Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. (John 4:39-41)

Read: Judges 7:1 – 9:21

Relate: Among all religions Christianity is unique. Other religions are about a set of propositions. Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius… whoever, when they came and taught it was all about the content of their message. The important thing was that their disciples, those who would follow after them, would believe what they teach. When Jesus came, He did not say, “Believe what I teach.” He said, “Believe in me.” His message was not, “This is the way, the truth, or the life.” He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Among all religions, Christianity is uniquely person driven. It is story driven. The message of Christianity is what Christ did, and also what Christ did for me.

The Samaritan woman is the first true evangelist after the baptist that we meet in John’s gospel. Andrew, Philip… they went out and shared their story with one or two people. The Samaritan woman won an entire town for Christ. She was an outcast, a marginalized person, a woman in a male driven society and a disreputable one at that. Her theology was suspect and her past even more so. She had no credentials. She would never have made the cut on any of our ordination or missions boards. The only thing she had was an encounter with Jesus. That was enough.

React: When Jesus impacts a person’s life, they are changed. The story of Jesus is the story of life. It is the story of grace. It is a tale of new life and forgiveness, and when we encounter Him we take part in that newness. When a person truly encounters Christ they are not the same. They have a fresh start. They now become part of His story and begin a new one of their own. The life of the resurrected Son of God becomes their own. Have you experienced such an encounter? If not, why not? He is more than willing to meet with you if you ask Him. If you have, what are you doing with it. That new life He has given you is meant for sharing.

Respond: 

Jesus, I thank You that You have chosen me. I thank You that You have come for me. I am so undeserving. Your grace continues to overwhelm me. You are God, and yet You have chosen to come and walk and live with me. Help me to run with this story. Make it so real in my life but I cannot stop from sharing it with whoever I meet. Whatever the cost, give me the courage to share Your story with my world.