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The power of an effective word

Text: John 4:1-45

THE POWER OF AN EFFECTIVE WORD

What kind of an impact could the woman of Samaria make on a whole city? The Disciples would learn first hand what power an effective word had. The Disciples must have been quite stunned to see many Samaritans making their way to hear their Master. Imagine Samaritans learning the Word of God from their Teacher! They would be even more astonished when they learned that a humble woman’s word could make such an impact on people!

“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him
because of the woman who testified,
‘He told me all that I ever did.'”
John 4:39

The woman of Samaria had chosen her approach well. She decided that she would focus on telling people about Jesus! He knew all about her! Despite His knowledge of her sinful background, He taught her rich truths about God! Could this be the Messiah? She must have proclaimed her belief that she had indeed found the Messiah.

Her friends could doubt and dismiss all that she had said. If they did that, would they not miss finding out for themselves whether her words were true or false? If she had spoken untruth, they would have just made a wasted trip to Jacob’s well. On the other hand, if what she said was true, and if they did not check things out for themselves, then they might miss the opportunity of a lifetime! They would miss hearing the Messiah Himself. Surely the Anointed One sent from God would not just minister to Jews. If He were a true Messiah, would He not care for all? Would He not care for the Samaritans too? The woman of Samaria believed that He cared for her, a fallen woman! She had come to faith in Jesus as the Messiah!

Her words somehow struck a chord in the hearts of the city dwellers of Sychar. Many were already stirred within their hearts. The Messianic hope nursed in the hearts of the Samaritans rose strongly and embraced the testimony of the woman. Amazingly, they too came to believe in Him, on the strength of the testimony of the woman! What power there is to be found in the testimony of salvation!

A TWO-DAY MINISTRY IN SYCHAR

The Samaritans flocked to hear Jesus. Their hearts must have been touched deeply too as they heard the Word of God proclaimed. They had never heard such teaching before obviously. They just could not get enough of Jesus’ teaching! There was only one thing to do. They would make a request to Him to stay in their city. Would a Jew stay in a Samaritan city? The normal answer would be “No”. How about Jesus?

“So when the Samaritans had come to Him,
they urged Him to stay with them;
and He stayed there two days.”
John 4:40

Jesus actually decided to stay with the Samaritans for two whole days? He would of course have to stay in one of their homes! The Disciples of course would have to follow suit! What an experience that must have been for them!

The stay at Sychar was not a social visit. Jesus made full use of the time He spent there. He had many places to visit. He had many more people to reach with the Gospel of salvation. If He were to stay at Sychar, He must make sure that He taught as many as possible with His Gospel.

“And many more believed because of His own word.”
John 4:41

Many in the city of Sychar heard Jesus personally. Like the woman of Samaria, they must have been deeply touched and impressed by what Jesus taught. His “word” was indeed powerful. The word that He proclaimed touched many so deeply that they too came to believe that He was indeed the Messiah.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE SAMARITAN MEN

The woman of Samaria had not witnessed in vain. As more and more people came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, these new believers started to relate to her in a new way. Whereas once she had to go to Jacob’s Well to fetch her daily supply of water in the hot noon day sun, because she was shunned by people, now there was a new spirit.

The men came to her and talked with her about Jesus. They were in fellowship with her now. They spoke about how they too had come to faith in Jesus. Some had come to faith because of her testimony of salvation. Others had come to faith in Jesus because they had heard Him preach with their own ears.

“Then they said to the woman,
‘Now we believe, not because of what you said,
for we ourselves have heard Him and we know
that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.'”
John 4:42

(The phrase translated in the NKJV text, ‘not because of what you said’ needs a little explanation. The word “not” is better understood as “no longer.” The thrust of what the men folk said was that they no longer simply believed what she had said about Jesus being the Christ. They now confirmed for themselves that what she said was indeed true. They affirmed that her testimony was true. They were not saying that they had not believed her in the first place, as may be suggested if great care is not taken in trying to understand the translation of the Greek text).

THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

The Samaritans had understood Jesus indeed. He had come not just as a Messiah of the Jews or the Samaritans. He had come as Saviour of the world. This was what Jesus Himself had sought to teach Nicodemus. “For God so loved the world…” (Cf. John 3:16). He was destined to be the Saviour of the world! Only true faith would enable one to recognize and understand the full ministry of Jesus the Christ!