The Samaritan Woman
"This man really is the Savior of the world" John 4:42.

Writing about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well has me totally bamboozled. This story has so many mission promises I don't know where to start.

I could focus on Samaria. The Jews hated the Samaritans. The disciples were disinterested at best and antagonistic at worst (Luke 9:51-56). But Jesus' two-day mission tour in Samaria bears much fruit, as the townspeople declare, "This man really is the Savior of the world" (John 4:42). This event was the start of something big, because multitudes of Samaritans became Christians in the coming decades.

Or maybe I could focus on Jesus' words about worship. Many religions are prevented from becoming a global faith because they are tied to a particular sacred building or place. Christ frees His mission from such limitations. He promises, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). Because God is present everywhere and His truth can be proclaimed anywhere, God's kingdom can spread to all peoples and nations.

Or should I stress Jesus' gift of living water? Or His declaration to be the Messiah? Or the woman witnessing to her neighbors? Or Jesus' teaching about fields ripe for harvest? Or...

I give up! This chapter is too packed. Someday I might write a flock of columns on this chapter alone. Meanwhile, I invite you to search for mission themes and promises in John 4:1-42. I'd love to suggest a book to aid your study of this chapter--but I can't.

The book is titled "Juan," a commentary on John's Gospel written by Rudy Blank, a missionary to Venezuela. Like everything my friend Rudy writes, it's profound, understandable, evangelistic, mission-oriented, filled with Latin American insights-and written in Spanish. If you don't know Spanish, this excellent book can't do you any good. Unless-

I've got a crazy idea! Not knowing Spanish can actually help you be a missionary to a Spanish-speaking person. Here's what to do.

1. Order "Juan" by Rudy Blank from cphorder@cph.org. (Ask for item #16-1915.)
2. Find a Spanish-speaker who is not yet a Christian.
3. Tell him or her, "Twenty-nine pages of this book describe Jesus' conversation with a Samaritan woman. I want to understand this story, and I've heard this book explains it well. Could you and I meet a few times for you to read and translate it for me?"

What will happen in the process?

1. You will place yourself in a humble learner's role, as Jesus humbled Himself by asking the woman for a drink.
2. While you and your translator discuss the material, you'll have a great chance to witness.
3. Your translator will meet Jesus face to face, as the woman did.
4. Your translator may invite others to consider whether Jesus "really is the Savior of the world" (John 4:42).

1. When did you first hear the story of the woman at the well? How significant is it to you?
2. Examine John 4:1-12 for witnessing techniques you can use.
3. Identify mission promises in John 4:1-42. How do they apply to your witnessing situation?