39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
There is nothing like an encounter with Jesus to transform a soul. What a difference was made in the life of this woman at the well after her experience with the Savior. She goes from a hopelessly needy wayward soul to boldly proclaiming her testimony to her townspeople: “He told me everything I ever did.” Utterly weary of her deadness and unholy calm she now becomes a proclaimer of the gospel.
“I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. All delights centre in our beloved.” C. H. Spurgeon
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)
What an unlikely vessel for our Lord to have chosen. Had it been me, I would have looked for some upstanding citizen to relay such treasure to the Samaritan people yet our Savior takes the time to instruct one poor woman – and one of ill repute I might add - how totally like Him and how thankful I am to Him for that – any willing cracked clay pot will do!
“God is sometimes pleased to use very weak and unlikely instruments for the beginning and carrying on of a good work. How great a matter a little fire kindles. Our Savior, by instructing one poor woman, spread instruction to a whole town. Let not ministers be either careless in their preaching, or discouraged in it, because their hearers are few and humble; for by doing good to them, good may be conveyed to more. See how good it is to speak experientially of Christ. Those are most likely to do good who can tell what God has done for their souls.” Matthew Henry
Certainly this puts flesh to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians:
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 1 Cor 1:26-31 (NIV)
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 1 Cor 1:25 (NIV)
Look how simple her testimony appears yet such a small spark began a roaring blaze. Our own testimonies are powerful witnesses for who can refute what has happened to us? Another such testimony turned a town around albeit to the chagrin of the witness! After spending some time in the belly of a great fish, we find in Jonah his following bland attempt at evangelism yet God mercifully uses it to turn the city of Nineveh around to repentance as they believed the message was sent from God:
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Jonah 3:3-6 (NIV)
Just as the city of Nineveh turned in repentance from the testimony of Jonah, the woman at the well’s testimony brought the townspeople hurriedly seeking Jesus. They came to Him thinking He was a prophet however after conversing with Him and experiencing their own encounter they knew Him to be the Christ, the Anointed One, the Savior of the world. No longer believing on her testimony, they had heard for themselves and they were both satisfied and assured that He was the Christ.
“Faith comes to the birth by hearing the report of men. The instructions of parents and preachers recommend the doctrine of Christ to our acquaintance. Faith comes to its growth, by hearing the testimony of Christ himself; and this goes further, and recommends his doctrine to our acceptance. We were induced to look into the scriptures because of what was said by those who told us that in them they had found eternal life; now we believe, not because of what they said, but because we have searched them ourselves; and our faith stands not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Matthew Henry