Wherever we went as a family when I was a child, my mum would talk to all the strangers around us. Be it on a train, airplane, restaurant …anywhere! So growing up in the kingdom, I had the privilege of seeing both my parents always reaching out to people, having them over for Bible talks, and baptizing them. This was a great source of joy to them, and to me because everyone was so friendly and loving. They both worked secular full-time jobs and were great disciples at the same time.
As a teen, it was very clear to me what being a disciple meant. That level of commitment coupled with how much sin I would have to cut out of my life scared me. Consequently, I went on my journey of rebellion like the prodigal son (I’ll save that one for another post), and when I was 19 I finally realized what a broken place I had reached. I then told my parents I was ready to study the Bible and my dad started crying. Both of them had shared their faith with me my entire life but it took a while for me to seek it out myself. Fortunately by the grace of God, on March 26, 2010 I was baptized and made the best decision of my life making Jesus my Lord. I was so overjoyed about this second chance I got that I couldn’t help but tell all my friends about it. And that first year three of my friends became Christians, and we had a Bible talk at the most atheist environment ever – a private art university. It was a lot like the woman at the well in John 4. Jesus helped her get perspective on where her decisions in life had taken her relationships, and helped her see who he was in the light of all the chaos.
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
“I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
…The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” — John 4:15-17, 25-26
How amazing must it have been for her to get to meet the Messiah. What had she done in her life to have such a privilege like this? She probably expected that when the Messiah came, he would be with the priests or more religious, righteous people. But he chose to reveal who he was to her. Her repentance and gratitude overflowed from her understanding that Jesus saw her, knew her, and wasn’t ashamed to help her out. She couldn’t contain her joy! She knew the Messiah. And she was going to tell everyone about it.
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” — John 4:37-42
I’d like to emphasize just two things from this passage.
