I wanted to be a part of my church youth group choir but I didn’t want to sing. So I taught myself how to play bass guitar. They already had an experienced bass guitarist…but they felt sorry for me and let me play anyway. I’m 14 years old.

I’ve Got Issues

John 4:39-42 

“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all the things that I have done.’ So, when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  

These few verses are too rich to pass over. They are part of an amazing progression here in the book of John. 

• John the Baptist announced the coming Messiah, who the people expected to bring the Kingdom of God for the Jewish nation to earth.
• Jesus begins His ministry with a private miracle (water to wine) seen only by the servants and the first 5 disciples. 
• Jesus makes his presence known to Israel’s religious elite and Pharisees by physically turning over tables and cleansing the temple. In this case, it’s not a miracle, but it’s public and memorable. 
• The great teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, comes to Jesus secretly. Jesus blows his mind by telling him that the Kingdom of God will be extended to the entire world (all nations) and to “whoever believes.” Afterall, “For God so loves the world…” 
• Jesus initiates his ministry to the world by reaching out to a Samaritan woman of ill repute. Through her simple testimony, many Samaritans came to true faith in the Savior of the world. 

“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…” 

Allow those words to sink in…to really sink in. Jesus used a Samaritan woman, an outcast in the eyes of the Jews, to reach a city. And not a virtuous Samaritan woman (I’m sure there were many) but a sinful, outcast of a woman who had been married five times and was currently living with a man. 

Have you ever met a woman (or man) who has been divorced five times? Most likely, she has serious issues. She has daddy issues; she has insecurity issues; she has trust issues, etc. This woman of Samaria was most likely a mess. Nevertheless, JESUS CHOSE HER and used her to usher in a great spiritual revival in the city. 

He turned ordinary water into fine wine. He turned an outcast woman into a spiritual catalyst of revival. Many lives were transformed and changed for ETERNITY because of the testimony of this woman. What an example for us to ponder and consider.  

• God can and will use all of us! 
• None of us are beyond being saved by Jesus!
• Will we listen when He speaks to us by the well? 
• Will we go and tell and testify with meager words, Who He Is and what He means to us? 
• Will we let go of our issues and let God use us? 

Psalms 149:4 says, “He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”  

Lord, we are reminded this morning of your love for all of us. Whether noble or servant, whether virtuous or sinful, whether Jewish or all others, You love us and extend your saving power to turn our affliction into salvation, our mourning into joy, our ashes into a crown of beauty and the spirit of despair into a garment of praise. We begin this day with gratitude toward You, the Savior of the world. Amen.