John 4:27-42 (NRSV)
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Verse 27Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?" Verse 28Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, Verse 29"Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" Verse 30They left the city and were on their way to him. Verse 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." Verse 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." Verse 33So the disciples said to one another, "Surely no one has brought him something to eat?" Verse 34Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Verse 35Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. Verse 36The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. Verse 37For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' Verse 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." Verse 39Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." Verse 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Verse 41And many more believed because of his word. Verse 42They 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 truly the Savior of the world."
Devotion
In the Gospel of John, three different women make significant confessions about Jesus. In the garden of the resurrection (John 20), Mary Magdalene recognizes the risen Jesus. She runs to tell the disciples the good news. Just before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in John 11, the dead man's sister, Martha, confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. And in today's text, the Samaritan woman, who gives Jesus a drink of water, runs to tell others what he had said and done. In her excitement, she poses the question, "He cannot be the Messiah, can he?"
You bet he can! Others went to hear Jesus because the Samaritan woman challenged them to "Come and see." That invitation is at the heart of evangelism. We ask others to come and see because, at the invitation of someone, we once went and saw. What we saw—and still see—is the one who gives the water of life. He cannot be the Messiah, can he? What do you think?
Prayer
Giver of the water of life, we ask you to fill us so that we will never be thirsty again. Help us to spread the good news by asking others to come, see and drink. Amen.