John 4 (8-3-17) Lecture Notes
St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church
Wed Night Bible Study
JOHN 4:39-42
Dr. E.C. Gregory, PhD – Bible Facilitator 8-3-17 Dr. H.T. Rhim, Pastor
MANY SAMARITANS BELIEVED
(While At The Well)
John 4:39-42 (NLT)
39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”
40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,
41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.
42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”
4:39. The little revival among the Samaritans is notable because the theme of natural rejection by Israel had been sounded (1:11). The testimony of the woman was effective. That Jesus knows what is in a person and that He has comprehensive knowledge of one’s life is an indication of His deity (Ps. 139; John 1:47-49; 2:24-25).
John 1:11 (NLT)
11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
4:40-41. The witness of the woman led to the Samaritans’ personal confrontation with Jesus. He stayed with them two days. The word “stayed” (from menō, “to remain, to abide”) is a favorite Gospel of John theological term (cf. 3:36; 6:56; 15:4). Because of His words many more became believers. “Words” is singular in Greek (“His word”).
Jesus’ message was the cause of their faith.
Personal testimony plus the message of Jesus is still God’s means of salvation.
4:42. Faith based simply on the testimony of another person is only secondary. True faith moves to its own experience and confrontation with Jesus. We have heard for ourselves is the more adequate basis. Jesus is the Savior of the world, not in the sense that everyone will be saved (universalism) but that His light shines for all (1:9). The light is not limited to the nation Israel, but is for “every nation, tribe, people, and language” (Rev. 7:9).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
