Jesus' Seventeenth Appearance 

Three years earlier, in June of 27 CE, Jesus spoke with Nalda at Jacob's well about the living waters: the spirit within. Jesus must have made a lasting impression, for seventy-five Samaritan believers were in the habit of meeting her near the well. On the Sabbath, Saturday afternoon, May 13, 30 CE, they were discussing the resurrection of Jesus. Just as they had finished their conversation, Jesus suddenly appeared before them.

Jesus greeted them, "Peace be upon you," and then shared that all humans are God's children and that they must worship in spirit and truth, with faith ensuring their salvation, saying: "You rejoice to know that I am the resurrection and the life, but this will be of no use to you unless you are first born of the eternal spirit and thus receive the gift of eternal life through faith. If you are my Father's faithful children, you will never die or perish. The gospel of the kingdom has taught you that all humans are God's children. And the good news of the heavenly Father's love for his earthly children must spread throughout the world. The time has come to worship God not on Gerizim or in Jerusalem, but wherever you are, in spirit and truth. Your faith saves your souls. God gives salvation to everyone who believes they are his children."

Jesus continued, emphasizing the importance of bearing fruits of the spirit and loving others as one would oneself: "Be not deceived; while salvation is God's free gift to all who accept it through faith, there is also the experience of bearing the fruits of this spirit life as it is lived in the flesh. Accepting the doctrine of God's fatherhood implies that you freely accept the associated truth of human kinship. And if humans are your siblings, they are more than just a neighbor, whom the Father expects you to love as yourself. Your sibling, as a member of your own family, will you love not only with family affection, but you will also serve them as you would yourself. And you will love and serve your siblings in the same way that I have loved and served you."

Jesus concluded with a decree to deliver the good news: "Go out into the world and spread this good news to all creatures of every race, tribe, and nation. My spirit will go before you, and I will be with you always."

These Samaritans were astounded to see Jesus for themselves. After Jesus vanished, they shared abroad the exciting news that they saw and talked to Jesus, a man who was dead and then spoke to them in his resurrected form.