Jesus the Evangelist
He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. John 4:4-6
Jesus used parables from everyday life to teach. We still learn of God’s love from His story of the Lost Son. Jesus also taught by example. His prayer habits caused His disciples to ask Christ to teach them how to pray. From this we have learned to use the Lord’s Prayer. In John chapter four we see another example of Jesus. He is doing the work of an evangelist, reaching out to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well with the Gospel.
Not many weeks before His arrest and crucifixion Jesus “steadfastly set His face to go up to Jerusalem.” (Mt 9:51) He was not forced to go by some outward pressure. He was determined to go because of His love for us sinners. In the same way Jesus’ love for all sinners (including Samaritans) caused Him to travel through Samaria when the attitude of most Jews toward the people living there led them to take a route around that country. Jesus had a heartfelt concern for the woman at the well before He even met her.
With the same sort of love Jesus reaches out to those of us who already know His forgiveness and trust His promises. He wants us to love those for whom He died – even if they do not yet know His love. He wants us to be on the lookout for opportunities to make contact with others in order to speak to individual sinners of the Savior’s great love for them.
Lord Jesus, give me a heart that truly cares for those whom I’m about to meet who haven’t yet met You. And give me the words to speak of Your saving love when You give me the opportunity. Amen.