Come, see a Man

December 2022

My dear youth:

The Samaritan woman who spoke with Christ at Jacob’s well, came to the conclusion that this Jew was the promised Messiah, so she believed and so manifested it to her fellow men. That Man had told her things that the woman had done in her past, and she likewise had declared to Him that He was the promised Messiah. The conviction that this Jew could be the Messiah made its way into her heart and the woman did something that all believers should do: “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.” John 4:28-30.

An encounter with Christ

When a human being meets Christ and accepts him as his personal Savior, he cannot stop saying what he has seen and heard (Acts 4:20). The message of the cross is so powerful dear youth, that no one should remain unmoved by the Savior. His love is so deep and patient that it surrounds the soul with warmth and restoration. Only Christ has words worth listening to, as expressed by his disciples: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68. In Jesus Christ we can find the meaning of life, the path that leads us to heaven, the truth that inspires and elevates us, and above all makes us happy. An encounter with Christ transforms us, because He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the light that illuminates the dark chambers of our being, the bread that feeds us, the water that quenches our thirst. Many settle for drinking stagnant water instead of drinking the water that springs up into eternal life.

Physical water quenches thirst, dear young man, but after a while we get thirsty again. The Savior tells you: “… but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14. Will you drink of that water? Receive it. In Christ you will find the peace that your soul longs for, comfort in pain, encouragement in the fight, restoration, power over sin.

The Samaritan woman did not resist the influence of the Savior, she realized that the water He offered her was infinitely superior to the one she drew from the well, and she wanted to drink from that living water. The Lord Jesus Christ wants to quench our thirst for the infinite, our thirst for truth; He can do it because He is the Savior of the world, God made flesh, the Alpha and the Omega, the Creator without whom nothing would have been made. “… All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16. What Christ taught was the truth that men need to know, that arcane truth that came to rebel dispelled the dense darkness of error and prevailed to give us life in abundance. That is why the Redeemer tells us: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. Also: “… I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12.

I have heard it said many times that Christ was a great prophet, a great man worthy of being followed. But when I present to them the words the Savior spoke, they reject them: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” John 14:9. Here the Lord does not present something confusing or ambiguous, but an absolute truth, which is what bothers modern people who in the majority seek to be politically correct instead of embracing the evidence. The concept has been accepted that there is nothing unique, complete, or absolute; that everything is relative and that all philosophical currents and creeds have a part of the truth. However, the message of Christ is presented by Himself as the truth and is unique, total, categorical. In fact, the Jewish people, His own people, rejected Him for saying He was God: “Because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” John 10:33. The facts are there, they are evident, but each one will have to make their own decision. Jesus is our refuge and strength, our quick help in tribulations (Psalms 46:1). Outside of Him there is nothing that can fill us so much, help us so much, elevate us so much… His grace is what sustains us in the midst of a world in rebellion. Will we follow Him? Paul, when he found Christ at the gate of Damascus, made the decision to follow Him, to love Him. The Samaritan woman too… And what about us? What will we do?

The testimony life

The first step is this, for certain, but now we must take a second step. When the Samaritan woman made the great discovery of her life, she made the decision to go and share with her loved ones the joy that had been born in her heart, and through her others believed in Christ. Sharing the wonderful discovery of faith in Christ makes us debtors, as expressed by the apostle Paul: “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. The Just Live by Faith. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:14-16.

You will see this tonic in all the men and women of God, they did not keep the light for themselves, but shared it. In fact, Jesus urges us to witness to those who do not know the Gospel to all those who have declared our faith in Him: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.

Our conviction in Christ as our personal Savior should encourage us to share the message of salvation. Surely, we will remember when Christ released the Gadarene demoniac. This man, tormented by the devil, was released from those chains by the intervention of the beloved Lord. That man understood that this extraordinary miracle required a response of gratitude and love towards his deliverer. That’s why he begged Him to let him be with Him. “… But Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.’ And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:38, 39.

Conclusion

Yes, my dear youth, when the Gospel of salvation reaches us we become “debtors”; and for this reason we must be sources of light that illuminate those who live without the knowledge of the biblical message. You don’t need to have great theological knowledge to be able to share the good news; it is enough that you tell what great things Jesus has done for you; just tell people that Christ loves them. A simple booklet delivered with love, a brief testimony of your Christian experience, kind treatment, a favor given to those who need it, a word of encouragement, a biblical text shared online, a timely visit, a prayer for he who is being tested, etc., can make the difference between hiding the light or sharing it.

I invite you in this new year, which is soon to begin, to make plans to become more committed to missionary work and, like the Samaritan woman, tell people: “Come, see a Man…” God grants those of us who love Him the privilege of announcing the Gospel. May we fulfill this mission. Amen.

José Vicente Giner

Pastor and leader of the Youth Department of the General Conference

For personal and group reflection: