WE HAVE HEARD HIM OURSELVES
JOHN 4:39-42 NKJV
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word.
42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."
This chapter contains the story of Jesus and the woman at the well.
It is an amazing story. Jesus' interaction with this lady is one revelation after another.
Jesus reveals Himself as the One who gives living water. And we see how gracious He is to a lady with a hungry heart. Who would have thought a lady with her rough past, five husbands and now living with a man, would have such a heart hunger? This lady was looking for the Messiah. Jesus revealed Himself to her as the One she was looking for. Jesus answered the cry of a hungry heart without condemning her.
When the woman went back into her city and began to talk about Jesus, the people believed her. And they were Samaritans.
Samaritans and Jews had a running feud that had lasted for centuries. Yet this group of Samaritans was able to push past prejudice and honor Jesus by asking Him to stay with them.
They believed in Jesus because of what the woman at the well said about Him. But then they heard Him for themselves.
The transition these Samaritans made was important. They believed in what someone else said. Then they believed because they heard Him themselves. And in this Samaritan city, they proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, the Savior of the world. Very few in Israel had made this proclamation about Jesus. But this Samaritan city got it.
APPLICATION:
Many of us came to Christ because we believed what someone told us about Him.
I came to the Lord as a young boy primarily because of the testimony of my parents. And I am eternally grateful for their witness.
But there came a day when I had heard and believed for myself. That is a place all need to come to where we hear and believe in the Lord for ourselves.
That faith, not based on anyone else but the Lord, will enable you to stand strong regardless of what others do or say.
PRAYER:
Lord, I am so glad I can hear You. I hear by Your word and Spirit for myself. And I believe.