John 4:39-42 - Homiletics

Jesus and the Samaritans.

The woman was the instrument of bringing her townspeople to the Saviour.

I. THE FIRST DEGREE OF SAMARITAN FAITH WAS DEPENDENT ON TESTIMONY . "Now many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him because of the saying of the woman, who testified, He told me all that ever I did."

1 . Faith is essentially the belief of testimony. It thus depends upon evidence. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" ( Hebrews 11:1 ).

2 . The Samaritans were entitled to the higher blessing. "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." We must receive the facts of the gospel history upon testimony, or we cannot receive them at all.

3 . Faith rests firmly upon testimony that is thoroughly verified by experience. This Samaritan woman's experience ended all doubt.

II. THE FAITH OF THE SAMARITANS SOUGHT A CLOSER CONTACT WITH JESUS . "They besought him that he would tarry with them."

1 . Though faith rests on knowledge, it longs for fuller knowledge.

2 . Though Jesus was a Jew, they sought immediate fellowship with him.

3 . Their conduct is very different from that of the Jews, who asked no suck interview during his eight months' stay in their midst.

4 . Jesus complied with their request, though he knew that it might involve him in the imputation of being a Samaritan ( John 8:48 ).

III. THE FAITH OF THE SAMARITANS WAS STRENGTHENED , AND MORE DISCIPLES WERE MADE , BY THE TWO DAYS ' SOJOURN AT SYCHAR . "And many more believed because of his own word."

1 . They did not ask for signs , like the Jews ( John 4:48 ), neither were miracles wrought for their benefit.

2 . His word was effectual to confirm their faith : it came to them, not in word only, but in power; for it was the power of God unto salvation. "For we have heard him ourselves."

(a) Mark the absence of all narrow particularism. They knew from their Scriptures that in "Abraham and his seed all nations of the earth shall be blessed." Jesus might have brought this ancient promise under their notice.

(b) They recognize Jesus no longer as a mere prophet, but as Redeemer. "Salvation may be of the Jews," but the Samaritans are the first to accept it in the mass.

(c) The faith of the Samaritans is the condemnation of the Jews' unbelief.