John 4:39-42
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 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.” [1]
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The theme of witnessing continues. Now we see the harvest that Jesus referred to in John 4:35. The fields truly were ripe for harvest.
But what strikes me is that this amazing harvest of Samaritans all begins with one encounter at the well. It illustrates the multiplication of the kingdom when disciples make disciples who make disciples. How long would it have taken to reach this entire village if Jesus sat down at the well with each person individually? But the one person He did disciple went on to invite others, and so the message spread. Ultimately, the goal is leading everyone to hear Jesus, but the invitation and witnessing comes through ordinary people like the woman.
It’s an encouragement to witness. We do not know the ripples and results from one sharing of the Gospel, or even from one act of kindness in the name of Jesus
It’s also interesting that Jesus had been teaching his disciples this harvest metaphor, encouraging them to have eyes for the harvest. But it appears that they were just standing idly by during this Samaritan revival, while the woman and other did all the witnessing.
So my prayer is that I am not on the sidelines in the harvest work that God intends to do today. But rather that the Lord would work in me so that I would grow as a disciple who makes disciples who makes disciples. I pray for the hope and confidence to disciples and witness even though I may not see a result immediately, confident that the Lord is at work.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Jn 4:39–42). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
