Grace and peace. I know and struggle with my responsibilities as a disciple of Christ and wish and strive to do more. May God grant us wisdom and His Spirit to willfully do His will. I hope we can draw from this example of this women. I pray He uses these words and strips away our ignorance and stirs us to more fervent work for Christ.
Jhn 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
Jhn 4:40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
Jhn 4:41 And many more believed because of his own word;
Jhn 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
- Why did the crowd believe?
- In the original Greek the words "him" and "the Christ" are absent in verse 42, why or should they have been added and what effects if any does it have?
- Why did the Samaritans follow this women of bad reputation back up to the well?
The full meaning of these verses may only be appreciated if we look also at the verses that precede them. One of the fundamental principals looking at this women, after Christ’s effectual calling, is service. First we have a women who never questioned, "what use can I be for Christ". She was made willing by His Spirit and filled with love to do His will (vs 22-29). Next we have the message, come a drawing of the Spirit to see His glory (vs 30). Third we see the spirit of our service. A faithful performance of our duties, finding our satisfaction not in results but the knowledge that the will of God has been done (vs 34). Forth we see the urgency of our service illustrated by the women leaving her water pot and the knowledge in the white fields of souls to reap (vs 35). Fifth we are taught the wages of the Savior, the gathering of fruit unto eternal life (vs 36). Sixth our responsibilities, to reap and to sow (vs 38). A holy partnership between those who work in the gifts of the Spirit and the One who’s will MUST and WILL be done. And finally the purpose, that souls may know the Savior and that He alone is glorified in the calling (vs 42).
