The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5 to 7; Luke 6:17-49

AFTER JESUS HAD chosen his twelve apostles, who were still called disciples, he took them apart from the multitude to teach them how to do his great work. Up the side of the mountain they went together, and there Jesus sat down. His disciples stood near and he spoke to them. Other people also climbed the mountain to listen to the great sermon Jesus preached that day.

       In the beginning of his sermon Jesus said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Perhaps he had been thinking about the proud spirits of the scribes and Pharisees. He knew that proud spirits will never receive his words and learn how to enter the kingdom of God. But people who are humble and who do not believe themselves to be righteous without God's help he called poor in spirit, and he said they are blessed because to them shall be given the kingdom of God, for which all Jews were seeking.

       He also said: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." These words sounded strange to the listeners, for they had never thought that blessings belonged to those who are grieving because of troubles and sorrows. They did not realize how God loves to comfort the weary and sad.

       "Blessed are the meek:" said Jesus next, "for they shall inherit the earth." By these words he meant that gentle people who do not lose their temper and allow thoughts of discontent to fill their minds will be happy and will enjoy the blessings God gives to all men.

       Then Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Perhaps he was thinking again of the proud Pharisees, who believed they were righteous in themselves and therefore did not need to repent of their sins and seek the righteousness of God. Only those are blessed with God's righteousness who long for it as earnestly as they wish for food and drink to satisfy their appetites.

       "Blessed are they who show mercy to others," said Jesus; "for mercy shall be shown to them. And blessed are they who have pure hearts; for they shall see God. And blessed are they who make peace among men, for they shall be called the children of God." These words the disciples understood; for they knew God will surely bless people who show mercy, and people who will not allow sin to enter their heart, and people who bring peace where trouble is.

       Then Jesus said: "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." These words sounded strange; for people who are persecuted are greatly troubled, and the disciples may have wondered how the kingdom of God could belong to them when trouble was filling their lives. But afterwards they learned how people who are being persecuted for the sake of righteousness can be blessed as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. And after Jesus had been crucified and had risen from the dead, they themselves learned what it means to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

       Jesus said that those who are so persecuted should rejoice and be very glad, because there is a great reward awaiting them in heaven, He reminded them of the persecutions that came upon the faithful prophets, and perhaps they thought of Daniel in the lion's den, and of Jeremiah in the deep dungeon.

       In this wonderful sermon Jesus told the people how Christians should live. He taught them how Christians should pray, and how they should treat their enemies and their friends. He told them, too, about God's love and care for those who trust him.

       At the close of his long sermon Jesus said: "Those who hear my words and do them are like the man who builds his house on a foundation of rock. When the winds blow and the rain falls fast, that foundation of rock will stand firm, and the house will not fall. But those who hear my words and do not obey them are like the man who builds his house on a foundation of sand. When the winds blow and the rain falls fast, that sandy foundation will be washed out from beneath the building, and the house will fall."

       Jesus meant by these words that people who hear and obey his teaching will be saved. And when the storm of the judgment day comes they will be safe from harm. But people who hear his teachings and refuse to obey them will not be safe when the storm of the judgment-day comes upon them.

       When Jesus ended his sermon, the people looked at each other in surprise. They knew his teachings were more wonderful than the teachings of Moses and of the scribes and Pharisees. They wondered who could obey such commands as these: "Love your enemies." "Pray for them who treat you wrongly." "Do good to them who hate you." But they knew that Jesus' words sounded as though they were the words of God, and by and by many of them learned that even the hardest commands could be obeyed by those who truly love the Lord.

