Back to the Gospel of John. I still love the way The Chosen handled the opening of John 4:

He left Judea and departed again for Galilee, and he had to pass through Samaria. (John 4.3, 4, ESV)

The Chosen showed a long discussion with the disciples ending with Jesus saying,

Listen, if we are going to have a question-and-answer session every time we do something you’re not used to, it’s going to be a very annoying time together for all of us. …So, follow me.”  (Text from The Chosen, Volume 1 by Jerry Jenkins)

You can read the whole discussion in my July 19, 2021, blog.

Today, I want to look at the end of the story. Jesus went to Samaria to reach, not just the woman at the well, but the whole village:

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…Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. 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.” (John 4.35, 39 – 42, ESV)

Who is out there, ready to believe, waiting to hear the word? Who are the unexpected converts? The disciples didn’t like Samaritans, but here they were, believing – more than in Israel. There are disciple-making movements in Iran documented in Sheep Among Wolves, Volume II. Who would expect all those believers in Iran!?

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10.16, ESV)

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11.18, ESV)