"John 4:27-42
Testify about the Saviour
Every Christian has a testimony. The most powerful way of passing on the message of Jesus is to tell people your story. If they are interested then you can say, like the woman in this incident, ‘come, see ...’ (v.29a).
We read in this passage how the population of a whole town come to the conclusion that Jesus ‘really is the Saviour of the world’ (v.42). Jesus had saved the Samaritan woman from her life of sin. She immediately began to testify about the Saviour. She went back to her village and told the people, ‘Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?’ (v.29, MSG).
There really is great power in a testimony. What is fascinating to me is that this woman had no theological training or even understanding of Christian doctrine. She was not even totally convinced about Jesus herself. She does not say with great conviction, ‘Jesus is the Christ’. Rather, she has reached the position of saying, ‘Could this be the Christ?’ (v.29b). Yet she was powerfully used by God in evangelism.
‘Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony’ (v.39). Jesus had changed her life. They came and saw, and ‘because of [Jesus’] words many more became believers’ (v.41).
‘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 Saviour of the world” ’ (v.42). The teaching of Jesus and the testimony about Jesus both powerfully point to his identity as Saviour of the world.
Jesus saves us from our sins. In doing so he also delivers us from a life of emptiness and lack of purpose.
He said, ‘My food … is to do the will of him who sent me’ (v.34). Jesus shows by the example of his ministry that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by doing God’s will. Nothing is more satisfying than doing God’s will – being where he wants us to be and doing what he wants us to do.
Jesus says, ‘I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest’ (v.35). This was fulfilled by the coming of Jesus. The disciples can see that the time is right because people everywhere need to know this message about Jesus.
Jesus said, ‘I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labour’ (v.38). This, of course, originally applied to the coming of Jesus. However, again it is fulfilled at a different level in many ways.
Thank you, Lord, for the amazing way in which you have delivered me and have enabled me to experience the water of life. I pray that you would use my testimony so that many others may believe in you."
1. Thank You, Lord, for this water. Please help me be an instrument in leading others to You. Amen.
2. Praise God for this English weapon, I was able to explain the process that I know. Thank You.
3. Thank You, Lord, for the new home. May this become a great home.
