Lay It All Down
“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’”
Reading: John 4:1–30, 39-42
The story of the Samaritan woman in John 4 stirs my heart. Because of her testimony, “He told me everything I ever did” (John 4:39), this one woman led to an entire town believing in Jesus. She was a witness!
But there is something else even more remarkable to me, and that was her initial response to Jesus, or instead how she didn't respond. It went like this:
“‘Go and get your husband,’ Jesus told her. ‘I don’t have a husband,’ the woman replied. Jesus said, ‘You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!’ ‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you must be a prophet.’”
John 4:16-19 NLT
Oh, the scandal! Jesus just pulled her card after meeting her less than 5 minutes prior! That was bold. But watch this: the Samaritan woman didn't get defensive. She didn't yell, "You don't know me," as she removed her earrings to fight this stranger who dared to be in her business. She knew He was telling the truth. She acknowledged that there was something supernatural happening.
Jesus must be a prophet if He could know such intimate details about my life.
Despite what I'm sure was her shame—the whole town had to have known her history with men—she was humble. She talked with Jesus as He told her everything she ever did.
Would you have been like the Samaritan woman? Would you have laid down your insecurities, your fear, and your shame, letting Jesus into the most private places of your heart? Would you have hurried to the town where most people probably gossiped about you to tell them the Good News, that you have found the promised Messiah?
The Samaritan woman is our example of what happens when we have an encounter with the One who saves. We lay it all down at His feet, and we don’t let anything stop us from bringing everyone we know to Jesus.
Prayer Starter
Lord, help us be more like the Samaritan woman. We all have our baggage, our shame, our burdens. Help us lay them down at the feet of Jesus. Help us rejoice in His forgiveness and salvation, then tell everyone we know about the love of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper
Psalms 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT)
Reflections
What are the things that you need to lay down? Who around you needs to hear about the Savior who knows everything about you and still chooses you anyway?
