Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, February 5, 2014 Read John 4:39-42 The story ends on a marvelously positive note! Many Samaritans respond to the woman’s testimony. She has been moved through the process of inadequate belief to belief that is complete. They believe “because of his word!” Jesus proclamation leads them to say, “we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.” It is important that we hear this story of the woman at the well and of the faith of the Samaritans in contrast with the story of Nicodemus. The stories follow a similar pattern. One results in belief, the other in confusion. This is not the only time John wants us to see two stories in parallel with one another. Soon he will tell us two other stories, one of a man healed at the pool of Bethzatha and the other of a blind man healed in Jerusalem. Those stories will also be parallel stories with contrasting outcomes. John has selected stories purposefully to proclaim his message.