How do People Begin to Believe in Jesus?

In John 4 we find Jesus traveling through Samaria, a region Jews regularyly avoided in New Testament times for fear of coming in contact with a Samaritan and thus becoming "unclean." He ends up having a discussion with a Samaritan woman. She, along with many Samaritans from her town, eventually "believed in him."

Is there a pattern of realizations here that are common to people in their journey toward "believ[ing] in Jesus?"

1. John 4:9 - Do we find it hard to believe that God might speak to us as the woman found it hard to believe a Jew would speak to a Samaritan.
2. John 4:11 - Do we share the same disbelief about God being capable of doing what he says he can do as the woman had about Jesus's ability to draw water?
3. John 4:15 - Do we misunderstand the promises God makes to us, seeking less than what he is able to deliver just as the woman misunderstood what Jesus was offering.
4. John 4:17 - Are we even more surprised that God wants to know us, when we discover the depths of his insight into who we are?
5. John 4:19-24 - While this contains more about what Jesus says than what the woman says, I think this interchange is about making the leap from physical to spiritual realities. Surely the statement about worshipping in truth was part of what led the woman to make her next comment.
6. John 4:25 - OK. I know this is reading between the lines a bit, but I think the woman is suspecting that Jesus is the Messiah. He has just taught her something. He has just explained something. She responds by saying the Messiah will "explain everything" to us. Is she saying, "I think I know who you might be but I'm not sure yet?"
7. John 4:29 - She, even though she may not be sure yet herself, invites people from the town to come meet this man and suggests, in a question, he might be the Christ.
8. John 4:40 - The people from the town want to spend some time with Jesus, and urge him to stay. He stays two days. Isn't it natural to want to spend time with him as you begin to realize who he is. In 4:41 it says monay more came to believe in him because of his words, presumably words he was able to speak during the extra time.
9. John 4:42 The people come to the place where they believe in Jesus based on their own relationship with him verses the relationship someone else has with him.

What do you think? Am I on to something here, or have I pushed thing too far? What would you add? What would you say differently? If this is the progression that some people go through, then I believe there are implications for how the church should engage people. Maybe I can deal with that in a future post. In the mean time, feel free to make your own suggestions.

© 2007, Ed Wandling