నేనే మార్గం...."యేసు"

* నేనే మార్గం...."యేసు"

" మతం ముదిరితే ఉన్మాధము, ఉన్మాధం ముదిరితే స్మశానము" అని అన్నరు ఒక దైవజనుడు;
అవును. . . . నేడు లోకంలో చాలామంది మతం మత్తులో ఉన్మాధులుగా మరి తమ ప్రాణాలు తీసుకుంటున్నారు లేదంటే ఇతరుల ప్రాణాలు తీస్తున్నారు. ఏంత ఘోరం అండీ అది.
మతం మత్తు మనిషిని మృగంగా మారుస్తుంది. . . .అవును.
మరి క్రేస్తావులు ఏ మతానికి చెందినవారు. . . . ?
క్రేస్తావులు మతానికి సంభందించిన వారు కాదు.
క్రేస్తావులు మహిమాన్వితుడైన యేసుక్రిస్తుకి సంభందించిన వారు.
క్రేస్తవత్వం మతం కాదు. . . .
యేసుక్రీస్తు మతనాయకుడు కానేకాదు. . . .ఇది గమనించాలి.
ఈ ప్రముక్యమైన విషయం మరచిపోయి కొందరు పాస్టర్ లు " యేసయ్య మతాన్ని నమ్మండి,మా మతంలోకి మారండి, క్రెస్తవ మతం పుచ్చుకోండి" అని బోధిస్తుంటారు. ఇలాంటి వారివల్లే సువర్తకి అంతరాయాలు వస్తున్నాయి, క్రేస్తావులుపై మత మార్పిడి కేసులు వచ్చిపడుతున్నాయి. . . .
నా ప్రియ స్నేహితులారా.... గమనించండి.
వాక్యం ఏమని చెబుతుంది. . . . ?
యేసయ్య మతాన్ని పొందండి అని చెబుతుందా. . . . ?

ప్రవక్తయైన బాప్తిసమిచ్చు యోహాను ఇలా బోధించాడు " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని. (మత్తయి 3:2).
ఆ తరువాత వచ్చిన నా రక్షకుడైన యేసు ఇలా బోధించాడు " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని. (మత్తయి 4:17)(మార్కు 1:15).
ప్రత్యేకంగా కూడా నికోదైముతో యేసు ఇలా బోధించాడు " నూతనంగా మారండి, మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని. (యోహాను 3:1-7)
ఆ తరువాత యేసు 12 శిష్యులు ఇలా బోధించారు " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని. (మార్కు 6:12).
ఆ తరువాత పేతురు ఇలా బోధించాడు " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని. (అపో!!కా 2:38).
ఆ తరువాత పౌలు ఇలా బోధించాడు " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని. (అపో!!కా 26:20).
చివరికి ప్రకటనగ్రంథము సంఘములతో ఏమని బోధిస్తుంది " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి" అని.( ప్రకటన 2:5)(2:16)(2:22)(3:3).
నూతన నిబంధన ప్రారంభంనుండి చివరవరకు ఒకే బోధ " మీరు మరుమనస్సు పొందుడి". అని.
" Bible " ఉద్ధేశం ఒక మనిషి యొక్క మతం మార్చటం కాదు, ఒక మనిషి యొక్క మనస్సు మార్చటం.
సూటిగా చెప్పాలి అంటే "మతం" అనే మాటతో క్రేస్తవునికి ఏ సంబంధంలేదు. లేనేలేదు.
ఇది మనం జాగ్రతగా గుర్తుపెట్టుకోవలసిన విషయం. ప్రతేకంగా సువార్త పనిలో ఉన్నవారు.

అవును. . . ." Bible " ఉద్ధేశం - ఒక మనిషి యొక్క మతం మార్చటం కాదు, ఒక మనిషి యొక్క మనస్సు మార్చటం.
యేసుక్రీస్తు ఇలా అన్నారు (యోహాను 14:6) " నేనే మార్గమును, సత్యమును, జీవమును. నా ద్వారానే తప్ప ఎవడును తండ్రి వద్దకురాడు" అని.

చెయ్యవలసిన తప్పులు చేసేసి వాటిని కడుగుకొనుటకు ధనధర్మాలు చేసేసి పుణ్యం ముటకట్టుకుందం, పరలోకం వెల్లిపోదాం అనుకుంటే కుదరదు అంట. మన స్వనీతిని దేవుడు మురికి గుడ్డలా తిసి పక్కన పడేస్తాడు. దేవునిని చేరాలన్నా, ఆ పరలోకంలో దేవునితో నివసించాలన్నా, చేసిన ప్రతి పాపం పోయి పరిశుద్ధంగా మరి దేవునితో సత్- సంబంధంకలిగి ఉండాలన్నా ఒకే ఒకే మార్గం ఉంది; అది "రక్షకుడైన యేసుక్రీస్తు".
మరి ఏ నామంలోను రక్షణ లేదు, రాదు. యేసుక్రీస్తు ద్వారానే మనం పరలోకం చేరగలము, ప్రముక్యంగా పాపం నుండి, శాపం నుండి విడుదల పొందగలము.
* యేసు ఒక మతం కాదు; యేసు మనకున్న ఒకేఓక రక్షణమార్గం.

