It is often said that “Seeing is believing.” I want to show you a truth in God’s word where we find that it is not seeing that is believing, but hearing. In the 4th chapter of John, we find a story that is quite familiar to many of us. This chapter is where we find the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. I do not want to focus on the part of the story that is so often told. Rather, I want to take a look at what happens AFTER that story that is so well known. After Jesus had spoken with her about the living water and revealed himself to be the Messiah, we find in verses 28-30 this response from the woman:
So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.
There are a number of miraculous events that lead to a revival in that Samaritan city when Jesus showed up. It was highly unusual for Jesus, a Jew, to even speak to a Samaritan, much less spend the amount of time he did while at the well with her. When the woman left the well and went into town to talk to the men of the city, it was unusual for them to listen to her as well, but they did. Not only did they listen, they RESPONDED to the news she brought. This is what we read through verse 30 of John 4 above.
Let’s take a look at a bit more of what happened AFTER this. John 4:39 reads:
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”
You see, because of the woman’s testimony, there were a number of people who believed in him. This is an important point to consider. Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your own life and think of the specific things that Christ as done for you? I don’t mean the “churchy” phrases like, “Jesus died for my sins” or “Jesus loves me.” I mean REAL and meaningful events in your life that you can point to and say “Jesus did _______ for ME!” It is one thing for us to remember “formulas” like the “Romans Road to Salvation” or the “ABCs of Salvation” that begin with quoting scripture to the lost friends among us and end with a pattern prayer. Yes, these things are important, but do you have a PERSONAL testimony of what Christ did for YOU? This woman did. And notice the HUGE impact that she had in the lives of her neighbors, friends and family. Take the time to take a personal stock of God’s hand in your life. If you have never done so, it is worth thinking about. How many of you remember the old hymn,
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
(Can I just give a shout out for the old hymns? I miss singing these sometimes.) If you cannot look at your life and see the hand of God in a real and meaningful way, you may want to consider WHY that is the case. God did not save you to leave you alone. Rather, your salvation was a FIRST STEP in a relationship with the God who loves you. As you begin to recognize those things in your life, share them with your family, friends and neighbors. This is what draws people to want to learn more about Jesus. It is the same today as it was when Jesus walked into that city in Samaria.
Look at what happened next in the story. Verses 40 and 41 read:
So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word;
Again, notice that while the woman’s personal testimony was enough to make some of the men in the city believe, it took a little longer for others. These men had to spend a little more time hearing from Jesus before they believed. It was, however, the woman’s testimony that caused them to take interest in learning from Him. John 12:32 records these words of Jesus, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Our job is only to share our story. Lift him up before our friends and share with them how important he is in OUR lives. Jesus can do the work of drawing them toward salvation.
Notice what the men said to the woman AFTER they met and believed Jesus for themselves. This is verse 42:
and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Folks, this is the final truth. We do need to share our story with those around us. We need to lift up the person of Jesus and share with others what he has done for us. But in the end, it is not what WE say to them that will bring about salvation. As these Samaritan men said,“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” Christians, LIFT HIGH THE NAME OF JESUS! He will not let them down and everything he does in your life, he can do for them. Isn’t that something that you want for your friends and family? This goes well beyond the decision on their part that determines the difference between heaven and hell. This salvation that Jesus brings is about a RELATIONSHIP with him. Share YOUR relationship with your friends and allow them to see, in a real and personal way, why they need to investigate this Jesus for themselves.