John 4:31-42, The Outsiders Believe

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 33 So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"  34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.  35 Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.  36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.  37 For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.  41And many more believed because of his word.  42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."  

In a way, Jesus has just shared a meal in his encounter with the woman at the well, because He has done the will of God. When you do what God wants it is like eating a delicious, hunger-satisfying meal. Jesus’ conversation with one hurting person has led her to bring more people to him and the free feast of God he offers. So if doing God’s will is like eating a great meal, evangelism could be said to be like planting crops and watching the harvest grow before your eyes! 

The Samaritans believe this woman’s testimony and go to Jesus to hear for themselves. They sense he is the Truth, and find out that the Truth who set her free is immediately available to them as well.  

The excluded Samaritans are now included. The divided nation is being gathered together again. The promise God made to Abraham that his descendants would bless the nations of the world is coming true in the inclusive, soul-seeking, sin-forgiving, outsider-embracing ministry of Jesus.