John 4:40-42

John 4:40-42

[40] So  when  the Samaritans  were come  unto  him,  they besought  him  that he would tarry  with  them:  and  he abode  there  two  days.  [41] And  many  more  believed  because  of his own  word;  [42] And  unto the woman,  Now  we believe,  not  because  of thy  saying:  for  we have heard  him ourselves,  and  know  that  this  indeed  the Saviour  of the world. 

What does John 4:40-42 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The openness of these Samaritans contrasts with the hostility of so many of Jesus" Jewish hearers (cf. John 1:11). It required considerable humility for these Samaritans to invite a Jewish rabbi to stay with them ( John 4:9). During the following two days many more Samaritans than just those who visited Jesus by Jacob"s well became believers in Him. They did so because of Jesus" words that confirmed what the woman had said about Him. They produced certain knowledge in the Samaritans ("we know," John 4:42). Their faith received a firmer foundation than just the witness of another believer. It rested on personal contact with Jesus. The joint testimony of believers and the word of God is a powerful evangelistic combination. These simple Samaritans understood what sophisticated Nicodemus could not (cf. Matthew 11:25).
The title "Savior of the world" is unique to John occurring only here and in 1 John 4:14 (cf. John 1:29; John 1:34; John 3:17). John"s original readers would have been familiar with the title because the Greeks and Romans gave it to several of their gods and emperors. [1] Nevertheless Jesus was the true Savior of the world whom these Samaritans recognized as such. The Old Testament spoke of God in this role (e.g, Psalm 35:9; Jonah 2:9). Jesus was God in action saving the world. This does not mean that everyone will experience eternal salvation, the doctrine of universalism, but that Jesus has made everyone savable, and those who believe on Him obtain salvation.
"It is interesting to trace our Lord"s movements that brought Him to Samaria. He was in Jerusalem ( John 2:23) and then came into Judea ( John 3:22). From Judea He went into Samaria ( John 4:4), and the Samaritans declared Him to be "the Savior of the world." This is a perfect parallel to Acts 1:8 -"And ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Our Lord has set the example. If we follow, He will give us the harvest." [2]
This was the first instance of cross-cultural evangelism that the Gospel evangelists recorded in Jesus" ministry. Jesus" ministry to Gentiles came later, according to their records. Jesus later charged the church to continue cross-cultural evangelism ( Acts 1:8). Still later Philip evangelized in Samaria with great success, perhaps in this very region ( Acts 8:4-8). Jesus" ministry here was not only reaping but sowing. Philip reaped what Jesus had sowed.