* యేసే మార్గం, యేసే సత్యం, యేసే జీవం.

హల్లెలూయ. . . .

మన రక్షకుడైన యేసుక్రీస్తును గూర్చిన ఈ సువార్త ప్రకారముగాను మిమ్మును వాక్యంలో స్థిరపరచుటకు శక్తిమంతుడును అద్వితీయ జ్ఞానవంతుడునైన దేవునికి, యేసుక్రీస్తు ద్వారా, నిరంతరము మహిమకలుగునుగాక.
ఆమేన్‌. ఆమేన్. ఆమేన్.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well

John 4:1-43

BETWEEN JUDEA AND Galilee was a little country called Samaria. This country used to belong to the kingdom of Israel; but when the Israelites were carried away as captives by the king of Assyria, strangers from other lands came into that country and made their homes.

       These strangers learned about the God of the Israelites, but they never worshiped God at the temple in Jerusalem. Instead, they built a temple in their country and worshiped there. They became bitter enemies of the Jews, and at the time of Jesus they were still despised by the Jews.

       In going to or returning from Jerusalem, the Jews of Galilee usually would not take the shorter road, through Samaria, but would travel the long road, which led first to and across the Jordan River, then along the border of the land where the people lived whom they despised.

       Although Jesus was a Jew he did not share the bitter feeling of the Jews toward the people of Samaria, who were called Samaritans. He knew they were just as precious in the eyes of God as were any other people, and he longed to teach them about their country on his journey back to his home in Nazareth.

       Because Jesus wished to take the shorter road, through Samaria, his disciples were willing to go that way too, in order to be with him. So they journeyed together as far as a little city called Sychar.

       Near the city was a wayside well, which had been dug hundreds of years before probably by Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. And in honor of him it was still called Jacob's well. When they reached this well, Jesus was tired, and sat down by it to rest from his long walk. His disciples went on to the city to buy food, leaving him there alone.

       Presently a woman from Sychar came down to the well to draw some water. She glanced at the stranger sitting there and saw that he was a Jew. Knowing that Jews paid no attention to Samaritans, she passed by and hurried to lower her water-jug with the long rope that she had brought. When the jug was filled she drew it up and was ready to start back to the city, when Jesus asked for a drink.

       Surprised at his request, the woman answered, "How is it that you, being a Jew, will ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans."

       Jesus replied, "If you knew who it is who asks a drink from your jug of sparkling water, you would ask of him and he would give you living water to drink."

       These words aroused the interest of the woman at once. Who could this stranger be? she wondered. She knew he was not like other Jews, for they would rather suffer from thirst than ask a favor of a Samaritan.

       So she said, "Sir, this well is deep and you have no rope to draw out the water, how then could you give me living water to drink? Are you greater than Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank of it himself, and his cattle?"

       "Whoever drinks of this water in Jacob's well becomes thirsty and returns again and again for more," answered Jesus, "but the living water which I give does not come from such a well. It bubbles up like a continual spring within one, and that one never grows thirsty again."

       Now the woman was an eager listener. She did not know that the living water of which Jesus spoke was his free gift of salvation to all people, and she said, "Sir, I want that kind of water so that I shall not need to return and refill my water-jug in this tiresome way."

       Jesus saw that she was interested, so he began to talk to her about her sins. He knew she was a very sinful woman, and he told her about some wrong things that she had done. She wondered how he, a stranger, could know these things. He seemed to see her thoughts and to read them all.

       "You are a prophet," she exclaimed.

       Although this woman was a sinner, she wondered often whether God was more pleased with the religion of the Jews than with the religion of her own people, the Samaritans. Now she asked Jesus whether people should worship God in Jerusalem or in the temple of the Samaritans.

