior of the world!
This is what invariably happens when people take time to listen to the Teacher – really listen – and consider what He says.
They believed because of His words.
Most people who say they don’t believe in Jesus have never taken the time to actually investigate. In fact, they haven’t read His Word at all. They don’t know His teaching.
This is the definition of prejudice isn’t it? “I don’t believe in Jesus. Oh, and incidentally, I don’t even know what He says.”
Here a village of Samaritans overcome their prejudice and they are rewarded with knowledge of the truth.
They get to know Jesus personally.
This is the life of a student of Jesus.
Samarritans were half breeds. I'm not meaning to sound racist - but they were. Jews had married with other nations which was against God's law. The Jews thus didn't associate with them.
ReplyDeleteJesus understands something the Jews don't - the "mystery" of the gospel - as Paul writes several times - is that salvation will be open for all through Him.
So Jesus doesn't discriminate against these people - but he walks through their country, stops by the well, and haas a discussion with this lady who then brings the townspeople out and ...
he stayed two days.
What would we do?
Do we have our own prejudices that keep us from reaching out to the lost? What if a drug rehab facility asked us to come and teach? What about prison ministry? What about going into inner cities and doing ministry there? What about to other countries where we wouldn't have the luxuries we are used to in the USA?
What do we let keep us from staying a few days to reach out to the lost?