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Humble Hero
In the temple at Jerusalem, a low wall separated the outer court
from other portions of the sacred building. Inscriptions on this
wall stated that only Jews were allowed to pass this boundary. If a
Gentile had dared to enter the inner enclosure, he would have paid
the penalty with his life. But Jesus, the Originator of the temple,
brought to the Gentiles the salvation that the Jews rejected.
The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ conduct. During the two
days in Samaria, loyalty to Him kept their prejudices under control,
but their hearts had not changed. They were slow to learn to give
up their contempt and hatred to make room for pity and sympathy.
But after the Lord ascended, His lessons came back to them with
new meaning. They recalled the Savior’s look, His words, the re-
spect and tenderness of His attitude toward these despised strangers.
When Peter went to preach in Samaria, he brought the same spirit
into his work. When John was called to Ephesus and Smyrna, he
remembered the experience at Shechem and the divine Teacher’s
own example.
Those who call themselves the Savior’s followers may despise
and shun the outcast, but no circumstance of birth or nationality, no
condition of life, can turn away His love from anyone, no matter
how sinful. We are to give the gospel invitation to everyone. At
Jacob’s well Jesus did not neglect the opportunity to speak to one
woman, a stranger living in open sin.
Often He began His lessons with only a few people gathered
around Him, but one by one the passersby paused to listen, until
a crowd of people, in wonder and awe, heard the words of God
through the heaven-sent Teacher. Sometimes only one person may
hear the message from a worker for Christ today, but who can tell
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how far-reaching its influence will be?
The Samaritan woman proved to be a more effective missionary
than Jesus’ own disciples. Through her, a whole cityful of people
came to hear the Savior. Every true disciple is born into the kingdom
of God as a missionary. Whoever drinks of the living water becomes
a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. The grace of Christ
in the heart is like a spring in the desert, refreshing all and making
those who are ready to die eager to drink the water of life.
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