Many more believed because of His word; 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.” John 4:41-42 (NASB)
Not only did Jesus converse with a woman, He spoke to a Samaritan woman. The disciples were amazed to find Jesus talking to her, but they said nothing. Maybe they had grown accustomed to His uncommon way with all people.
Jesus crossed cultural divides. When women were treated as second-class citizens, He considered them equals. The centuries-old hatred between Samaritans and Jews didn’t stop Jesus from communicating with either people group. Even the stain of sin didn’t cause Jesus to exclude anyone. He bridged the gaps that kept people apart.
So no one in the past or present should be surprised that Jesus revealed His divinity to the Samaritan woman at the well. She had discussed with Him the future arrival of the Messiah. She understood the Christ would come to the world and reveal all things. Jesus spoke to this sinful Samaritan woman and said, “I am the Messiah.”
Can you imagine her astonishment? She left her water pot and ran back to her community. She told everyone she met about the man who knew everything about her. “Could He be the Christ?” she asked.
Many in Samaria believed in the Messiah because of the woman’s testimony, her proclamation that He told her everything she did. The Samaritans flocked to Him and listened to Him for two days. Because of what they themselves heard, many more believed in the Christ. They knew they had met the Savior of the world.
Some people will believe based on the witness of others. I would have accepted the Samaritan woman’s claim as truth. Countless other people will believe based on physical evidence. Remember doubting Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples? He believed in the resurrection of Jesus after touching the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. And then there are skeptics who refuse to believe even with proof staring them in the face. People still discount the facts of a huge stone rolled away, an empty tomb, a missing dead body.
Jesus conversed with a Samaritan woman. He ate with sinners. He rose from the dead. He’s the Savior of the world. He loves you and me. The Bible says so. Do you believe this?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24-25 (NASB)
He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:26 (TLB)
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. John 13:19 (NIV)
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 (NIV)