Joh 4:39 | KingComments | STEP | It is wonderful to see how God has blessed the simple testimony of the woman. Many come to faith in the Lord Jesus through her testimony. And what did her testimony consist of? Of nothing but acknowledging that her conscience has been brought into the light. She has learned to see herself as a sinner in God’s light. That light did not consume her, for it came to her in Him Who at the same time revealed to her the love of the Father. Her honest testimony is good proof that the heart hides nothing and knows how to appreciate grace. This is opposite to using grace as a cover for sin ( ). Through the word of the woman’s testimony, the Samaritans are attracted to the grace and truth revealed in Christ. They go to Him and ask Him to stay with them. This is always the result of a true work of the Spirit in heart and conscience. Someone who is convinced of it will always desire the Lord Jesus to stay with him, even if he does not yet fully know Who He is ( ). It may also be that someone who is convinced by Christ has the wish to accompany Him ( ). This reflects the same desire. The reaction of the Lord to such desires depends on the work He wants the newly converted to do. In this case, He responds to their request by staying with them for another two days. Those must have been wonderful days, with a lot of teaching about the Father. The result of His stay is an increase of people who believe in Him. He is believed for His word, without asking for a sign. Initially He is recognized by some as a Prophet ( ), next He is recognized by many as “the Savior of the world”. He is the Savior, not only for the Jews, but for the world ( ). The Samaritans who come to faith in Him are proof of this. They have heard Him and are convinced by His word inwardly that He has also come to save them. When the word of Christ is believed, there is a connection between the heart and Him. He reveals Himself by what He says. That was the case then and it is no different now. Here the word of Christ receives its full value while faith gets its blessed result in the acknowledgment of Who He really is.

‏ John 4:39

The Savior of the World

It is wonderful to see how God has blessed the simple testimony of the woman. Many come to faith in the Lord Jesus through her testimony. And what did her testimony consist of? Of nothing but acknowledging that her conscience has been brought into the light. She has learned to see herself as a sinner in God’s light. That light did not consume her, for it came to her in Him Who at the same time revealed to her the love of the Father. Her honest testimony is good proof that the heart hides nothing and knows how to appreciate grace. This is opposite to using grace as a cover for sin (Jude 1:4).

Through the word of the woman’s testimony, the Samaritans are attracted to the grace and truth revealed in Christ. They go to Him and ask Him to stay with them. This is always the result of a true work of the Spirit in heart and conscience. Someone who is convinced of it will always desire the Lord Jesus to stay with him, even if he does not yet fully know Who He is (Lk 24:29). It may also be that someone who is convinced by Christ has the wish to accompany Him (Lk 8:38). This reflects the same desire.

The reaction of the Lord to such desires depends on the work He wants the newly converted to do. In this case, He responds to their request by staying with them for another two days. Those must have been wonderful days, with a lot of teaching about the Father. The result of His stay is an increase of people who believe in Him. He is believed for His word, without asking for a sign. Initially He is recognized by some as a Prophet (Jn 4:16-19 ; 29), next He is recognized by many as “the Savior of the world”.

He is the Savior, not only for the Jews, but for the world (1Jn 4:14). The Samaritans who come to faith in Him are proof of this. They have heard Him and are convinced by His word inwardly that He has also come to save them.

When the word of Christ is believed, there is a connection between the heart and Him. He reveals Himself by what He says. That was the case then and it is no different now. Here the word of Christ receives its full value while faith gets its blessed result in the acknowledgment of Who He really is.