Earlier I wrote a series based on the Samaritan woman with whom Jesus had a very meaningful conversation. Read the series titled Lessons From the Woman at the Well. Key word–Woman. Many sermons have been preached and many Sunday School lessons have been taught using the woman at the well as the theme, which is an excellent subject to explore (Jn. 4). However, few messages are taught or preached concerning the men of Samaria who reacted to what the woman told them about the man she had met while drawing water from the community well located. This well was located on the plot of land outside of the city of Samaria that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Recall that the woman called the local source of water “Jacob’s well.” Notice in verse 12 that she called the patriarch Jacob the Samaritan’s spiritual father.

As explained in the previous “well” series, King Jeroboam of the exiled and enslaved Israelites had sent a priest to Samaria to tell them about the Israelites’ God. However, this was not God’s priest. Jeroboam’s priests were false ministers who, not knowing the true God, misled the people concerning the truths proclaimed by the Father of the Israelites. Like their modern day counterparts, these false prophets told the people what was popular and easy to accept, not what the true God commanded of them. The Samaritans’ spiritual leader at that time was a man named Simon Magus (the magician) who kept the people under his control by performing miracles.

The woman Jesus dealt with had returned to the city and had told the men that He (Jesus) had told her everything she had ever done. Was this not the Christ? she wondered out loud. The men then came to the well to meet this Man who knew what no mere man could know. We pick up the narrative with John 4:30, 39-43.

In verse 39 we find that the word about Jesus had spread rapidly throughout the city of Samaria. Many of the people quickly came to accept Jesus as the promised Messiah BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED WHAT HE SAID. Desiring to hear more from Him they convinced Him to remain with them for two more days during which time He undoubtedly taught them many things WHICH THEY BELIEVED. Afterwards, they told the woman that they believed Him, not because of what she had told them, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAD HEARD HIM SPEAK. Note that THEY BELIEVED CHRIST’S WORDS EXACTLY AS HE HAD SPOKEN THEM.

The extreme irony found in these two “well messages” is that 1) the woman believed Jesus after one conversation with him and 2) the men believed Him after two days of listening to Him. However, billions of people have read His Words for generations and still refuse to believe what He tells them. The episodes with the Samaritans would come into play in a big way a few years later after Jesus had been crucified and the New Testament Church had been created in an upper room in Jerusalem. We pick up that narrative in Acts 8:5.

Here we find a deacon named Philip going to the city of Samaria where he preached Jesus Christ to the people. The people, having already heard about Jesus from the woman and others who had met Him at the well, reacted positively to Philip’s message. “With one accord they gave heed to what Philip said after hearing his words and seeing the miracles he performed as unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many who were possessed with them and many sick and diseased people were healed of their infirmities.” This brought great joy to the city. But not for everyone. Especially the man who had ruled over the city for many years by performing great miracles, signs and wonders before them. Simon’s magical powers were so impressive that many of the people believed that he was God Himself (vss 5-11). God’s do not like to give up their power. However, as recorded, Simon himself believed Philip’s message and was baptized. However, his “conversion” did not last long. Read Acts 8,

Simion’s popularity and power over the people is a prime example of how people are often deceived by those with large, powerful, miracle-working ministries. Recall that Judas preached the Gospel, healed the sick, cast out demons, etc. even though he was both a thief and a betrayer of the Son of God. In the series titled All That Glitters–key word Glitters–I point out that the proof of one’s ministry is not the size of the congregation or the number of miracles the preacher performs, but how closely the minister follows the Word of God. Also, the fact that God performs a miracle in an individual’s life does not mean that the person is a child of God . Recall that the Lord “sends sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust” (Mat. 5:45).

In summary I return to the fact that the woman at the well and those who came to hear Jesus following her testimony about Him all believe in Him BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED WHAT HE SAID. How wonderful it would be if those who have His Holy Bible at their fingertips would learn, believe and obey His precious soul-saving Words. As Simon Magus had the people of Samaria under his control, so Satan’s false prophets keep the church masses under their control by telling them what they want to hear: “You’re saved, its all good. Sin and grin my friend, for in the end you’ll still win. Pie in the sky, sin ’till you die, for in the sweet bye and bye, you’ll still fly.” And Satan laughs as he gathers his disciples into their respective citadels of sin each sun god day in preparation for their “Christmas festivities.” Then it will be time to start planning for their Easter pageant. In the heathen world the fun just keeps coming. L.J.