       Jesus answered that God had planned to bring salvation through the Jews, but he said the time had come when true worshipers need no longer go up to Jerusalem, for they might pray to God everywhere and worship him.

       "God is not found in only one place," he said; "for God is a Spirit. And those who worship him in the right way must believe that he is a Spirit."

       Then the woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming from God, and when he comes he will tell us everything."

       "I am that Messiah," answered Jesus, and the woman looked in joy and wonder upon him. But at that moment the disciples returned from the city bringing food to eat, so she turned away and leaving her water-jug, ran back to tell her friends about the wonderful stranger whom she had met at the well.

       The disciples wondered why Jesus would talk with a despised woman of the Samaritans; but they did not ask him any questions. They brought food to him, and when he refused to eat they urged him.

       Then he said to them, "I have food to eat which you know nothing about."

       They asked each other, "Has some one brought food to him while we were away?"

       But Jesus knew their questionings, so he said, "My meat is to do the will of my Father, who has sent me into the world."

       When the woman reached the city she went into the streets and told the people about Jesus, the stranger who had understood all about her life.

       "He told me all the things that I ever did. Is not he the Messiah?" she asked.

       And the people decided to see this man for themselves, so they went with her to Jacob's well.

       Jesus talked with the Samaritans about the things of God, and they invited him to stay in their city and teach them more of these wonderful truths. He spent two days in Sychar, teaching the people. Then he went on his way to Nazareth, leaving behind him some believers among the Samaritans.

Jesus Walks on Water

Matt. 14:23-36; Mark 6:46-56; John 6:16-29

WHILE JESUS WAS alone praying on the mountain-side, the disciples were in their ship rowing toward Capernaum. And the multitude were returning homeward as they had come, walking along the northern shore of the sea.

       After nightfall a strong wind began to blow across the Sea, driving against the little ship. Row as hard as they might, the disciples could not make much progress against the wind. Higher and higher the waves dashed and rolled, and slower the vessel plowed through them.

       How tired the disciples were growing! Perhaps they were thinking about the time when a tempest swept over the Sea and Jesus had been with them, sleeping in the ship. Perhaps they were wishing for his presence now, to still this stormy wind that made their progress so wearisome and so slow.

       Far away on the mountain Jesus had been praying for several hours. But he had not forgotten his disciples. Perhaps he had been praying for them as well as for himself. He knew how much they needed him when the strong wind began to blow against their little ship, and he started to go to them.

       Out across the water he walked as easily as if it had been land, and nearer and nearer he came to the tossing ship and its weary sailors. By and by he came very near, so near that they could see him through the darkness, walking past them on the rough waves.

       Now the disciples were frightened; for every one had seen Jesus and they believed they had seen a spirit. They did not think he could really walk on water, for no person had ever done that.

       They remembered how God had parted the waters on the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross over on dry land, and how he had made a dry path across the Jordan River three times for his servant to walk upon. But never had they heard of any one walking on top of the water. This must be a spirit. And they cried out for fear of what they had seen.

       Jesus stopped when he heard their cry, and turned to speak to them. He said, "Do not be afraid, for it is I." How familiar that voice sounded! Still the disciples could scarcely believe it was Jesus who spoke.

       Finally Simon Peter cried out, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you walking on the water."

       And Jesus answered "Come?"

       With a bound Simon Peter leaped over the side of the ship and started to go to Jesus. The other disciples looked on in amazement, wondering more than ever at the great power of Jesus on both sea and land. Presently, however, they saw their fellow disciple beginning to sink in the rough waves, and they heard his voice calling frantically to Jesus to help. For Simon Peter had begun to look about at the stormy wind and waves, and just as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink.

       Then Jesus reached forth his hand and caught him, saying, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

       When the two came to the ship, the other disciples received them joyfully, and at once the wind ceased. Again the disciples marveled at the wonderful power of their master, who could perform miracles on the sea as well as on the land. And they came to him, worshiping him and saying, "Surely you are the Son of God."

