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.” John 4:42
After the beautiful scene of God encountering an outcast of outcasts and giving her the blessing of sharing the news of his identity as the Messiah; Jesus reveals Himself, and lives are changed. The end of our passage this week gives a reminder of how people are ultimately transformed; and it’s not simply by our compelling stories. Thank goodness! There is no second-hand faith, but rather a journey that can often start with a story. God’s plan of pursuit and redemption is comprehensive. When we are willing to be vulnerable and share the “Good News” with others, we don’t have to worry about being the best salesperson. In fact, John made a point in the previous chapter with John the Baptist’s followers to remind us that our ministry of sharing the gospel is not for the purpose of creating our own following, but to point to Jesus.
This is great news because I am awful at sales. I have no sway with anyone. In fact, as a rule in our family, my husband Matt is the only one who interacts with Customer Service. He is charming and just the right mixture of positivity, empathy, and “woo.” I, on the other hand, look too much like a suburban busybody and complainer – a pejorative “Karen” – perceived as entitled and demanding. It doesn’t matter how sweet and gentle my approach is. As soon as I hear an “Ok, Maam…” from the person I’m trying to coax into a deal or perk, I know I’m sunk.
As much as I love how Jesus gives this woman such an honor in His kingdom work (like Mary Magdalene later at His resurrection); I worry my words will fall on deaf ears and I won’t be as compelling or persuasive. Thankfully, I am reminded through this account that God’s invitation to this Samaritan woman was simply to be real with Him and with others. If she could be honest about her connection with Jesus and brave enough to share it, He would do the rest. How often have I complicated sharing my testimony? How often have I owned the failures and successes in seeing people around me believe in Jesus? The end of this passage reminds us that our humble testimonies can be powerful through the work of the Holy Spirit; so let’s remove our masks and be bold as we share Jesus and the joy of the Gospel.
by Kris Thulson
