John tells us that after Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman, she left her waterpot and went into the city, saying:
“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29)
Her testimony stirred the people, and many believed at once:
“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’” (John 4:39)
But even more came to faith when they heard Jesus for themselves:
“And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:41–42)
The Samaritans’ openness stood in contrast to much of Israel’s hardness of heart. Though they were despised by the Jews, they received Jesus gladly. They had less pride in religious tradition and fewer expectations of a political Messiah, which made them more ready to see Him as the Savior of the world. Meanwhile, many Jews rejected Him because He did not fit their expectations.
By recording this, John shows that from the very start, Jesus was embraced by those outside of Israel’s mainstream. The Samaritans believed quickly because they recognized the truth of His words and the power of His presence, reminding us that the gospel breaks down barriers and that faith often comes first to those considered least likely by men.
