Sharing the good news of Jesus is the privilege and responsibility of every Christian. And that should start with connecting your friends and family to Jesus. But that’s only the beginning. For God loves the whole world, so whole towns, cities and nations need to see what real Christianity is all about. And you don’t have to be perfect to play your part in this.
An entire community turned to God because of the connections of just one woman who had a very colourful background. She was a very new believer in Jesus but straight away her words and story had a big impact. In John’s gospel she is known as the Samaritan woman and her story shows how the most unlikely people can experience grace and spread the good news of Jesus.
In John chapter 4, Jesus was heading back from Judea to the beautiful shores of Galilee when He took a shortcut through a place Jews often avoided: Samaria. Historically Jews despised Samaritans. The division between them was like the generational conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians. The Jews who regarded themselves as a pure race didn’t want anything to do with a people they despised and who represented betrayal for their nation. They would do anything to avoid travelling through Samaria and having any social contact with the Samaritans.
And then Jesus did something even more surprising; He got into conversation with a lady with a sinful lifestyle. It began with Jesus sitting by a well and asking her for a drink from some of the water she was drawing from it. This was a radical act, for Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan, and it greatly surprised the Samaritan woman.
1. She had an unexpected connection with Jesus (John 4:6,13-14,25-26)
2. She connected everyone she knew with Jesus (John 4:28-30; Matthew 20:19-20)
3. Jesus touched a whole community through this woman (John 4:39-42; Acts 8:4-8)
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1. She had an unexpected connection with Jesus (John 4:6). It was about noon, not the normal morning or evening time women used to go to the well. Because of the midday heat, this woman was probably there by herself. The story tells us she had had 5 husbands and the one she was with now was not her husband. So, she was rejected in her society and didn’t want to be surrounded by the other women of the town, so she went to the well at the time nobody else would go. It wasn’t the expected time to meet someone but that day she met Jesus and He started a conversation with her. Jesus knew everything about this woman. He knew she wasn’t being real with Him. He knew that she had big issues with sexual relationships. He knew what was going on in her life at that moment and told her ‘and the man you now have is not your husband’. Yet Jesus unconditionally accepted this woman, despite her race and national history, and He accepted her despite the cultural prejudices against women, and despite her sinful lifestyle. More than that Jesus gave new life to this woman, offering her living water (John 4:13-14). He revealed Himself to her that He was the promised Messiah (John 4:25-26). Jesus taught that the only way to truly know satisfaction is to know God and that He Himself is God. Everything changes when we discover that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the only way to God. Everything changed for this woman as she slowly began to realise who she was talking to. It wasn’t what she was expecting but this was her moment to know Jesus. You don’t have to wait for the “ideal” time to meet Jesus. Some people receive the teaching in their home and from young age they have a personal experience with Him. Others hear about Him later in life and, after trying many ways and failing to find the love and satisfaction they were looking for, they come to Jesus and find their lives changed for ever. You could be young or old, going through difficulties or just living a normal life. But whatever your situation this is your moment to have an appointment with Jesus that could change everything in you and around you. Just as this Samaritan woman discovered that Jesus was ready to meet her and help her, so He wants to sit with you and offer you new life. Jesus knows what you have been going through, and He is here with you. He wants to give you all the love, care, joy and peace that you have lost, and He wants to meet all your needs. He is everything that we need, no matter our background. We have all failed, we are all lost sheep the Bible says, like the black sheep of the family, but He is a good shepherd and is here to meet you. And when we have that kind of encounter with Jesus, we want to tell others what happened.
2. She connected everyone she knew with Jesus (John 4:28-30). When we know the Lord, we should do all we can to tell as many people as we can what the Lord has done for us and who He is. When we start sharing the gospel, God starts to work in the lives of others. God wants to use you to bring the good news to multitudes. Even before the disciples were commanded to ‘go and make disciples’ (Matthew 20:19-20) this woman became the first evangelist, based on a real encounter and revelation of Jesus. Without formal preparation or education, just with an experience of a real encounter with Jesus, she decided to share her story. We must be prepared to share the gospel at any time and in any place, when we encounter The One this world needs. The call to become witnesses is not only for a select group in the church, for the pastors, preachers, or professional communicators, it is for everyone. You might have been Christian for long time and think you haven’t discovered your call, but we are all called to be witnesses, even if you are a new Christian. When you have had a real encounter with Jesus you will want to share it. We don’t need to be professionals because this flows from a personal connection, not from our knowledge. Jesus crossed every social, cultural and political barrier to share the gospel and change the life of this woman, and so we are called to do the same. We need to become like the Samaritan woman to our relatives, and those we have contact with in our daily lives. You might think you are very new in your walk with the Lord but that must not stop you just like it didn’t stop this woman. Start where you are, with the people around you. You can be the connection point between your family, your colleagues, your friends at school, college or university. Just be a witness and tell what you have experienced: it will have a big impact.
3. Jesus touched a whole community through this woman. She led many people to Jesus (John 4:39-42). Many people in the town received what she received at first because she didn’t stay quiet. A great revival can come to whole estates, villages, towns and cities because of the words and witness of what God does in just one person. There is power in our words. Our words can bring great change: she just opened her mouth, and the town was changed from idolatry to a real worship. And this was just the start of a great work of God in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). We never know what the Lord can do with one seed, with one word, with one person. Today the Lord wants to use you just as He used this Samaritan woman. Now is the moment for all of us to open our mouths to tell of Jesus and see great joy in our cities.
