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It is a fact that in order for anything to go into the mind, it must be open. Little is to accomplished when someone tries to force another person to accept his/her conclusion. In fact, nothing is gained unless the other person reasons on facts and reaches a sound conclusion about those facts. Today's devotional is about a woman who had extraordinary reasoning abilities as well as a real knack for getting others to see things the way they really were.

The woman of whom we speak is frequently called the Samaritan woman. The extended record of her encounter with Jesus is found in John 4. We will hit some of the highlights, but you are encouraged to read the entire account for yourself. The amazing conclusions that she reached are reflected in her statement to the fellow citizens of her home town. Note what she asked them to do: “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4.29). Now contrast this statement with others she made earlier in John's record of her encounter with Jesus.

When Jesus first saw the woman at the well, He asked her for a drink. Her response was somewhat cold and withdrawn. “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (John 4.9). His response to her did not melt the ice much as is evident from her retort. “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” (John 4.11-12).

Eventually the woman reached a significant place in her reasoning about Jesus. After He revealed to her that He knew even the minutest details about her private life, she stated, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” (John 4.19-20). J. W. McGarvey correctly observed in his Fourfold Gospel that Jesus progressed in the woman's mind from “a Jew,” to “Sir,” and then to “a prophet.” Although she was of an entirely separate culture (and one which had contempt for the Jews), her mind was open to the facts of the matter.

Given what she observed about Him, and the proofs that He offered, she had no sincere option other than to reach the conclusion she did. How else could a man tell her all the intimate details about her life unless He was a prophet of God. And, given the fact that He was a prophet, she had to do something with His statement: “I who speak to you am He [the Messiah who is called Christ].” (John 4.25-26). She either had to deny that He was a prophet, or accept the conclusion that such a fact would imply. Only by accepting the fact that He was the Messiah could she remain true to herself and the truth that she had learned.

Now to our point in this message. Only when we have open minds can we progress as human beings. God will not open our minds for us; we have to do that ourselves. God will present the facts to us, but the conclusion is ours to deal with as we see fit. The Samaritan woman was extremely adept at leading others to the truth ; she stated a simple fact (a Man...told me all things that I ever did), and then piqued the interest of her hearers by saying, “Could this be the Christ?” She had already reached her conclusion, but others also needed to deal honestly with the possibility that He was the Christ. Whether they liked her or whether she liked Him had no bearing on the truth. Only open minds are able to reason honorably with such circumstances and facts. It is our choice!

Questions:

1. What was strange about Jesus asking her for a drink?

2. What personal things did Jesus tell her to convince her that He was a prophet?

3. How did she attempt to pique the interests of the people of her town?

4. Does being open-minded imply being wishy-washy or unable to take a stand? Why or why not?

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - February 25 - March 1