Jesus and the Samaritan woman is a great story. A little background on Samaria:
For Jews in Israel, Samaria is a place to be avoided. Before Solomon's death 1,000 years earlier, the regions of Samaria and Judea were part of a united Israel. After the rebellion that divided the kingdom, Samaria became a hotbed of idol worship. The northern kings made alliances that corrupted the people by introducing foreign customs and strange gods. They even had the nerve to build a temple to the True God on Mt. Gerizim to rival the one in Jerusalem. By the time the twelve are traveling with Jesus, it has long been evident that the Samaritans have lost their way. By marrying outsiders, they have polluted the land. Israel's Jews consider them to be half-breeds, mongrels, and the Jews know to watch out for them or else be bitten by temptation. (The Voice p. 1293).
I love verses 39 - 42. Meanwhile, because one woman shared with her neighbors how Jesus exposed her past and present, the village of Sychar was transformed - Many Samaritans heard and believed. (39)... They began their faith journey because of the testimony of the woman beside the well; but when they heard for themselves, they were convinced the One they were hearing was and is God's Anointed, the Liberating King, sent to rescue the entire world. (42)
The people started believing because of the woman's testimony but they were convinced when they heard for themselves. That's why it's so important for us to tell our story. Our Pastor shared how we can prepare to tell our testimony by answering the following questions:
- What my life was before I knew Jesus?
- How I came to know Jesus?
- How has my life changed since knowing Jesus?
He encouraged us to get it down to a 3 to 5 minute story, most people will give you that.
Have a blessed Friday!
Personal testimony is so much more effective than trying to explain logically why someone should believe. And, another way is testimony through other people observing a Christian's life and actions. It brings up questions like, "Why do are you so kind to that person when he is so rude to you?" "How do you keep your patience when you are listening to XXX?" Those are great lead-in's to personal testimony, too. Actions do speak louder than words, though I often find it is not always easy to remember to act in a way that will lead to those questions.
ReplyDeleteAMEN to that last line! But yes, it's the day in and day out life style that makes an impact on people.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me that people listened to her! I'm sure they knew all about her, and yet, she was willing to share, and they listened. We never know what impact just our speaking about our story will have until we are willing to do it.
ReplyDeleteJohn 4
ReplyDelete2 (Actually, Jesus was not baptizing people. His disciples were.)
I found this interesting. Terry, a man I worked with at a television station, baptized me at his church with his pastors looking on.
10 Jesus replied to her, “If you only knew what God’s gift is and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would have given you living water.”
I cannot hear this song without thinking of my precious friend, Mary. So can hear her singing it every time I hear this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUOOFcQkZD8 "Never Thirst Again"
14 But those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life.”
25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything.” (Messiah is the one called Christ.)
26 Jesus told her, “I am he, and I am speaking to you now.”
41 Many more Samaritans believed because of what Jesus said.
42 They told the woman, “Our faith is no longer based on what you’ve said. We have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the savior of the world.”
46-54
46 Jesus returned to the city of Cana in Galilee, where he had changed water into wine. A government official was in Cana. His son was sick in Capernaum.
47 The official heard that Jesus had returned from Judea to Galilee. So he went to Jesus and asked him to go to Capernaum with him to heal his son who was about to die. 48 Jesus told the official, “If people don’t see miracles and amazing things, they won’t believe.”
49 The official said to him, “Sir, come with me before my little boy dies.”
50 Jesus told him, “Go home. Your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus told him and left.
51 While the official was on his way to Capernaum, his servants met him and told him that his boy was alive.
52 The official asked them at what time his son got better. His servants told him, “The fever left him yesterday evening at seven o’clock.” 53 Then the boy’s father realized that it was the same time that Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” So the official and his entire family became believers. 54 This was the second miracle that Jesus performed after he had come back from Judea to Galilee.
I love this story. Both miracles originate at Cana. Jesus speaks the word and it is done. The first miracle when Jesus turned the water into wine. The second miracle; the man speaks to Jesus in Cana. He got his miracle because he believed Jesus. He stepped out in faith.
50b The man believed what Jesus told him and left.
vs 52-53
He verified that it was Jesus before he reached home.