Jesus was the saviour of the world

JESUS WAS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just
because of what you said;now we have heard for
ourselves, and we know that this man really is the
Saviorof the world."
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
"the Saviour Of The World."
John 4:42
J.R. Thomson
This witness was a glorious close to our Lord's brief ministry among the
Samaritans.
I. THE MARVEL OF THIS WITNESS TO CHRIST. Nothing in the gospel
narrative can be to the thoughtful readermore surprising than that this view
of our Lord's office should have been taken and expressedby persons in the
position of these Samaritans in the village of Sychar, and especiallyat this
early stage ofour Lord's ministry. This is the more marvellous when we
remember that neither the Jews generally, noreven Christ's own disciples,
had attained to such a conceptionof Jesus, and when we remember also that

the Samaritans occupieda position of inferior privilege, for "salvationwas
from the Jews."
II. THE MEANS WHICH LED TO THIS WITNESS TO CHRIST.
1. The testimony of the woman who had been favoured with a long and
intimate conversationwith the Divine Prophet, and whose consciencehad
testified to his acquaintance with her characterand moral life.
2. Their own acquaintance with his religious doctrines, gained during the two
days' residence among them.
3. The impression which his presence and demeanour had made upon their
minds; for they could not but perceive his superiority to all others whom they
had known.
III. THE FULNESS OF THIS WITNESS TO CHRIST. It is remarkable that
none, howeveradvancedin religious knowledge,cango beyond this testimony.
That Jesus was a Saviour, and not a mere Teacher, - this was a truth which it
was creditable to the Samaritans'discernment to attain. But that he was the
Saviour of the world, - this was a truth which only the truest insight, the
fullest sympathy, of a spiritual kind could reveal. There was in this profession
an anticipation of our Lord's own words, "I will draw all men unto myself,"
and a justification for the most admiring reverence of Christ, and for the most
extensive and glorious prospectfor mankind. - T.

Biblical Illustrator
Now we believe not because ofthy saying: we have heard Him ourselves.
John 4:42
The Samaritan's confessionoffaith
I. THE PERSONS FROM WHOM IT CAME. Samaritans out of the
covenant, with imperfect notions of God and the Spirit of His worship, yet
they were so captivated by Christ's teachings that they felt He could be no
other than the world's Saviour.
II. THE JUST NOTIONS THEY EXPRESSED OF THE OFFICE OF
CHRIST.
1. That He was to effectthe salvationof the world, not of their race merely.
2. That He was to save by teaching the true religion. "I know," saidthe
woman, "He will tell all things" — i.e., concerning the worship of God, the
topic of discussion.
3. Thus they must have placedthe salvationitself in such a deliverance as
these means were fitted to accomplish, viz., in deliverance from ignorance,
hypocrisy, and superstition.
4. They were aware that the time was actuallycome for this Deliverer's
appearance:Jesus said, "The hour cometh and now is." The woman
responded, "I know that the Messiah(lit.) is now coming. Learn then —(1)
How little benefit the external means of grace may prove to those whose
minds, like those of the Jews, are occupiedwith adverse prejudices, so as to be
negligentof their ownimprovement.(2) What a proficiency may be made, by
God's blessing, on the diligent use of scantytalents. The Samaritans had no
light but what came obliquely from the Jews, but they so far improved under

their imperfect discipline as to attain views of the promised redemption which
the Jews missedin spite of Moses andthe Prophets.
III. THE WARMTH AND ENERGYOF THEIR CONVICTION. We know."
Conclusion—
1. Let every one take encouragementand learn the necessaryassiduityin self-
improvement.
2. Let no sinner despair of salvation. (Bp. Horsley.)
The progress offaith
T. Whitelaw, D. D.
I. ITS AWAKENING. Through indirect testimony concerning Christ. In this
ease by speaking of the woman; in other casesthrough the witness born of and
to Christ —
1. By parents to children.
2. Ministers to congregations.
3. Teachersto scholars.
4. Believers generallyto the world.
5. The scriptures to readers.
II. ITS CONFIRMATION. Bythe direct testimony of Christ Himself. In this
case through Christ's conversationwith the Samaritans;in others, by the
word of Christ carried home to the individual heart by the Spirit of Christ.
III. ITS ILLUMINATION. In the attainment of a true knowledge ofChrist's
person and work. As here, learning led to believing, and believing to knowing;
so will all in whom the earand eye of faith are opened, the taking up of
Christ's word, and through that of Christ Himself, into the heart leads to that
higher knowledge ofChrist in which consists eternallife (John 17:2). Lessons:
1. The value of Christian instruction.

2. The indispensableness of Christ's own teaching.
3. The insight of faith.
(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)
Christ the Saviour of the world
Helps for the Pulpit.
I. THE STATE OF THE WORLD REQUIRED A SAVIOUR.
II. CHRIST BECAME THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.
1. He was Divinely appointed (John 6:27; Isaiah61:1-3).
2. He voluntarily assumedthe office (1 Timothy 1:15).
III. THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST AS A SAVIOUR.
1. A willing Saviour.
2. A free Saviour.
3. An all-sufficient Saviour. He cansave —
(1)From the guilt and condemnation of sin (Romans 3:24).
(2)From the dominion of sin and its polluting power (Titus 2:12; Titus 3:5).
(3)From the tormenting power, and the destructive consequences ofsin
(Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter3:18).
(4)From the wrath of God, and the vengeance ofeverlasting fire (1
Thessalonians 1:10;Romans 5:9).
IV. THE EVIDENCE THAT CHRIST WAS THE SAVIOUR OF THE
WORLD. "This is indeed the Christ," etc. Those who are savedby Christ can
give the same testimony, for —

1. They have the witness in themselves. They have proved the "gospelto be
the powerof God to their salvation."
2. Believers are wellassuredthat Christ was the Saviour of the world, by
regarding the internal evidence of the Scriptures.
3. Christianity has survived all the attempts of its enemies to destroyit.
4. It is proved that Christ was the Saviour by a reference to the pages of
history.Application:
1. Let Christians examine and be satisfiedwith the truth of the gospel.
2. Be thankful for such a Saviour.
3. The rejectorof Christ has cause for alarm.
(Helps for the Pulpit.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(42) We have heard him ourselves.—The “Him” is not part of the original
text, and the sentence is more forcible without it: We have ourselves heard.
Probably “the Christ” should also be regardedas no part of the original text,
and the last clause should be, and know that this is truly the Saviour of the
world. The result of their hearing is that they know. There is here, as
frequently in St. John, stress laid upon the development of faith. We shall find
it againin the following verses, which mark it in the case ofthe courtier.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
4:27-42 The disciples wonderedthat Christ talkedthus with a Samaritan. Yet
they knew it was for some goodreason, and for some goodend. Thus when
particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God, it is goodto

satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things
affectedthe woman. The extent of his knowledge. Christknows all the
thoughts, words, and actions, ofall the children of men. And the powerof his
word. He told her secretsins with power. She fastenedupon that part of
Christ's discourse, many would think she would have been most shy of
repeating; but the knowledge ofChrist, into which we are led by conviction of
sin, is most likely to be sound and saving. They came to him: those who would
know Christ, must meet him where he records his name. Our Masterhas left
us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as he did; with
diligence, as those that make a business of it; with delight and pleasure in it.
Christ compares his work to harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and
lookedfor before it comes;so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all
must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work must be
done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospelis a season, whichif once
past, cannotbe recalled. Godsometimes uses very weak and unlikely
instruments for beginning and carrying on a goodwork. Our Saviour, by
teaching one poor woman, spread knowledge to a whole town. Blessedare
those who are not offended at Christ. Those taught of God, are truly desirous
to learn more. It adds much to the praise of our love to Christ and his word, if
it conquers prejudices. Their faith grew. In the matter of it: they believed him
to be the Saviour, not only of the Jews but of the world. In the certainty of it:
we know that this is indeed the Christ. And in the ground of it, for we have
heard him ourselves.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him, ... - There is seldom
an instance of so remarkable successas this. From a single conversation, in
circumstances, in a place, and with an individual little likely to be attended
with such results, many sinners were converted; many believed on the
testimony of the woman; many more came to hear, and believed because they
heard him themselves. We should never despair of doing good in the most
unpromising circumstances, and we should seize upon every opportunity to
converse with sinners on the greatsubject of their souls'salvation.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary

40. abode two days—Two precious days, surely, to the RedeemerHimself!
Unsought, He had come to His own, yet His own receivedHim not: now those
who were not His own had come to Him, been won by Him, and invited Him
to their town that others might share with them in the benefit of His
wonderful ministry. Here, then, would He solaceHis already wounded spirit
and have in this outfield village triumph of His grace, a sublime foretaste of
the inbringing of the whole Gentile world into the Church.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Severalthings may be the occasionoffaith, which are neither the principal
efficient causes,nor the proper instrumental cause of it. The principal
efficient cause ofthe faith of these Samaritans was, undoubtedly, the finger of
God upon their souls, enlightening their minds with the saving knowledge of
the gospel, andbowing their wills to the obedience of it. The proper
instrumental cause was their hearing the words of Christ; but the occasionof
this was what the woman had told them: so as, though they in a sense believed
because ofwhat she had said, because that occasionedtheir coming out to see
and hear Christ; yet the proper instrumental cause was their hearing Christ,
God upon their hearing him working in their hearts an ability and a
willingness to receive and to close with Christ. Thus the church gives us the
first occasionofreceiving the Scriptures, and believing them to be the word of
God: we, having them put into our hands by the church, read them, and find
such impresses and stamps of Divinity in them, that we conclude, from our
reasonvery probably, that they are more than human writings; but never
firmly and fixedly receive them as such, until persuadedof it by the Holy
Spirit. These Samaritans do not only own Christ as a prophet, nor do they
only suspectthat he must be the Messias, but they profess to know that he was
the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And said unto the woman,.... Who, it appears, kept hearing Christ, attending
on him, and conversing with him; for having tastedof his grace, she couldnot
leave him:

now we believe, not because ofthy saying; not on accountof that only: it
should seemthat these were the same persons that believed upon her word
before they went out of the city; and who, when come to Christ, invited him
into it; and now, having heard his excellentdiscourses, were confirmedin the
faith of him:
for we have heard him ourselves;not only externally with their bodily ears,
but internally, having ears given them to hear, so as to understand what he
said; to mix it with faith, and receive it in love; to feelthe powerof it in their
hearts, and taste the sweetnessofit, and be nourished by it; and so as to
distinguish his voice from another's, as Christ's true sheepare capable of.
And know that this is indeed the Christ; the true Messiah, and not a false one;
the Messiahspokenof by Moses,whose booksthe Samaritans received, as the
seedof the woman, the Shiloh, and prophet, like to Moses;the Christ of God,
who is anointed to be prophet, priest, and King. The Vulgate Latin and
Ethiopic versions leave out the word "Christ", and only read what follows,
the Saviourof the world: they knew him to be the Saviour, he who was spoken
of as such; for his work to bruise the serpent's head implies it, and his name
Shiloh imports as much: and besides, he is calledby JacobGod's salvation,
Genesis 49:18. Godappointed him as a Saviour; he sent him, and he came as
such, and is become the author of salvation;and his name is calledJesus, on
this account:and a greatSaviour he is; both able, and willing; and he is
suitable to the case ofsinners; and is a complete, and an only one: and these
Samaritans knew him to be "the Saviourof the world"; not of every
individual personin it, for all are not saved by him; nor of the Jewishworld,
for many of them died in their sins; but of the Gentiles, in distinction from the
Jews;see John 3:16; even of all God's elect, whether among Jews or Gentiles;
of all that believe in him, of whatsoevernation, and in whatsoeverstate and
condition: so that their knowledge ofhim, and faith in him, were beyond that
of the Jews, who lookedupon the Messiahonly as a Saviour of their nation;
and that the Gentiles would have no manner of benefit and advantage by him:
though the Jews (b) do call the angel in Exodus 23:20 , "the Saviour", or
"Redeemerof" the world. And this the Samaritans might know from the
writings of Moses, as from Genesis 22:18 their present knowledge ofChrist

was not a mere notional, speculative, and generalone, but was special,
spiritual, and saving, which they had from the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge ofChrist; they approved of him as their Saviour; they
trusted in him as such; they had an experimental acquaintance with him, and
practically ownedhim; and which they attained to by hearing him.
(b) Zohar in Gen. fol. 124. 4.
Geneva Study Bible
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because ofthy saying: for we
have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour
of the world.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
42. thy saying]Not the same word as in John 4:39, the Greek for which is the
same as that translated ‘word’ in John 4:41. John 4:39; John 4:41 should be
alike, viz. ‘word,’ meaning ‘statement’ in John 4:39 and ‘teaching’ in John
4:41. Here we should have ‘speech’or ‘talk.’ In classicalGreek lalia has a
slightly uncomplimentary turn, ‘gossip, chatter.’But this shade of meaning is
lost in later Greek, though there is perhaps a slight trace of it here; ‘not
because ofthy talk;’ but this being doubtful, ‘speech’ will be the safer
translation. The whole should run, no longer is it because ofthy speechthat
we believe. In John 8:43 lalia is used by Christ of His own words;see note
there.
we Have heard him ourselves]Better, we have heard for ourselves. There is no
‘Him’ in the Greek. ‘The Christ’ is also to be omitted. It is wanting in the best
MSS.
the Saviourof the world] It is not improbable that such ready hearers would
arrive at this great truth before the end of those two days. It is therefore

unnecessaryto suppose that S. John is here unconsciouslygiving one of his
own expressions (1 John 4:14) for theirs.
Bengel's Gnomen
John 4:42. Οὐκ ἔτι, now no longer) The true progress of faith is here
evinced.—αὐτοί, ourselves)Augustine admirably remarks on this passage:At
first it was by the report of others, afterwards by His own presence [the men
were led to believe]. This is the way in which those who are abroad, and are
not yet Christians, are dealt with in the present day. Christ is announced as
having come, through Christian friends; that womanas it were, that is, the
Church, announcing the tidings. Men come to Christ, and believe, through
that report. He remains with them two days, i.e. He gives them the two
precepts of charity:[88] and far more persons, and more firmly too, believe in
Him, that He is indeed Himself the Saviour of the world. Hence it is evident in
what sense that hackneyedquotation ought to be understood: I indeed would
not believe the Gospel, did not the authority of the Catholic Church admonish
(others read, move) me to do so:Contra Ep. fundamenti, Chap. v.[89]
Inasmuch as in this passageAugustine is not teaching, but is opposing the
Manicheans.[90]—τοῦ κόσμου,ofthe world) not merely of the Jews. Faith
frees from party zeal: they believe in Jesus, since He is the Saviour of the
world, having laid aside their boasting of their fathers,[91]John 4:12, “Art
Thou greaterthan owe father Jacob,” etc.
[88] To love Christ, and to love one another.—E. and T.
[89] “The authority of the Church” is here not her infallibility, but her
faithful testimony.—E. and T.
[90] The Edition of E. B. and Steudel causedme greatdifficulty by a misprint,
“NondocetAugustinus, sed Manichæus adversum tenet.” The large Ed. of
1759 solvedit by the true reading, ‘Manichæis.’Calvin, Inst., lib. i., ch. John

7:3, answers the argument drawn by Romanists from the words of Augustine,
here quoted, by saying, that Augustine, in the passagereferredto, speaks of
himself as a Manichean;viz. that he means that, when a Manichean, he was
moved by the authority of the Church to believe the Scriptures. So also
Musculus, who considers ‘crederem’and ‘commoveret’ to be equivalent to
‘credidissem’ and ‘commovisset.’Augustine, in the words immediately
following, says, “Those whomI obeyedwhen they said to me, Believe the
Gospel, why should I not obey when they tell me, ‘Believe not Mani?’ ”
Whence it is plain, he is speaking of himself as an unbeliever, and is informing
us how he was first converted from being a Manicheanto be a Catholic
Christian, namely, by listening to the voice of the Church. But that voice is the
voice of testimony, not the voice of infallible authority.—E. and T.
[91] The Vers. Germ. is more clearlyin accordance withthis observation, as
omitting along with the largeredition, New Testament, the reading ὁ Χριστός;
than the Ed. 2, Gr., which leaves the addition ὁ Χριστός to the reader to
decide upon.—E. B.
Vincent's Word Studies
Said (ἔλεγον)
The imperfect tense: saidto the woman as they successivelymet her.
Saying (λαλιὰν)
Another word is designedly substituted for λόγον, word (John 4:39, John
4:41). In John 4:39 λόγος, word, is used of the woman, from the Evangelist's
standpoint, as being a testimony to Christ. Here the Samaritans distinguish
betweenthe more authoritative and dignified word of Jesus, andthe talk of
the woman. Rev., speaking. Compare the kindred verb λαλέω, in John 4:26,
John 4:27; also John 8:43; Matthew 26:73.
The Christ
The best texts omit.

The Savior(ὁ σωτὴρ)
John uses the word only here and 1 John 4:14. See on Jesus, Matthew 1:21. It
is significant that this conceptionof Christ should have been first expressedby
a Samaritan.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
BARCLAY
THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD (John 4:39-42)
4:39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that city believed on him, because of the
woman's story, for she testified: "He told me all things that I have done." So
when the Samaritans came to him, they askedhim to stay amongstthem, and
he stayed there two days. And many more believed when they heard his word,
and they said to the woman: "No longer do we believe because ofyour talk.
We ourselves have listened to him, and we know that this is really the Saviour
of the World."
In the events which happened at Samaria we have the pattern by which the
gospelso often spreads. In the rise of belief among the Samaritans there were
three stages.
(i) There was introduction. The Samaritans were introduced to Christ by the
woman. Here we see full-displayed God's need of us. Paul said:. "How are
they to hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). The word of Godmust be
transmitted by man to man. God cannot deliver his messageto those who have
never heard it unless there is someone to deliver it.
"He has no hands but our hands
To do his work today:
He has no feetbut our feet

To lead men in his way:
He has no voice but our voice
To tell men how he died:
He has no help but our help
To lead them to his side."
It is at once our precious privilege and our terrible responsibility to bring men
to Christ. The introduction cannot be made unless there is a man to make it.
Further, that introduction is made on the strength of personalwitness. The
cry of the Samaritan woman was:"Look whathe has done for me and to me."
It was not to a theory that she calledher neighbours; it was to a dynamic and
changing power. The church can expand until the kingdoms of the world
become the kingdoms of the Lord only when men and womenthemselves
experience the power of Christ, and then transmit that experience to others.
(ii) There was nearerintimacy and growing knowledge. Once the Samaritans
had been introduced to Christ, they sought his company. They askedhim to
stay with them that they might learn of him and come to know him better. It is
true that a man must be introduced to Christ, but it is equally true that once
he has been introduced he must himself go on to live in the presence ofChrist.
No man can go through an experience for another man. Others may lead us to
the friendship of Christ, but we must claim and enjoy that friendship
ourselves.
(iii) There came discovery and surrender. The Samaritans discoveredin
Christ the Saviour of the world. It is not likely that they themselves put it
exactly that way. John was writing years afterwards, and was putting the
discoveryof the Samaritans into his own words, words which enshrine a life-
time's living with and thinking about Jesus Christ. It is only in John that we
find this tremendous title. We find it here and in 1 John 4:14. To him it was
the title par excellence forChrist.
John did not invent the title. In the Old TestamentGodhad often been called
the Godof salvation, the Saviour, the saving God. Many of the Greek gods

had acquired this title. At the time John was writing the Roman Emperor was
invested with the title Saviour of the World. It is as if John said: "All that you
have dreamed of has at last in Jesus come true."
We do well to remember this title. Jesus was notsimply a prophet, who came
with a messagein words from God. He was not simply an expert psychologist
with an uncanny faculty for seeing into the human mind. True, he showedthat
very skill in the case ofthe Samaritan woman, but he showedmore than that.
He was not simply an example. He did not come simply to show men the way
in which life ought to be lived. A greatexample can be merely heart-breaking
and frustrating when we find ourselves powerlessto follow it.
Jesus was Saviour. He rescuedmen from the evil and hopeless situationin
which they found themselves;he broke the chains that bound them to the past
and gave them a powerwhich enabled them to meet the future. The
Samaritan womanis in fact the greatexample of his saving power. The town
where she stayed would no doubt have labelled her a characterbeyond
reformation; and she herselfwould no doubt have agreedthat a respectable
life was beyond her. But Jesus came and doubly rescuedher; he enabled her
to break awayfrom the past and he opened a new future to her. There is no
title adequate to describe Jesus exceptSaviour of the World.
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR
THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD (John 4:39-42)
4:39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that city believed on him, because of the
woman's story, for she testified: "He told me all things that I have done." So
when the Samaritans came to him, they askedhim to stay amongstthem, and
he stayed there two days. And many more believed when they heard his word,
and they said to the woman: "No longer do we believe because ofyour talk.

We ourselves have listened to him, and we know that this is really the Saviour
of the World."
In the events which happened at Samaria we have the pattern by which the
gospelso often spreads. In the rise of belief among the Samaritans there were
three stages.
(i) There was introduction. The Samaritans were introduced to Christ by the
woman. Here we see full-displayed God's need of us. Paul said:. "How are
they to hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). The word of Godmust be
transmitted by man to man. God cannot deliver his messageto those who have
never heard it unless there is someone to deliver it.
"He has no hands but our hands
To do his work today:
He has no feetbut our feet
To lead men in his way:
He has no voice but our voice
To tell men how he died:
He has no help but our help
To lead them to his side."
It is at once our precious privilege and our terrible responsibility to bring men
to Christ. The introduction cannot be made unless there is a man to make it.
Further, that introduction is made on the strength of personalwitness. The
cry of the Samaritan woman was:"Look whathe has done for me and to me."
It was not to a theory that she calledher neighbours; it was to a dynamic and
changing power. The church can expand until the kingdoms of the world
become the kingdoms of the Lord only when men and womenthemselves
experience the power of Christ, and then transmit that experience to others.
(ii) There was nearerintimacy and growing knowledge. Once the Samaritans
had been introduced to Christ, they sought his company. They askedhim to

stay with them that they might learn of him and come to know him better. It is
true that a man must be introduced to Christ, but it is equally true that once
he has been introduced he must himself go on to live in the presence ofChrist.
No man can go through an experience for another man. Others may lead us to
the friendship of Christ, but we must claim and enjoy that friendship
ourselves.
(iii) There came discovery and surrender. The Samaritans discoveredin
Christ the Saviour of the world. It is not likely that they themselves put it
exactly that way. John was writing years afterwards, and was putting the
discoveryof the Samaritans into his own words, words which enshrine a life-
time's living with and thinking about Jesus Christ. It is only in John that we
find this tremendous title. We find it here and in 1 John 4:14. To him it was
the title par excellence forChrist.
John did not invent the title. In the Old TestamentGodhad often been called
the Godof salvation, the Saviour, the saving God. Many of the Greek gods
had acquired this title. At the time John was writing the Roman Emperor was
invested with the title Saviour of the World. It is as if John said: "All that you
have dreamed of has at last in Jesus come true."
We do well to remember this title. Jesus was notsimply a prophet, who came
with a messagein words from God. He was not simply an expert psychologist
with an uncanny faculty for seeing into the human mind. True, he showedthat
very skill in the case ofthe Samaritan woman, but he showedmore than that.
He was not simply an example. He did not come simply to show men the way
in which life ought to be lived. A greatexample can be merely heart-breaking
and frustrating when we find ourselves powerlessto follow it.
Jesus was Saviour. He rescuedmen from the evil and hopeless situationin
which they found themselves;he broke the chains that bound them to the past
and gave them a powerwhich enabled them to meet the future. The
Samaritan womanis in fact the greatexample of his saving power. The town
where she stayed would no doubt have labelled her a characterbeyond
reformation; and she herselfwould no doubt have agreedthat a respectable
life was beyond her. But Jesus came and doubly rescuedher; he enabled her

to break awayfrom the past and he opened a new future to her. There is no
title adequate to describe Jesus exceptSaviour of the World.
The Man Who Understood Woman
Author: Ray C. Stedman
Readthe Scripture: John 4:1-42
The story of Jesus and the womanat the well of Samaria helps us deal with
many modern issues. Here Jesus crosses the barrier of race prejudice and
interacts with a race hated and rejectedby the Jews. Thathelps us greatly in
our own bigoted, prejudicial society. Our Lord encounters a moral outcast
and displays for our instruction the proper approachto take with such a
person. In this story he also settles a theologicalquarrel that had been going
on for centuries as to the proper place and manner of worship. We, too, are
still wrestling with those issues today, so this accountis of greatvalue to us.
John gives the backgroundand the setting of this encounterin the first six
verses of Chapter 4 of his gospel.
Now when the Lord knew that the Phariseeshad heard that Jesus was making
and baptizing more disciples than John [although Jesus himself did not
baptize, but only his disciples], he left Judea and departed againto Galilee. He
had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a city of Samaria, calledSychar,
near the field that Jacobgave to his son Joseph. Jacob's wellwas there, and so
Jesus, weariedas he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was
about the sixth hour. (John 4:1-6 RSV)
John particularly calls to our attention three factors here:

First, the reasonJesus left Judea was to avoid a growing controversy. The
Pharisees were distressedand arousedover the apparent rivalry betweenthe
baptism of Jesus and the baptism of John. They could not understand it. They
were choosing up sides, and a rift threatened.
That is a problem yet today. Many denominations split from eachother over
the proper mode to employ, or what is the meaning of baptism. But Jesus
walkedawayfrom this controversy, thereby indicating its lack of true
significance and importance. In factwhen John says Jesus "left" Judea, he
means he forsook, he abandoned Judea. Jesus walkedawayfrom
controversies ofthat nature.
Then John calls attention to the route Jesus took on his journey to Galilee. He
chose the most direct route, traveling through Samaria, which lies between
Judea and Galilee. It is interesting that Prime Minister MenachemBeginhas
reintroduced the practice of calling this sectionof the Holy Land, Samaria.
We know it as the WestBank, but he insists that its proper title is Samaria.
This direct route from Judea to Galilee was about 70 miles, or two and a half
days' walk. But many of the Jews chosenot to go through Samaria. They
traveled the hot desert road from Jerusalemto Jericho, and up the Jordan
valley. Thus, because ofthe terrible prejudice that prevailed againstthe
Samaritan people, they journeyed almost twice the distance on a much hotter
and more uncomfortable road. But our Lord cut right through that ignorant,
narrow-minded prejudice and went through Samaria.
We have seenrecentdemonstrations of Christian prejudice and bigotry in this
regard. It is amazing how narrow-minded some people can be. I heard of a
woman so narrow-minded she could wearonly one earring!
Thirdly, John calls attention to the place where Jesus stopped. It was an
historic spot -- Jacob's well, atthe foot of Mount Gerizim. The Israelites were
commanded to read the Law of Moses everyyear from the tops of the twin
mountains that span the valley that leads up to the city of Samaria, Mt.
Gerizim on the eastand Mt. Ebal on the west. Mt. Gerizim was the place
where the blessings ofthe Law were read; while Mt. Ebal was where the
curses of the Law were read to those who disobeyed it. There, about one-half

mile westof the village of Sychar, where Joseph's tomb is located, atthe well
which Jacob, in his day, had dug for his flocks and herds, Jesus satdown to
rest.
I had an interesting experience at Jacob's wella number of years ago. I was
traveling alone in a rented car through the West Bank, and I picked up three
Israelisoldiers who were armed with sub-machine guns. Though their camp
was locatedright outside of town, they had never been to Jacob's well. They
did not even know it was there. But, when I told them I was going to visit it,
they were very interested. When I showedup at the well with a bodyguard of
three armed Israelisoldiers, the Syrian priest who was in charge of the well
mistook me for some important dignitary and he really rolled out the red
carpet! I fared much better than the Lord did when he went there!
According to this account, it was "the sixth hour" when Jesus stoppedat the
well. By Jewishreckoning that would be noon. But according to Roman time,
which I think John uses throughout his gospel, it was six o'clock in the
evening. So it was no surprise that Jesus was weary. He had been walking in
the hot sun all day. He was thirsty, so he satbeside the well to rest while the
disciples went into the city to find something to eat. Thus we have here a very
beautiful picture of our Lord's humanity.
Verses 7 through 26 give an accountof a most remarkable conversationour
Lord had. Jesus himself seizes the initiative with a womanwho comes to the
well to draw water.
There came a womanof Samaria to draw water. Jesus saidto her, "Give me a
drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The
Samaritan womansaid to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a
woman of Samaria?" ForJews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus
answeredher, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you,
'Give me a drink,' you would have askedhim, and he would have given you
living water." (John 4:7-10 RSV)
How very beautifully Jesus overleaps the barriers that separatedhim from
this woman. He was a rabbi, and according to the rabbinical law, rabbis were
instructed to never talk to a woman in public -- not even to their ownwives or

sisters. In fact the rabbinical law said, "It is better to burn the law than to
give it to a woman." In that culture women were regardedas totally unable to
understand complicatedsubjects like theologyand religion.
Ever since the days of Nehemiah, 450 years earlier, this race of Samaritans --
who had been brought in by the Assyrians to populate the area after they had
removed the Jewishpopulation -- were regarded as a hated, hereticalJewish
cult. The Samaritans acceptedonly the five books ofMoses, andthey had
mingled with the Law of Mosespagan, idolatrous practices. Theyhad even
erecteda temple on Mt. Gerizim as a rival to the temple in Jerusalem. Thus
they were regardedby the Jews as reprobates, and were hated even more than
the Gentiles. No wonder, then, that this Samaritan woman was surprised
when Jesus addressedher.
But notice how Jesus treats her. He read her heart, evidently judging from the
circumstances something about her. Although there was anotherwell in the
village, as a moral outcastshe was forcedto come all the way out to this well,
half a mile away. Meeting her, our Lord understood this to be a sign from his
Father that here was one of those sinners whom he came to call to repentance.
Remember that he himself said on one occasion, "Idid not come to call the
righteous to repentance but sinners," (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32).
He probably knew more about this woman's history than this introduction
suggests, becauselaterhe tells her some facts about herselfthat he evidently
knew. He had been through this small village severaltimes, and had probably
heard something about her. Now to have her meet him at the well is to him an
indication that God the Fatherwanted to reach out to her.
So, as he always did in such a wonderful way, Jesus seizes whatwas right at
hand. Here was a thirsty woman coming to draw water, and he said to her
these remarkable words, "If you knew about the gift of God and who it is that
is saying to you, 'Give me to drink,' you would have askedofhim and he
would have given you living water." The "gift of God" here is really the Holy
Spirit. Later, when Peteraddresses three thousand or more Jews onthe Day
of Pentecost, he says to them, "Repentand be baptized and you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit," (Acts 2:38). The Jews knew all about that. They
knew that God had promised this gift to Abraham, which would both make

him a blessing and be a blessing to him. So Jesus is saying to this woman, "If
you knew about the Holy Spirit and who it is that is talking to you, you would
have askedfrom him this living water."
But, as with the Jews in the temple in Jerusalemrecordedin the first chapter
of this gospel, and as with Nicodemus, recordedin the third chapter, this
woman misunderstands what he says. Although he is speaking figuratively,
she takes him literally.
The woman saidto him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is
deep; where do you getthat living water" Are you greaterthan our father
Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his
cattle'?" (John4:11-12 RSV)
She is obviously puzzled by his words. She responds, "You have nothing to
draw with, and the well is deep." If you have been there you know the well is
indeed deep. It is at least60 feet down to the water. If you do not have a long
rope and a bucketyou cannot getthe waterout. Then when Jesus says "living
water," she thinks of running water. That is what the figure means
metaphorically -- a fountain or a stream, comparedwith a well or a cistern.
She is puzzled by what he says. "Youhave nothing to draw with; and what do
you mean, 'running water'?"
That she has already begun to suspectshe is talking to a most unusual man is
shown by her secondquestion, "Are you greaterthan our father Jacob?"
Jacobwas the greatfounder of the Jewishfaith. The Samaritans, who had the
five books ofMoses, lookedto Jacobas their founder as well. Her question,
"Are you greaterthan Jacob?"indicates that she does not clearlyunderstand
what he means. But now Jesus explains:
Jesus saidto her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but
whoeverdrinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water
that I shall give him will become in him a spring of waterwelling up to eternal
life." (John 4:13-14 RSV)
That is a very clearexplanation. What Jesus says immediately is, "I am not
talking about the waterin the well. Drink of that waterand you will thirst

again." (She knew what he meant. She had been coming to that well for
years.)"But I will give you living water, and the one who drinks of the waterI
give will never thirst." He did not, of course, meanthat one could take one
drink of living waterand never againfeel a thirst of soul, any more than one
could take one drink of any kind of physical, literal water and never feel
thirsty again. What he means is what we Americans have discoveredin our
own homes. How do we keepfrom thirsting? We have waterpiped in,
available to us all the time, so that when we feel even a little thirsty we take a
drink of it. This is what Jesus means here. The waterhe would give would be
available constantly so that when one was thirsty one could drink immediately
and so would never getterribly thirsty.
Many Christians never seemto learn this truth. They never realize that there
is a place where their inner thirst -- their sense of restlessness, theirdesire for
more than they have got -- canbe met instantly.
Jesus goeson to make clearthat it is going to be from within: "The waterI
shall give him will become in him a spring of waterwelling up to eternallife."
(By the way, notice when Jesus addressesthis woman he does not change the
pronoun; he uses masculine pronouns because thatis a generic use of the
pronoun "him." That is, women have a right to be called"him" as much as
men.) "The watershall be in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
He means, of course, that that Spirit which he will impart is a life-giving
Spirit, that as one drinks of that Spirit one experiences the quality of life
which is called, in the Scriptures, eternallife.
That means far more than everlasting life. It means refreshing, invigorating,
exciting life; life that has the qualities of love and joy and peace aboutit.
When you lack these qualities, if you have drunk of the waterthat Jesus gives
you canimmediately slake your thirst -- againand againand again. It is a
beautiful picture: a well springing up to eternal life.
But, still confused, the womanreplies:
"Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." (John
4:15 RSV)

It is obvious that she still does not understand him. But the issue is up to him.
She has askedfor the waterwhich he offered, now it is up to him to find a way
to supply it.
Jesus knows that there is something hindering her, that she is still in darkness.
This very gospelbegins with the words "the light shines in darkness and the
darkness cannotgethold of it; does not apprehend it, does not graspit, does
not understand it." That is what Jesus is up againstwith this woman. There is
something inhibiting her understanding.
Jesus knows whatit is, and he proceeds immediately to deal with it.
Jesus saidto her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman
answeredhim, "I have no husband." Jesus saidto her, "You are right in
saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom
you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." (John 4:16-18 RSV)
Jesus is not making fun of her. He is recognizing the truth in what she said. I
do not think this is divine omniscience, because he did not exercise that in his
earthly period. This is really information that he had gathered, probably on
previous visits to this area. He had not personallymet this woman but he
knew about her. He knew she had had five husbands, and that she was
regardedas a moral pariah in the village. He also knew that she was now
living with a man without benefit of marriage. Jesus sharedthat with her not
to condemn her, but to help her face the problem in her life.
The gospeltells us that the steps to redemption are twofold: repentance and
belief: Repentance is a human act; belief and regenerationis a divine act.
Until we admit our need there is no way of releasing God to actand to
regenerate. Jesus knowsthat she must come to that place, so he proceeds to
deal with the hindrance. "Go callyour husband," he tells her. She admits that
she has no husband, and he tells her she has had five, and is now living with
another man. As I have suggested, he knew this much about her. But he knew
more than that. He knew there was a thirst in this woman's heart, a hunger
for something more.

What is it that causes a woman to have five husbands and then keepon living
with men anyhow? It sounds like the life of a Hollywood movie star. This may
be the story of many here this morning. The hunger after the thrill and
excitement of falling in romantic love is a most remarkable phenomenon to
which the human race is subject. Falling in love transforms a perfectly
ordinary boy into a Greek godin the eyes of a girl; while it can transform a
nice young girl into a captivating creature who makes a boy's heart pound
and his head swim! Falling in love is a kind of glorious intoxication. I
remember a night in the moonlight many years ago -- Well, I won't go into
that now!
Falling in love imparts an arm-flinging ecstasy, a beat in the blood, a heady
euphoria. You can hearabout it in the popular songs ofany day: "It's June in
January because I'm in love." All the songs reflectthe yearning of people
after a new affair, a new sense ofthis euphoric excitement. That is what this
woman wanted. But that kind of excitement is intended to lead to marriage
and to simmer down to a steadier, growing, deeper, richer kind of love which
is intended to lasta lifetime. C. S. Lewis rightly said, "Thatricher, quieter
love is the fuel on which the engine of life runs. Falling in love is the explosion
that gets it started."
But many insist on living in the heady intoxication of falling in love; they long
to have that preserved and perpetuated. It is simply impossible to do that. It
cannot be retained no matter how hard a couple may try. If they are unwilling
to let that go they never allow the deeperlove to form. When romance fades,
as it always does, they become restless. Theyfeel cheated, deprived and angry.
Eventually they feeldesperate, trapped. They fling over the old, a new partner
appears, and they fall in love again. The fires begin to glow again, never quite
as brightly as the last time; there is always a diminishing return. At last, they
end up as millions are doing today, like this womanwho had five husbands.
Finally, not bothering with the formalities of marriage at all, they just have a
male roommate live with them.
Taylor Caldwell, the author of the book Captains and Kings, which was
telecastin a nine-hour production last year, was askedif that production
would bring her solid satisfaction. This was her answer:

There is no solid satisfactionin any careerfor a woman like myself. There is
no home, no true freedom, no hope, no joy, no expectationfor tomorrow, no
contentment. I would rather cook a meal for a man, bring him his slippers,
and feelmyself in the protectionof his arms, than have all the citations,
awards and honors I have receivedworldwide, including the ribbon of the
Legion of Honor, my property and my bank accounts. Theymean nothing to
me. And I am only one among the millions of sadwomen like myself.
This is the kind of woman Jesus met at the well. He knew that somehow he
must gently leadher to face the thing that was destroying her; that she must
understand what it was that was ruining her life and keeping her from the
satisfactionofher thirst. So gently, plainly, forthrightly, but without
condemnation, he led her to see what was wrong.
Her response is very revealing:
The woman saidto him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers
worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where
men ought to worship." (John 4:19-20 RSV)
Mostof the commentators take her response to be an evasionon her part, a
change of subject in order to escape a very unpleasant probing by Jesus. I
once thought that, but I have come to see her response in a deeper light. I
believe now that this is an admissionon her part that Jesus is dead right: "Sir,
I perceive that you are a prophet. You have seenme, and you are right on.
You know all about me." (Later, she goes into the village and says to the
people, "Come see a man who told me everything I ever did.") By her
response, she is admitting that he is right; this is what she has done and been.
Then she links with it not an evasion, not a religious question to try to turn
him off, but an honest plea for help. "Where do I go to get life?" is what she is
saying. "You Jews saythat the only place to offer the sacrifice that can cleanse
my sin is in the temple in Jerusalem. Our people sayit is here on this
mountain. Where do I go? How canI find God? "
Jesus'words, then, fit very beautifully:

Jesus saidto her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on
this mountain nor in Jerusalemwill you worship the Father. You worship
what you do not know;we worship what we know, for salvationis from the
Jews. Butthe hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will
worship the Fatherin spirit and truth, for such the Father seeksto worship
him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and
truth." (John 4:21-24 RSV)
Jesus says three remarkable things:
First, he says, in effect, "Your question about where to worship is soongoing
to be entirely irrelevant. The hour is coming when geographywill no more be
an issue. Temples or buildings will not be necessaryto worship God. God is
going to, and has alreadyprovided, that your body is the temple; that is where
he wants his worship to go on." By his death and resurrection, Jesus knew
that he was going to destroy all the symbols of worship on earth. So temples,
buildings and geographicallocations are no longersignificant. Your own
body, your own personis the place where Godwants worship.
Secondly, he said to her, "Your knowledge is incomplete. You have been the
victim of garbled truth. You have some truth but there is much error mingled
with it; you have been misled." This often happens. Most of the cults teach
garbled Christian truth mixed with error. But Jesus says, "The Jews know
more. They at leastknow where is the proper place to carry on worship by
symbol because they are part of God's plan. 'Salvation is of the Jews.'" Jesus
does not deny it. He himself speaks as a Jew. He recognizes that Israelis
indeed part of God's program to bring salvationto the world, and he does not
setit aside.
Thirdly, Jesus says, "Here is what true worship is: true worship is done in
your human spirit." It is what we callworshipping from the heart. And it
must be in truth. It must be honest, not a put-on. It is not something you do
with your body while your mind is somewhere else. Worshipis what you mean
with all your heart. When we sing hymns, God is not interestedin our just
mouthing words. He is interested in our hearts meaning what we sing. Mostof
our hymns are hymns of worship, prayer and praise addressedto God. They

are to come from the heart, so we are to sing with meaning. God is seeking
such to worship him. In every congregationGodis looking for those who
mean what they are singing, who, from the heart, are saying these things to
him. That is what worship is. And the reasonit is worship is because it is in
line with God's own nature. God himself is a Spirit, he is invisible; and we too
are spirit, in the innermost part of our being. Therefore, worshipis the joining
togetherof Spirit with spirit. How true are the words of the old hymn,
Speak to Him then for he heareth,
And Spirit with spirit can meet.
Closeris He than breathing,
Nearerthan hands and feet.
The woman still cannot quite believe that it is that easy:
The woman saidto him, "I know that Messiahis coming (he who is called
Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." (John 4:25 RSV)
"Yes, I know you are right, but we must wait until the Messiahcomes.We
cannot expectthese kinds of things in our time." Her words drew from our
Lord this wonderful response,
Jesus saidto her, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:26 RSV)
Doesn'tthat send a shiver down your backbone? Some critics saythat Jesus
never claimed to be the Messiah. If someone eversays that to you, turn him to
this verse:"I who speak to you am he." Now she knows. Clearlyand
unmistakably Jesus has identified himself, what he can be and do.
John goes onto give in three paragraphs the fruitful results of this
conversation. First, the woman immediately becomes an evangelist.
Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a
woman, but none said, "Whatdo you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with
her?"[Theyhad begun to learn a few things about Jesus by now.]So the
woman left her waterjar, and went awayinto the city, and said to the people,

"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"
(John 4:27-29 RSV)
Actually the wayshe put it was even more reserved. She said, "This can't be
the Christ, canit?" She believes more than she is saying, but she is being
careful about how she says it to these people who regard her as mere trash.
She says, "This man told me everything I did. Can this really be the Christ?"
And they respond in greatnumbers.
They went out of the city and were coming to him. (John 4:30 RSV)
Undoubtedly this is the work of the Spirit of God, working through this
reborn woman. Immediately her words fall with unusual powerupon the
crowdand they respond by coming to Jesus. Theynever responded to her
before, but now they do, because Godis working in her. She immediately
becomes anevangelist;she has to tell what happened to her.
Then, secondly, the disciples learned some new and valuable lessons.
Meanwhile the disciples besoughthim, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But he saidto
them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples saidto
one another, "Has any one brought him food?" Jesus saidto them, "My food
is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplishhis work. (John 4:31-
34 RSV)
The first thing Jesus taught them was that there is a deep satisfactionin
obedience to what God wants that is just like eating food: it fills you up; you
feel satisfied, ministered to, fed. Many have discoveredthat there is nothing
like obeying God to give a deep sense ofsatisfaction to life.
The secondthing the disciples learned about was spiritual harvest.
Do you not say, "There are yet four months, then comes the harvest?"[That
is, their proverb said, when you drop a seedinto the ground it will be four
months before you can reap a harvest.]I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see
how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages,and
gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sowerand reaper may rejoice together.
(John 4:35-36 RSV)

H. V. Morton suggests thatthese people coming out of the city to meet Jesus,
as the custom was in those times, were dressedin white robes. Jesus calledhis
disciples'attention to them: "Look at them. Look on the fields, already white
unto the harvest." Then he drew a parallel. In the natural life four months
elapse betweensowing and harvesting, but in the spiritual realm it can happen
instantly. Time is removed when you are dealing in the realm of the spirit.
Though the order follows the same, the pattern is there, the time element is
totally irrelevant. It canhappen instantly, so that "the sowerand the reaper
can rejoice together." Whenyou are dealing with the things of God you can
have a harvest almostinstantly.
Then the third lessonhe taught them was the joy of sharing labor.
I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and
you have entered into their labor. (John 4:38 RSV)
Jesus and the womanlabored: he taught the woman, and she went out and
spread the goodnews to the city. But the disciples had come in to do the
baptizing of the new converts and thus to reap the harvestand enter into the
labors of others. Our Lord teaches them that this will be the process ofthe
spiritual work they are to do. And all of us are involved in this. Some sow,
others reap, but all labor togetherunder God and can rejoice together.
The lastlessonJohn gives us is this picture of the Samaritans as they believe.
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because ofthe woman's
testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to
him, they askedhim to stay with them; and he stayedthere two days. And
many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no
longerbecause of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:39-42 RSV)
There is a wonderful lessonon the processesofspiritual growth. Many come
to Christ by believing the testimony of others. They see what Godhas done in
another man's, or another woman's, life, they are affectedby it and they
believe. But that is not the end of Christian growth. When you come, there is a
new level of personalexperience. You believe because it happens to you as

well. After two days with Jesus the whole city was beginning to believe. Jesus
had not experiencedthis among the Jews. Here were these rag-tag Samaritans
believing and responding, and Jesus is uplifted and strengthened by that. The
Samaritans move from merely believing him to be the Messiahcome to do his
political work, but that he was the "Saviorof the world." Anybody, anywhere,
can come to him, the Savior, the Redeemerof the world.
I have always loved that old hymn of Philip Bliss,
"Manof Sorrows"whata name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
That was what was happening to these people in Sychar. They were
discovering the fountain of waterspringing up in their own hearts -- the
forgiveness ofGod, the sense of peace, ofjoy, of love within -- and they were
saying with almost unbelieving tones, "We don't need to hear the woman talk
about it now; it has happened to us. He is the 'Savior of the world.'"
Prayer
Lord, we thank you that you have revealedto us, as you did to that woman of
old, the fountain within, the place of significance, the place of renewedlove, of
cleansing, refreshing, washing again. Teachus to drink frequently all through
the day, as many times as we need, of this refreshing fountain: that we will not
have to run after empty cisterns and follow after the misleading philosophies
of the world around us, but drink deeply of One who has come and has
proven himself in our own lives to be the Savior of the world. We ask in his
name, Amen.
The Man Who Understood Woman
Date:May 29, 1983

Author: Ray C. Stedman
What does John 4:42 mean? [⇑ See verse text ⇑]
The first thing that brought these people to hear from Jesus was the
Samaritan woman's testimony (John 4:29–30). This is remarkable enough, in
that a woman's testimony was not usually respectedin that era. Her reference
to Jesus'deep knowledge ofher past, and the fact that this past might have
involved many of the men in town (John 4:17–18)probably added to their
motivation. All the same, it was her willingness to actin faith which started
the revival in her community (John 4:39).
Once a few people had met Jesus, they invited Him to spend additional time in
town (John 4:40). This gave many more opportunities for Jesus to teachand
preach. As one would expect, this was evenmore effective than a brief
conversation. Whateverthe people of town had thought about Jesus, basedon
the claims of the Samaritan woman, they now had personal, first-hand
confirmation.
Jesus has travelled with His disciples from Jerusalem, into Judea, and now
into Samaria. The statement about Jesus being the "Saviorof the world" is
not only true, it is meant to be a lessonto the disciples. After His resurrection,
and just prior to ascending to heaven, Jesus will instruct His disciples. His
command then will be to "be [His] witnessesin Jerusalemand in all Judea

and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." What He will ask them to do, He
has alreadydone by example.
JESUS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
The fact that the Bible teaches that Jesus came to this world to save man from
sin is undeniable as the following portions of scripture will confirm. The
testimony regarding Jesus'missionas Saviorof the world comes from many
sources in the New Testamentincluding Jesus Himself. Consider the following
information found in scripture concerning this vital missionaccomplishedby
Jesus.
THE TESTIMONYOF THE PROPHET ISAIAH
Throughout the New Testamentthe readeris constantlymade aware ofthe
fact that Jesus has come into this world in fulfillment of Old Testament
prophecy. No more dramatic example of this can be found than that of Isaiah
chapter 53. In this portion of scripture the prophet vividly describes how the
messiahwill come as the suffering servant and lamb of God to bear the sins of
the people. In the book of Acts Philip the evangelisthas occasionto meet with
a court official of Ethiopia who was in Jerusalemto worship. This man was
reading from Isaiah53:7-8 but did not understand of whom this portion of
scripture was speaking. Philip explained to the man that it referred to Jesus
and starting there Philip continued to preach the goodnews about Jesus to
him (Acts 8:26-40). Considerthe words of the prophet Isaiahwhich describe
the suffering of Jesus for the sins and iniquities of others.
(Isaiah 53)Who has believed our message?And to whom has the arm of the
LORD been revealed? {2} ForHe grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance thatwe should be attracted
to Him. {3} He was despisedand forsakenofmen, A man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was
despised, and we did not esteemHim. {4} Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemedHim stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted. {5} But He was pierced through for our
transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our
well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. {6} All of us
like sheephave gone astray, Eachof us has turned to his own way; But the
LORD has causedthe iniquity of us all To fall on Him. {7} He was oppressed
and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led
to slaughter, And like a sheepthat is silent before its shearers, So He did not
open His mouth. {8} By oppressionand judgment He was takenaway;And as
for His generation, who consideredThat He was cut off out of the land of the
living, For the transgressionofmy people to whom the stroke was due? {9}
His grave was assignedwith wickedmen, Yet He was with a rich man in His
death, BecauseHe had done no violence, Norwas there any deceitin His
mouth. {10} But the LORD was pleasedTo crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He
will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His
hand. {11} As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As
He will bear their iniquities. {12} Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the
great, And He will divide the booty with the strong;Because He poured out
Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors;Yet He Himself
bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
THE TESTIMONYOF THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
Joseph, who was a carpenter, learned that Mary his future wife was pregnant
before their marriage. He was a goodman who was mostlikely devastatedto
find out that Mary was pregnant before they had come togetheras husband
and wife. When contemplating his circumstances Josephwas visited by an
Angel of the Lord who explained to him that Mary had miraculously
conceivedby the power of God and revealedto him that the baby to be born
would be the promised messiahwho would save His people from their sins.
(Matthew 1:18-21)Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His
mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came togethershe
was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. {19} And Josephher husband,

being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her
awaysecretly. {20} But when he had consideredthis, behold, an angelof the
Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, sonof David, do not be
afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceivedin her is
of the Holy Spirit. {21} "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name
Jesus, forit is He who will save His people from their sins."
THE TESTIMONYOF JOHN THE BAPTIST
John the Baptistwas the man chosenby God to prepare the way for the
coming of God's Son Jesus. Johnbeing a prophet recognizedthe true identity
of Jesus and declaredthe truth as he announced the arrival of Jesus and the
beginning of His public ministry. When responding to the questions of others
John explained that Jesus was "the lamb of God who takes awaythe sins of
the world".
(John 1:26-30)"I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do
not know. {27} "It is He who comes afterme, the thong of whose sandalI am
not worthy to untie." {28} These things took place in Bethany beyond the
Jordan, where John was baptizing. {29} The next day he saw Jesus coming to
him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes awaythe sin of the world!
THE TESTIMONYOF THE APOSTLES
The apostles understoodthat Jesus came to this world as their Saviorfrom sin
and clearlytaught that in scripture. Furthermore, Jesus is repeatedly referred
to in the New Testamentby the apostles as "Saviorand Lord". At least15
times in the New TestamentJesus is referred to as the Savior.
1. The Apostle Paul:
(1 Timothy 1:15-16)It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am
foremostof all. {16} And yet for this reasonI found mercy, in order that in me
as the foremost, Jesus Christmight demonstrate His perfectpatience, as an
example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
(Titus 1:4) Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

(Philippians 3:20) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly
wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
2. The Apostle John:
(John 3:16-17)"ForGod so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoeverbelieves in Him should not perish, but have eternallife.
{17} "ForGod did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that
the world should be savedthrough Him.
(1 John 4:14) And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent
the Sonto be the Savior of the world.
3. The Apostle Peter:
(Acts 5:29-32)But Peterand the apostles answeredand said, "We must obey
God rather than men. {30} "The God of our fathers raisedup Jesus, whom
you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. {31}"He is the one whom
God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness ofsins. {32} "And we are witnessesofthese things; and
so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
(2 Peter1:10-11)Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain
about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things,
you will never stumble; {11} for in this way the entrance into the eternal
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christwill be abundantly supplied to
you.
THE TESTIMONYOF JESUS
Jesus explained to others the nature of His mission on earth as man's Savior
from sin when He said He had come to seek andsave the lost. He revealedto
His disciples that a New CovenantbetweenGod and man would be
inaugurated based on His substitutionary death for the sins of others.
ConsiderJesus words regarding His mission on earth.

(Luke 19:8-10)And Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord,
half of my possessions Iwill give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone
of anything, I will give back four times as much." {9} And Jesus saidto him,
"Todaysalvationhas come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
{10} "Forthe Sonof Man has come to seek andto save that which was lost."
(Matthew 20:25-28)But Jesus calledthem to Himself, and said, "You know
that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it overthem, and their greatmen exercise
authority over them. {26} "It is not so among you, but whoeverwishes to
become greatamong you shall be your servant, {27} and whoeverwishes to be
first among you shall be your slave;{28} just as the Sonof Man did not come
to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransomfor many."
(Matthew 26:26-29)And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and
after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat;
this is My body." {27} And when He had takena cup and given thanks, He
gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; {28} for this is My blood of
the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness ofsins. {29} "But I
say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day
when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (see Luke 22:15-22)
Furthermore Jesus predicted His suffering and death and explained to His
disciples that it was all in fulfillment of Old Testamentprophecy. The words
of the prophet in Isaiah53 cited earliertake on even more significance as the
testimony of Jesus concerning His own death is considered.
(Matthew 16:21) From that time Jesus Christ beganto show His disciples that
He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raisedup on the third day.
(Luke 24:25-27)And He said to them, "O foolishmen and slow of heart to
believe in all that the prophets have spoken!{26} "Was it not necessaryfor
the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" {27} And
beginning with Mosesand with all the prophets, He explained to them the
things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

(Luke 24:44-47)Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to
you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in
the Law of Moses andthe Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." {45}
Then He openedtheir minds to understand the Scriptures, {46} and He said to
them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the
dead the third day; {47} and that repentance for forgiveness ofsins should be
proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
After looking at these portions of scripture from both Old and New
Testaments it becomes clearthat Jesus, God's Son, came to this world to save
mankind from sin through His ownsacrificialdeath on the cross ofCalvary.
JESUS THE LORD OF ALL
With goodreasonthe scriptures present Jesus as both Savior and Lord. Sin is
disobedience to God and a rejectionof His authority in our lives. When a
person realizes they are living in sin, that they are living a life of disobedience
to God and disregardfor His authority, and they seek forgivenessthrough
faith in the savior, they then need to come back into a proper relationship to
God. God has not provided a salvationfrom sin which grants forgiveness from
sin while making no provision for the sinner to begin to live in obedience to
God but He has given all authority in heaven and on earth to His Son Jesus
and God calls all men to receive Jesus into their lives as their Lord. This
means that we are called to embrace a life of obedience to Jesus Christin
every area of our life.
There is no negotiationon this point. God is not a grandfatherly figure who
sits on a rocking chair in heaven overlooking our habitual sin with a wink and
a smile. Nor is there any justification for the notion that we cancontinue in
certain types of sin expecting that after death we will suffer a while in a place
like purgatory and then enter into heaven after we have paid our debt. We are
calledto embrace a life of total surrender in obedience to Jesus God's Sonby
becoming His disciple now or face the certainty of judgment after death for
our disobedience to the gospel.

I invite you to considerthe following scriptures concerning the Lordship of
Jesus Christ. First we will look in the Gospelof Matthew where we find Jesus
after His resurrectionfrom the dead meeting with His disciples and telling
them that all authority was given by God to Him. Becauseofthis Jesus told
His followers to go out and make disciple of all the nation teaching them to
observe all that Jesus had commanded them.
(Mat 28:18-20 NASB)And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, {20} teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, evento the end of the age."
The fact that the Apostles understood their mission is clearfrom the recordof
the book of Acts. After Jesus had left this world the Apostles beganto preach
in Jerusalemand proclaim Jesus as Lord. On the day of PentecostPeterwas
preaching to the people he explained to them that they had crucified Jesus not
realizing that He was sent by God. He continued to tell the people that Jesus
had risen from the dead by the powerof God and was exaltedto God's right
hand having been made lord of all. The reader is encouragedto read the
secondchapterof Acts from which the following portion of scripture is taken:
(Acts 2:36-38 NASB) "Therefore letall the house of Israel know for certain
that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you
crucified." {37} Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and
said to Peterand the restof the apostles, "Brethren, whatshall we do?" {38}
And Petersaid to them, "Repent, and let eachof you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness ofyour sins;"
Again in the book of Acts we find Peterand the apostles a short time later
standing before the Council of religious leaders having been arrestedfor

continuing to preach after they were forbidden to do so. In their reply to the
council they make it clearthat Jesus has been made both Savior and Lord:
(Acts 5:27-32 NASB) And when they had brought them, they stoodthem
before the Council. And the high priest questioned them, {28} saying, "We
gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you
have filled Jerusalemwith your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood
upon us." {29} But Peterand the apostles answeredand said, "We must obey
God rather than men. {30} "The God of our fathers raisedup Jesus, whom
you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. {31}"He is the one whom
God exalted to His right hand as a Prince (ruler) and a Savior, to grant
repentance to Israel, and forgiveness ofsins. {32} "And we are witnessesof
these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey
Him."
The Apostle Paul echoedthis same messagewhenhe wrote to the Christians
who lived in the city of Philippi. When explaining to these new Christians how
they should understand who Jesus was Paulused these words:
(Phil 2:9-11 NASB)Therefore also Godhighly exalted Him, and bestowedon
Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus
EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth,
and under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess thatJesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The apostle Paulremains consistentin his teaching on the Lordship of Jesus
when he writes to the Christians who live in Rome telling them that their
personalconfessionofJesus Christ as lord of their lives was an integral part
of their salvation from sin. Paul writes to them using these words:

