Sometimes reading through the Gospels can be frustrating. We read from the perspective of history looking back, and it's easy to get frustated at these people (even His disciples) who couldn't seem to grasp that Jesus was the Messiah, the suffering servant Who would die and heal us (wholly, not just physically) with His wounds, His stripes.
That's why it's so refreshing to come upon John 4 and read of the Samaritans who believed as a result of the encounter with "the woman at the well" that Jesus had. It seems that one of the most significant events of Jesus' ministry (in terms of seeing people "get it") was the result of "happen-stance." Did Jesus plan on being tired and hanging out by the well while His disciples went into town to get food? Who knew? Then this woman shows up and Jesus asks her for a drink. The conversation turns prophetic, as Jesus declares (clandestinely) Who He is and then He tells the woman, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said ('I have no husband') is quite true."
"Sir, the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet." She knows she was just the "victim" of a "word of knowlege." Jesus could not have known this fact unless He had some "help." What's cool is that the woman went back into town and told everyone she knew. And they all came out to see Him. It says: "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And because of His Words many more became believers. 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 Savior of the world.'"
Wow. Here was some real-time belief and conversion. These people believed in Jesus as the Savior of the world. It's cool that it was plain, ordinary folks that made this profession. Perhaps it is the simple, blue collar people of the world that are more real, more honest, more in touch with their sin, their failings, their need for a Savior. So, when they encountered the Savior, they believed in Him. They clinged to, trusted in, and relied on Him. This must have made Jesus very pleased. I can imagine Him praying that night, "I feel like I can come home a happy man, Father. Some people finally 'got it' today. Wasn't that great?"
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at November 2, 2005 08:56 AM