My hope is in you

Abraham

Abraham

A Man Who Heard And Obeyed God's Call Genesis 11:27 - Genesis 12:20 THE PEOPLE WHO moved away from Babel into different parts of the world did not pray to God. Their hearts were sinful, and they shrank away from the purity of God, as Adam and Eve did when they tried to hide from God's presence in the Garden of Eden. But we find that the people prayed to something. In every country where they went they had some kind of worship. Many of them worshiped things that God had made, such as the sun, the moon, and the stars. Afterward they also worshiped rivers and mountains and hills. They made images of wood and of stone to these things which they worshiped, and called the images gods.        Not far from the city of Babel, where the tower was left unfinished, another city was built. This city was called Ur of the Chaldees, because it was built in the home country of the Chaldean people. These people worshiped the moon-god, Ur, and when they built their great city they named it in honor of their god.        On the plains near Ur lived an old man who was a shepherd. He tilled the soil and also raised large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. His name was Terah. He had three grown sons named Abram, Nahor, and Haran. They were also shepherd-farmers. Haran did not live to be very old. When he died he left a son named Lot.        Now, Abram the son of Terah was a good man. He did not worship the moon-god as did his neighbors. He believed in the true God. He built altars and worshiped God just as Abel and Noah had done long years before. His offerings pleased God, and his prayers were heard.        One day Abraham heard the voice of God calling to him. He listened. God told him to gather together his family and his flocks and herds, bid farewell to his neighbors and friends, and start out on a long journey. God promised to lead him to a land far away, where he would bless him and make his name great. Through his family God promised to give a blessing to all families in the world.        Perhaps Abram did not understand the meaning of all God's promise. He did not know that in the years to come a Savior should be born among the people of his own family, who would then be called the Jews. This Savior, we know, is the blessing which God promised to give to all families in the world, if Abram would obey his voice.        Although Abram did not know these things, nor even the country to which God wished to lead him, he was not afraid to go. So he took all his family-his wife, whose name was Sarai, his aged father, Terah, his brother Nahor and his wife, and the young son of his dead brother Haran. They and their servants Abram urged to start out with him on his journey. And they took all their possessions too-the tents in which they lived, and the large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.        Day after day they journeyed up the great River Euphrates until they came to a place called Haran. Here they stopped to rest, and here Abram's aged father died and was buried. Even before that God spoke to Abram and urged him to continue his journey. But Nahor, Abram's brother, was unwilling to go farther, so he remained at Haran and made his home at that place.        After this Abram made a second start. Now he took only his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and their servants. Driving their flocks and herds before them, they turned away from the great river and journeyed southwest, toward the land of Canaan. On one side of them the mountains rose wild and high, while on the other side, as far as they could see, the barren desert stretched away toward the south. On and on they traveled-across rivers, through valleys, over hills-each day farther from their homeland and nearer to the land which God had promised. We do not know how many days and weeks and months passed by before they came to the plain of Moreh, where God spoke again to Abram. "This is the land," God told him, "that I will give to you and to your children." And Abram built an altar there and worshiped God.        Now, this land of promise was called Canaan, because the Canaanite people lived in it. These people had been there for a long time and had built some towns and cities. Abram did not live among the Canaanite people, but pitched his tents out on the hills or plains, wherever. he could find grass for his cattle and sheep to eat and water for them to drink. All the while his flocks and herds grew larger, until finally Abram became very rich.        Then there came a famine in the land. The grass failed and the waters of the brooks dried up. Nowhere could Abram find pasture, go he moved away from Canaan into the country called Egypt. Here he saw the great River Nile, and possibly even the pyramids and the sphinx. But he did not remain long in Egypt, because God did not want him to dwell there. When the famine ended in Canaan, he returned again to that country.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well

Johnsons 4:1-43

BETWEEN JUDEA AND Galilee was a little country called Samaria. This country used to belong to the kingdom of Israel; but when the Israelites were carried away as captives by the king of Assyria, strangers from other lands came into that country and made their homes.

       These strangers learned about the God of the Israelites, but they never worshiped God at the temple in Jerusalem. Instead, they built a temple in their country and worshiped there. They became bitter enemies of the Jews, and at the time of Jesus they were still despised by the Jews.

