They, Too, Believed

John 4:39-42

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." So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. 

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."

I'm sure many of the people of Sychar knew this woman. She had a reputation. She'd been married five times and now only lived with a man. If you noticed, she went to the well alone. There were no others there. She may have gone when the others would not be there rather than face the looks of the women who shunned her because of her immorality. Maybe it was a law. It was around noon when Jesus appeared. Water was generally drawn, because of the heat, early in the morning and later in the afternoon. I wonder if the disciples figured this out when they sized up the situation?

And there was Jesus, talking to her! The thoughts that could have been going through their heads. She was not just a Samaritan woman, but a shunned, immoral woman too. Jews avoided all such things. The disciples may very well have learned a lesson from Him this day...or at least began formulating thoughts about what He did. The message being, Jesus was willing to forgive anyone, was compassionate about everyone. All people are sinners and He came that all might be saved.

These people listened after she raced back, leaving her water pot behind, telling them about this Man at the well and how He told her all about herself...and we don't know any more about these people, whether they also shunned her or lived in immorality as she did. Nothing was mentioned about this woman in the other Gospels. But they went to see for themselves because of her enthusiasm and many more believed but not because of her word but because of His own word. How compelling His words must have been.

This is how it is. This is how we know we have encountered Him. We hear from someone, or many, and in time our interest might be piqued. Something stirs in our spirit to the point where we have to see if there's some truth to all we've heard. We go to see for ourself. And, like these Samaritans, we hear the truth of God's Word and we encounter Jesus and because of His Word alone, we believe. He has given us ears to hear and hearts and spirits to receive the Savior of the world. Hallelujah!

Ephesians 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise...