John 4:28-30

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

At a well, Jesus met a woman with a lurid past, a shame-filled perspective, and a searching heart.

He shared the truth of His identity with her and offered her a new and lasting hope… and she believed in Him.

Then she left her bucket (the imagery is simple, but speaks volumes: an old life and its drudgery and routine left behind to make room for an emerging life in Christ, and all the wonder and mystery and expectancy it brings), and walked back to her city proclaiming what had happened to her. Her witness was open-ended: “Could this be the Christ,” she asked? Because of her words, many of the people in her city believed in Jesus as well. Her witness won them over.

Jesus lingered in that area for two days. And in addition to all the people who believed the woman from the well, many more believed – “because of Jesus’ own word.” In fact, they told the woman who had witnessed to them previously: “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (42).

There are some who will be won over by our witness; perhaps many. We must not remain silent about our faith. But there are others – again, maybe many – who will not be won by our words, but by His.

We can impact others for Christ even when it’s unlikely that they’re open to our own salvation experience yet. By investing relationally in the lives of friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers, and then inviting them to come to a place where Jesus is worshiped and His message proclaimed we can change the world… one person at a time.

Invest and invite. Simple; powerful.

This weekend, more people will attend a worship gathering with followers of Jesus than at any other time of the year. Some will believe. At The Journey, we’re praying that many will believe. As we prepare for Easter Sunday, don’t be discouraged if it seems people have put little stock in your witness so far; pray that when they are exposed to the witness of Jesus Himself, they’ll respond with saving faith.

You’ve left your waterpot behind. You’ve entered the world of your friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers. Now invite them to join you this Sunday morning in the presence of Jesus Christ. Even if they don’t believe you, they may believe Him.