(Rom 10:9-13 NASB) ...if you confess withyour mouth Jesus as Lord, and
believe in your heart that God raisedHim from the dead, you shall be saved;
{10} for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, andwith the
mouth he confesses,resulting in salvation. {11} For the Scripture says,
"WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." {12}
For there is no distinction betweenJew and Greek;for the same Lord is Lord
of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; {13} for "WHOEVER
WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Jesus, Saviorof the World
By Charles H. Spurgeon • December18, 2018 • Topics:Christmas, Jesus
Christ
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DecisionMagazine
December2018
Jesus, Saviorof the World
Our thoughts turn to the first use of the name, when the Child who was yet to
be born was named Jesus. The personto whom that name was first revealed
was Joseph:a carpenter, a humble man, a working man, unknown and
undistinguished except by the justice of his character.
It is not, therefore, a title to be monopolized by princes, sages,priests,
warriors or men of wealth. It is a name to be made a household word among
common people! He is the people’s Christ.
The name of Jesus was sweetfrom the start because ofthe words that
accompaniedit, for they were meant to remove perplexity from Joseph’s

mind: “Fearnot.” Truly, no name can banish fear like the name of Jesus!It is
the beginning of hope and the end of despair! Let the sinner hear of the
Savior, and he forgets to die! He hopes to live! He rises out of the deadly
lethargy of his hopelessnessand, looking upward, he sees a reconciledGod
and no longer fears.
At the time when the name was given, His full personhad not been seenby
mortal eyes, for He lay as yet concealed. ButsoonHe came forth, having been
born of Mary by the powerof the Holy Spirit. A matchless man, He bears our
nature but not our corruption! He was made in the likeness ofsinful flesh, but
in His flesh there is no sin! This Holy One is the Son of God, and yet He is the
Son of man!
The name of Jesus is a name divinely ordered and expounded. According to
the text, the angelbrought a messagefrom the Lord and said, “You shall call
His name Jesus.”It is a name that—like He who bears it—has come down
from Heaven. Our Lord has other names of office and relationship, but this is
His own personalname.
The BestName
And it is the Fatherwho has thus named Him.
The name is the highest, brightest and noblest of names. It is the glory of our
Lord to be a Savior. To the best that was everborn of woman, God has given
the bestname that any son of man could bear. Jesus is the most appropriate
name that our Lord could receive.
The Fatherknew Him perfectly, and He named Him Jesus. We may be sure,
then, that our Lord is, most of all, a Savior, and He is best describedby that
term. God, the Father, who knows Him best, sees this to be His grand
characteristic:that He is a Savior and is therefore best representedby the
name Jesus.
God, who cannot be mistaken, calls Him Jesus, a Savior. Therefore, a Savior
He must be, a Savioron a grand scale—continually, abundantly and in a most
apparent manner! And God will not refuse to acceptthe work that Jesus has
done, since by the gift of that name, God has commissionedHim to save

sinners. When we plead the name of Jesus before God, we bring Him back to
His own Word and appealto Him by His own act and deed.
“And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, forHe
shall save His people from their sins.”
— Matthew 1:21 (NKJV)
He is not a Savior of our own setting up, but God the everlasting Father has
setHim forth as our Deliverer and Savior, saying, “You shall call His name
Jesus.”
It is a name that the Holy Spirit explains to us, for He tells us the reasonfor
the name of Jesus:“For He shall save His people from their sins.” “Savior” is
the meaning of the name, but it has a fuller sense hidden within, for in its
Hebrew form it means, “the salvationof the Lord,” or, “the Lord of
salvation,” or “the Savior.” The angelinterprets it, “He shall save,” and the
word used for He is very emphatic.
Above All Others
Joshua of old was a savior. Gideon was a savior. David was a savior. But the
title is given to our Lord above all others because He is a Saviorin a sense that
no one else canbe—He saves His people from their sins!
The Jews were looking fora Savior. They expectedone who would break the
Roman yoke and save them from being under bondage to a foreignpower.
But our Lord came not for such a purpose. He came to be a Saviorof a more
spiritual sort and to break quite another yoke by saving His people from their
sins.
The word save is very rich in meaning. Its full and exactforce can hardly be
given in English words. Jesus is salvationin the sense ofdeliverance and also
in that of preservation. He gives health. In the fullest and broadestsense, He
saves His people.
The original word means to preserve, to keep, to protectfrom danger and to
secure. Jesus brings a greatsalvation, or as Paul says, “so greata salvation,”
as if he felt that he could never estimate its greatness (Hebrews 2:3). He also

speaks ofit as “eternalsalvation” (Hebrews 5:9), even as Isaiahsaid, “Israel
shall be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation” (Isaiah45:17,
NKJV). Glorious beyond measure is the name Jesus, as it is divinely
expounded to us. For by that very exposition, the eternalGod guarantees the
successofthe Savior!
Indeed, He is the Saviorbecause He is also Emmanuel, God with us! And as
soonas He was born and so became Emmanuel, the Incarnate God, He
became by that same fact Jesus, the Savior! By coming down from Heaven to
this earth and taking upon Himself our nature, He bridged the otherwise
bridgeless gulf betweenGod and man! By suffering in that human nature and
imparting through His divine nature an infinite efficacyto those sufferings,
He removed that which would have destroyed us and instead brought us
everlasting life and salvation!
O Jesus, dearestofall names in earth or in Heaven, I love Your music all the
better because it is in such sweetharmony with another that rings in my ears,
the name Emmanuel: God with us! Our Savior is God and therefore able!
Scripture quotations are takenfrom the Holy Bible, New King James Version.
Charles Spurgeon(1834-1892),calledthe “prince of preachers,” was pastorof
MetropolitanTabernacle – London for 38 years. Adapted from The
MetropolitanPulpit, Vol. 24, 1878, #1434.
Savior of the World
Savior of the World: Who can claim this title?
The Saviorof the World is also called“Deliverer,” “Redeemer,”and“the
Christ.” The title Christ actually means “Messiah” or“the anointed one.” He
alone can provide the only way to eternal salvationand entry into the
Kingdom of God.

Jesus is referencedas being the “Almighty” twelve times in the New
Testament(NIV) as He was fully Godand fully man.
In Revelation1:8, Jesus instructs John to write to the churches, “I am the
Alpha and the Omega;who is and who was, and who is to come, the
Almighty.” Alpha and Omega means the “first and the last.” God is the
beginning of all and the end of all. Emanuel or Jesus is God with us.
John 3:16-17 declares “ForGodso loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoeverbelieves in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save
the world through him.” This was God’s wondrous provision for salvation
and is available to all of mankind. It was through sacrificing of God’s only
Son on the cross, shedding His own blood, that Jesus canmake that claim. He
willingly died for the world.
No other religion canclaim a living God come in the flesh, who has died and
been raisedagain.
John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father exceptthrough me.’”
Acts 4:12: “Salvationis found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
1 Timothy 2:3-6: “This is good, and pleases Godour Savior, who wants all
men to be saved, and to come to a knowledge ofthe truth. For there is one

God and one mediator betweenGod and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”
Savior of the World: What are we saved from?
The Bible declares that the Savior of the World brings salvationfrom the
consequencesofsin. Those consequencesresultin death, suffering God’s
wrath, and an eternity in hell for unbelievers. Yes, Hell is realand Romans
6:23 says, “Forthe wages ofsin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus ourLord.”
Sin is anything that comes betweenus and God, including doing our will, not
His. Sin is disobedience to or rejectionof God. Sin is breaking the Covenants
of God. We’ve all been guilty in one way or another, at one time or another,
but we can choose to repent and be forgiven. This is the purpose of God
providing us with the Savior we need. Becauseofsin, we eachowe God a
debt—a price to be paid for our sin. But Jesus became ourSavior and paid
the debt for us.
John 3:36 reads, “Whoeverbelieves in the Son has eternallife, but whoever
rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
Romans 3:23 states, “Forallhave sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 says, “ForGoddid not appoint us to suffer wrath but
receive salvationthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that
whether we are awake orasleep, we may live togetherwith him.”

Savior of the World: How can I know He can save me?
Jesus wants to be your personalSavior of the World. He doesn’t wish that any
perish, not male nor female, not old nor young, not rich nor poor, and not any
nationality over another. God wants every personto be reconciledwith Him
through Jesus.
“I am the gate;whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9).
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—youand your household”
(Acts 16:31).
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
“Forit is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8).
“Because ofthe increase ofthe wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
but he who stands till the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).
Our Savioralso cautions us in Luke 21:8: “…Watchout that you are not
deceived. Formany will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time
is near.’ Do not follow them…”
The Saviorof the World, Jesus, wants to be your personaldeliverer. Call on
Him and ask for forgiveness ofyour sins. Accept Jesus as the Son of God who
died for your sake. Take His outstretchedhand and let Him show you the
promises He has for you today and forever.

Let the verses of Revelation22:17 speak to you, “The Spirit and the bride say,
‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty
come;and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the waterof life.”
Learn More!
What do you think?
We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment. God, the Father, sent His
only Son to satisfythat judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the
creatorand eternalSon of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that
He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and
rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in
your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord,"
you will be savedfrom judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
https://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/savior-of-the-world.htm
How is Jesus the Saviorof the world?
in Jesus Christ, Questioning God
On September11, 2001, passengersonUnited Airlines Flight 93 attempted to
gain control of the hijacked airplane that was by most accounts headedfor a
targetin Washington, D.C. The plane crashedin a field in Pennsylvania. All
44 passengers were killed. The valiant passengers sacrificedtheir lives so that
possibly many more lives were spared. Those passengerswere lifesavers in the
sense that they substituted their own lives for the lives of others.