       In going to or returning from Jerusalem, the Jews of Galilee usually would not take the shorter road, through Samaria, but would travel the long road, which led first to and across the Jordan River, then along the border of the land where the people lived whom they despised.

       Although Jesus was a Jew he did not share the bitter feeling of the Jews toward the people of Samaria, who were called Samaritans. He knew they were just as precious in the eyes of God as were any other people, and he longed to teach them about their country on his journey back to his home in Nazareth.

       Because Jesus wished to take the shorter road, through Samaria, his disciples were willing to go that way too, in order to be with him. So they journeyed together as far as a little city called Sychar.

       Near the city was a wayside well, which had been dug hundreds of years before probably by Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. And in honor of him it was still called Jacob's well. When they reached this well, Jesus was tired, and sat down by it to rest from his long walk. His disciples went on to the city to buy food, leaving him there alone.

       Presently a woman from Sychar came down to the well to draw some water. She glanced at the stranger sitting there and saw that he was a Jew. Knowing that Jews paid no attention to Samaritans, she passed by and hurried to lower her water-jug with the long rope that she had brought. When the jug was filled she drew it up and was ready to start back to the city, when Jesus asked for a drink.

       Surprised at his request, the woman answered, "How is it that you, being a Jew, will ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans."

       Jesus replied, "If you knew who it is who asks a drink from your jug of sparkling water, you would ask of him and he would give you living water to drink."

       These words aroused the interest of the woman at once. Who could this stranger be? she wondered. She knew he was not like other Jews, for they would rather suffer from thirst than ask a favor of a Samaritan.

       So she said, "Sir, this well is deep and you have no rope to draw out the water, how then could you give me living water to drink? Are you greater than Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank of it himself, and his cattle?"

       "Whoever drinks of this water in Jacob's well becomes thirsty and returns again and again for more," answered Jesus, "but the living water which I give does not come from such a well. It bubbles up like a continual spring within one, and that one never grows thirsty again."

       Now the woman was an eager listener. She did not know that the living water of which Jesus spoke was his free gift of salvation to all people, and she said, "Sir, I want that kind of water so that I shall not need to return and refill my water-jug in this tiresome way."

       Jesus saw that she was interested, so he began to talk to her about her sins. He knew she was a very sinful woman, and he told her about some wrong things that she had done. She wondered how he, a stranger, could know these things. He seemed to see her thoughts and to read them all.

       "You are a prophet," she exclaimed.

       Although this woman was a sinner, she wondered often whether God was more pleased with the religion of the Jews than with the religion of her own people, the Samaritans. Now she asked Jesus whether people should worship God in Jerusalem or in the temple of the Samaritans.

       Jesus answered that God had planned to bring salvation through the Jews, but he said the time had come when true worshipers need no longer go up to Jerusalem, for they might pray to God everywhere and worship him.

       "God is not found in only one place," he said; "for God is a Spirit. And those who worship him in the right way must believe that he is a Spirit."

       Then the woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming from God, and when he comes he will tell us everything."

       "I am that Messiah," answered Jesus, and the woman looked in joy and wonder upon him. But at that moment the disciples returned from the city bringing food to eat, so she turned away and leaving her water-jug, ran back to tell her friends about the wonderful stranger whom she had met at the well.

       The disciples wondered why Jesus would talk with a despised woman of the Samaritans; but they did not ask him any questions. They brought food to him, and when he refused to eat they urged him.

       Then he said to them, "I have food to eat which you know nothing about."

       They asked each other, "Has some one brought food to him while we were away?"

       But Jesus knew their questionings, so he said, "My meat is to do the will of my Father, who has sent me into the world."

       When the woman reached the city she went into the streets and told the people about Jesus, the stranger who had understood all about her life.

       "He told me all the things that I ever did. Is not he the Messiah?" she asked.

       And the people decided to see this man for themselves, so they went with her to Jacob's well.

       Jesus talked with the Samaritans about the things of God, and they invited him to stay in their city and teach them more of these wonderful truths. He spent two days in Sychar, teaching the people. Then he went on his way to Nazareth, leaving behind him some believers among the Samaritans.