Why did John record this incident with the Samaritans? What point did he want to make to the unbelieving Jews who originally read this? The take away is that God's plan for salvation is much larger than simply saving Jewish people. That even the despised Samaritans believed and received eternal life proves this. The application for the original readers is that they not miss out on salvation, as did the Jews of Judea and Galilee.
What secondary applications does John 4:31-45 hold for those who already believe in Jesus? 1) We need to realize that we never know who God is going to save, especially among those we deem the least likely to be open to the Gospel. The woman at the well wasn't seeking Jesus; He sought her!
Ultimately, salvation requires a direct revelation from God, just as supernatural as the light that blinded Saul (though not as spectacular).
2) Eternal Life is a gift (4:10, 14).
3) Realize that there is a process that most people go through in coming to Christ. There is human labor involved (sowing, weeding, watering), growth time (four months in the crop example), and harvesting (4:35-38).
4) We need to eat the same soul food that Jesus did. His food was to do the will of the Father and to be active to accomplish His work. The fields are white for harvest. We need to be active in evangelism.
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Stephen Atkerson helps church leaders discover simple growth strategies that Jesus gave the early church. For over 30 years, he has worked with evangelists, missionaries, church planters, and pastors in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. He is one of the pastors of a Baptist...