Christians refer to Jesus as a lifesaver. Jesus savedour lives and the lives of
every single human being. That is quite an astounding assertion. How
specificallydid Jesus save the human race? The answerhinges on Jesus
serving as our substitute.
The Bible clearly states that God is absolutelyholy, righteous and just. The
problem is that we human beings are not in God’s spiritual league, farfrom it.
The apostle Paulbluntly reminds us that no one is perfect: “There is no one
righteous, not even one…All have turned away and have together become
worthless;there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10,12).
We are sinful; God is not. Left to ourselves, our lack of holiness will prevent
us from living eternally in our holy God’s presence. God’s Word says, “The
wages ofsin is death” (Romans 6:23). Instead of going to heaven, our final
destiny is eternal death in hell. Jesus said that those who are not righteous will
be castby Godinto the place of torment (Matthew 13:49,50),the abode of the
evil angelSatan. It is an ominous and bleak eternaloutlook!
But God intervened. We have a lifesaver. We have a substitute. In
unimaginable love, God the Fathersent his Son, Jesus, to save us from death
and hell. As true God and true man, Jesus lived a holy and sinless life in our
place. Jesus substituted his holiness for our lack of holiness, so that because of
Jesus Godcounts us completely holy!
Then in remarkable humble love for all of us, Jesus sufferedand died. On the
cross, Jesussufferedthe agonyof eternal separationfrom God the Father’s
love. We deservedthat eternal punishment for our sin, but God put Jesus
under the sentence ofdeath as our substitute.
Then victoriously Jesus rose from the dead to prove that he fully
accomplishedour salvation. He is the Savior who rescuedthe world from the
guilt of sin, the hold of death, and the power of hell by his perfectlife and his
death for us.
Trust Jesus who is your “substitute” Savior, and all these eternal blessings are
yours!
https://whataboutjesus.com/how-is-jesus-the-savior-of-the-world/

Jesus, Saviourof the World
Written by Emmanuel Mbakwe on December19, 2014.Postedin Blog
The heart of the Christmas message is about God’s wonderful plan to save
sinful humanity. Six hundred and fifty years before the event occurred, Isaiah
prophesied, ‘Forunto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…’ (Isaiah 9:6).
In the fullness of time, that amazing event that was spokenofby the prophet
took place in the town of Bethlehem. Before Jesus was conceivedofthe Holy
Spirit, an angel of the Lord appearedto Josephthe son of David, who was
betrothed to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The angelannounced to Josephwith
the following words, ‘…and she will have a son and you are to name Him
Jesus, forHe will save His people from their sins’ (Matthew 1: 21). These
powerful prophetic words succinctly capture and communicate the essenceof
the Bible’s message,the Good News ofJesus Christ, and indeed, the
Christmas story.
The summary of the Christmas messageis in the name, Jesus. Jesus means
‘the Lord saves’or ‘Saviour’. So, Jesus is the Lord who saves, orthe Saviour
of the world. His name encapsulatesthe reasonfor His coming. His name
carries the purpose for which He was born. His name containedthe essenceof
His mission. So, when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the physical
manifestation of God’s plan for the whole world. This is the wonderful
messageofhope in a world filled with hopelessly. Jesus offers a wonderful
messageofhope, a way of escape from the condemnation due that is ours
because ofour sin.
So, Jesus is God’s gift as the Saviour of the world. That demands a response.
In John 1:12 we read that ‘He came to His own, but His own did not receive
Him’. His own people did not acceptHim, rather they rejectedHim. However
in the very next clause ofthat verse we read these words, ‘but for all who did
acceptHim, He gave the right to become children of God’.

I don’t know where you are as you read this article. I don’t know where you
stand in relationto Jesus. There are only two places or positions that you can
stand. The first is one of rejection, whilst the secondis of acceptance.I would
like to invite you to come to the place of accepting Jesusas your personal
Saviour. What is your response?
If your response is yes, then you can openly and honestly pray this prayer.
‘God in heaven, I acknowledgethat I am sinner and deserve to be punished
for all the wrongs I have done. I am truly sorry. Thank you for sending your
Son Jesus to this world. I believe He lived, died and rose again for my sins. I
repent of all past sins and ask you to forgive me because Jesus. Iconfess and
ask Jesus to come into my life and be my Saviour and Lord. Please sendyour
Holy Spirit to help me to obey you and lead me to follow you all the days of
my life. Thank you God for giving me eternallife through your Son Jesus.
Amen!
If understood and sincerelyprayed that prayer, then visit this link and drop a
note. One of our team of counsellors wouldbe glad to contact, pray with and
offer you further guidance on how you cancontinue with your new found
faith in Jesus. Godbless you.
Copyright Emmanuel Mbakwe 2014©
Is Jesus the Savior of the World?
Postedon March 7, 2012 by Paul Ellis // 72 Comments
I know, it’s a dumb question. And yet among Christians this question – Is
Jesus the Saviorof the world? – leads to two radically different answers:

(1) Yes – all can be saved
(2) Yes – all are now saved
Betweenthese two answers lies one of biggestdebates raging on Gracebook,
sorry Facebook, today. It’s a debate betweenthose who believe in ultimate
reconciliation, historicalreconciliation, and, er, regular reconciliation. (I’m
not goodwith labels.)
I normally steerclearof Facebookdebates – my heart is simply to preach
Jesus and Him crucified – but since many grace folk have been drawn in I
thought it might help to frame the issues so people cansee what they are
getting into. In a series of short posts, I want to look at some of the scriptures
used to support these and similar claims (e.g., all are righteous, all are in
union with Christ). If you’re not interested, no problem. Normal service will
resume soon. But if you are interestedand want to ask “Whatabout this
scripture and that scripture?” then check out my detailed study notes. I don’t
normally publish my notes, but severalpeople have been asking for my views
so there they are.
Why preach “the whole world is saved”?
Those who say the whole world is already savedmainly stake their claim on
the factthat Jesus was calledthe “Saviorof the world.” That was His title and
job description. Since Jesus would not have returned to heaven leaving the job
half-done, the whole world must have been saved2000 years ago.
The connectionbetweenthe title – “Saviorofthe world” – and the conclusion–
“allare now saved” – is logicalbut flawed. When did Jesus save the world? It
could only have happened on the cross. YetJesus was knownas the Saviorof
the world long before He died. When He was born He was heralded as good
news for all people – not just Jewishpeople (Lk 2:10); when He was presented
in the temple Simeon recognizedthat He was holding the salvation of all
people (Lk 2:30-31); and to a group of stunned Samaritans at a well He was
revealedas “the Saviorof the world” (Joh 4:42).

Before Jesus had savedanyone, He was knownas the Savior of the world. In
other words, Jesus was not just the JewishMessiah, He was also the Gentile
Messiahand your Messiah, justas Isaiahhad prophesied:
It is too small a thing for you to be my servantto restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of IsraelI have kept. I will also make you a light for the
Gentiles, that you may bring my salvationto the ends of the earth. (Isa 49:6)
Goodnews of greatjoy for all people
If you’re non-Jewishthat’s a cause forcelebrationright there! Thank God
that He consideredit too small a thing to save only Israel. Thank God that He
sent His only begotten Sonbecause He so loved the whole world. We take this
for grantednow but 2000 years ago this was big news. Paul, Peter, and John
were all struck by it. Here’s John writing about it in his first epistle:
And we have seenand testify that the Fatherhas sent his Son to be the Savior
of the world. (1 Joh 4:14)
And what does it mean to be Saviorof the world? This is how John explains
it:
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the
sins of the whole world. (1 Joh 2:2)
According to the Bible, “Saviorof the world” does not necessarilymean “all
are saved.” It means Jesus is the atoning sacrifice forthe sins of the whole
world. Of all those who physically laid eyes on Jesus, Johnthe Baptist was the
first to recognize this:
The next day John saw Jesus coming towardhim and said, “Look, the Lamb
of God, who takes awaythe sin of the world!” (Joh 1:29)
Again, this was big news. Jesus hadn’t come to die solely for the Jews but for
everyone. For Paul this revelation was a mystery revealed: “Throughthe
gospelthe Gentiles are heirs togetherwith Israel” (Eph 3:6). Does this mean
that all are saved? Paulnever says this. Instead he said that grace only comes

through faith. Since not all have faith, not all are saved. This was Peter’s
understanding as well:
Salvationis found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to men by which we must be saved. (Act 4:12)
Jesus is the Saviorof the world, as Peterdeclaredto the Sanhedrin, but we
still must be saved.
“Jesuscame to save the entire world. Did He fail?”
Not at all. Jesus has provided for the salvationof the entire world. There is
nothing more He cando. Since the Greek word for save (sozo)includes
healing, one might just as easilyask, “Jesus came to healthe entire world – did
He fail?” The answerto the secondquestionis the same as the answerto the
first. Jesus has provided for the complete healing of every sick person, but not
everyone is healed. Similarly, the Lamb of God who took awaythe sin of the
world has provided for the salvation of every sinner, but not everyone is
saved. Hence Peter’s exhortation, we must be saved.
Is it a bad idea to tell a sinner that they are saved?
You may say, “Isn’tthis all just semantics? Doesit really matter if we tell
sinners they’re saved or unsaved? Isn’t the main thing that they turn to Jesus
and realize what He provided for them 2000 years ago?” I think it does matter
because whenyou tell an unsaved person that they are already saved, you’re
sending a very different messagefrom the one they will hear from Jesus:
The Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may
have eternal life… whoeverbelieves in him shall not perish but have eternal
life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoeverdoes not believe
stands condemned alreadybecause he has not believed in the name of God’s
one and only Son. (Joh 3:14-18)
Those who preach historicalreconciliation, a.k.a. inclusionism, readthese
verses and say “I agree – we must believe to experience eternallife.” But they
will disagree with what Jesus says in verse 18. “The unbeliever is not
condemned already but saved already.” Since you can’tbe condemned and

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