Knowing Jesus for ourselves!
Scripture reading for April 10: John 4
“Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His Word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42
Jesus had purposely gone to Samaria to reach lost people there. The Samaritans were Jews who had intermarried with the people of Canaan in disobedience to God’s Word and were shunned by the rest of the Jewish world. The Samaritans had set up their own alternate place of worship. Jesus encountered a woman at a Jacob’s well in Samaria that He initiated a conversation by asking for water. She was shocked that Jesus, a Jew, would ask her for a drink! During this encounter, Jesus revealed to her that He knew her marriage failures. He challenged her religious knowledge about worship, revealing her need to worship God in Spirit and Truth, not just in a ‘right’ location. She ran to her village and invited others to come and hear Jesus themselves.
People often respond to other’s testimony or spiritual experiences. We are all wired with a deep but hidden desire to know truth about ourselves, God, and eternity. The Jews of Jesus’ day were stirred with reports from those who had encountered Jesus, heard His teachings with authority, or received His miracles. In this Samaritan village, the woman who encountered Jesus, shared her exciting testimony of Jesus’ prophetic ability in knowing her intimately. This caused many to come to see for themselves and receive prophetic words. Jesus stayed two more days ministering there and the people’s testimony was solidified: We now know for ourselves that this is the Savior of the world! Second hand testimony is good, but no one can talk you out of a personal encounter!
Have you heard testimonies of those who have encountered Jesus today? How have you responded to what others have said about Jesus? What could you do today to seek out Jesus for a personal encounter that solidifies your faith?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for those You have sent to me with testimonies of what Jesus did for them. Thank You that You have now revealed Yourself to me personally so that I know Jesus as my Savior and the Savior of the world! Use me like this Samaritan woman to call others to Jesus today! Amen!
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