A Woman From Sychar

Good Morning!

John 4:39-42 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Many Samaritans Believe in Jesus

39 Many of the Samaritans from the town of Sychar believed in Jesus. They believed because of the woman's witness. She said, "He told me everything I've ever done."
40 Then the Samaritans came to him and tried to get him to stay with them. So he stayed two days. 41 Because of his words, many more people became believers.
42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said. We have now heard for ourselves. We know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

I was thinking of the woman from Sychar just the other day. Jesus was going from Judea back to Galilee. But He felt compelled to go through a region called Samaria. Now you should know that good Jews despised Samaritan Jews because they had intermarried with the people that had been brought in to populate the area when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel so many years before. Samaritans were viewed as “half-breeds”. So most good Jews took a route that went around Samaria … but not Jesus. He was compelled to go through Samaria. And what compelled him was a woman from Sychar. No, she had no clue who Jesus was … but Jesus knew who she was … and made His way through Samaria to the village of Sychar … to a well where this woman would come in the heat of the day.

The woman came in the heat of the day because it meant she didn’t have to encounter the other women in the village. Her reputation left much to be desired – married and divorced five times – living with a man out of wedlock – truly a sinner if ever there was one. No decent God-fearing person would have anything to do with this woman. Do you find it as interesting as I that the incarnate God had no problem with going to her? Was their encounter happenstance? I don’t think so. I think from time immemorial Christ knew that woman would be coming to the well at midday in the heat of the day looking for water. And I believe that He set His sights on being at that well at when that woman would be there. And I believe when He spoke, He knew that her heart was ready to hear His words and to receive the living water He promised her.

Did you notice the fact that I put one sentence in verse 39 in bold font? When this woman heard the words of Jesus, she believed. And she went back to the village of Sychar … the very village of people who held her in contempt … urging them to “come and see”. Do you see the impact her simple witness had on the people?

Some of us feel inadequate to share the message of Jesus Christ because we have a past. Well, honey, (as a good Southern boy might say), there isn’t a single one of us who doesn’t have a past. And while it may be true that your past has more stuff in it than mine … or less than mine … we still all have a past – THAT HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER THE BLOOD (a churchy term that means we have been forgiven as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ). And, because our past is past, our very words can be a stronger witness than any other thing. The people of Sychar believed the woman’s witness … because they also knew everything about her. And, believe it or not, people know – or will know – about our past too.

There are more than a couple of points I can make about this passage this morning. But two I want you to get as an encouragement today: (1) Jesus seeks after you; and (2) You can be a witness. Jesus didn’t just go after that woman from Sychar. He went after me. And He went after you – or is coming for you. He loves you that much. And no matter what you have said or done or haven’t said or haven’t done, you can still be a marvelous witness for God. Look at what happened at Sychar. The people saw the change in the woman, came to see Him, listened to His words AND BELIEVED – not because of what the woman said but because they heard Him.

Perhaps today someone who knows your past may hear about the Man you met and listen to His words. And perhaps they will believe because they hear His words. Wouldn’t that just make your day? God bless …

Agape’


Mr. Jim


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