John 4:42 And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves… This witness was a glorious close to our Lord's brief ministry among the Samaritans. I. THE MARVEL OF THIS WITNESS TO CHRIST. Nothing in the gospel narrative can be to the thoughtful reader more surprising than that this view of our Lord's office should have been taken and expressed by persons in the position of these Samaritans in the village of Sychar, and especially at this early stage of our Lord's ministry. This is the more marvellous when we remember that neither the Jews generally, nor even Christ's own disciples, had attained to such a conception of Jesus, and when we remember also that the Samaritans occupied a position of inferior privilege, for "salvation was from the Jews." II. THE MEANS WHICH LED TO THIS WITNESS TO CHRIST. 1. The testimony of the woman who had been favoured with a long and intimate conversation with the Divine Prophet, and whose conscience had testified to his acquaintance with her character and moral life. 2. Their own acquaintance with his religious doctrines, gained during the two days' residence among them. 3. The impression which his presence and demeanour had made upon their minds; for they could not but perceive his superiority to all others whom they had known. III. THE FULNESS OF THIS WITNESS TO CHRIST. It is remarkable that none, however advanced in religious knowledge, can go beyond this testimony. That Jesus was a Saviour, and not a mere Teacher, - this was a truth which it was creditable to the Samaritans' discernment to attain. But that he was the Saviour of the world, - this was a truth which only the truest insight, the fullest sympathy, of a spiritual kind could reveal. There was in this profession an anticipation of our Lord's own words, "I will draw all men unto myself," and a justification for the most admiring reverence of Christ, and for the most extensive and glorious prospect for mankind. - T. Parallel Verses KJV: And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. |
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