32.1 Just then his disciples came back. They were very surprised to see him talking with a Samaritan woman, but they said nothing. No one said, "What do you want from her?" or "Why are you talking to her?" John 4:27
The disciples knew that it was against Jewish law for a Rabbi to talk with a woman in public. Yet their respect for Jesus was so great that they would not ask him. They only kept wondering. He would answer them when he had time..
32.2 So the woman left her water pot and went her way to the city, and said to the people, "Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Can not this be the Christ?" John 4:28-29
I can see the woman standing there, with her mouth open, heart pounding. She has just met the Messiah face to face! She does not know what to say! The approach of the disciples reminded her where she was. Perhaps she also knew that it was against Jewish law for a Rabbi to talk with a woman in public. So she left. She knew what she must do. She must go find everyone she knows, and bring them to Christ! She dropped her water pot, turns, and rushed back to the city! Since she has left her water pot at Jesus' feet, it is plain that she will be coming back. He will wait. She knew that -- now that she knew who He was! And it is true -- her thirst has been satisfied!
32.3 The woman has great wisdom. There is only one way the people of Sychar would ever believe her story. She must tell them her testimony! (The first Christian testimony in the Bible) Her excitement got them curious, but her words left them no choice! They knew only too well what she had done! And what is this thing she is blabbering about -- could this be the Messiah? Perhaps it could -- how else would this strange Jewish man have known her past? They dropped what they were doing... This they had to see for themselves!
Then they went out of the city and were coming to him. John 4:30
32.4 But while they were coming Jesus had an very important lesson to teach the disciples.
In the meantime the disciples kept urging him saying, "Rabbi, eat!" John 4:31
They were concerned for his health, but Jesus had already eaten! At least that's what he said, didn't he?
32.5 But Jesus said to them, I have a food to eat that you do not know about. John 4:32 (My paraphrase)
This helps us understand Jesus much better! He put his whole life into his work. It was not just a job to him. Oh no, not at all! He did it with all his heart! Nothing else mattered. It filled him with such joy and peace that it acted like food and drink to his body. Thirst, hunger, and even his tiredness were forgotten. But the disciples had not been there when Jesus saved the woman's life, so they did not know what he was talking about. Looking towards the city, Jesus could see the crowds coming. But, (probably) facing Jesus, the disciples' backs were turned. They did not see what was happening. He could not eat now. He had more work to do.
32.6 So then the disciples kept saying to each other, Surely no one brought him anything to eat, did they? John 4:33
Once again they were too respectful to ask. Jesus did not scold them. He would have to explain it to them.
32.7 Jesus said to them, my food is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work! John 4:34
Finishing the Father's will, the work of redemption, was the only thing Jesus really wanted. It was something he had to have -- like we must have food!
32.8 He continued on...
Don't you say, It is still four months until the harvest? But look! I say to you, Look! Open your eyes. See the fields? They are ripe already for harvest. John 4:35
Between the well and the city of Sychar were green fields of wheat. This was winter wheat. This tells us that Jesus was at the well in the month of December. The harvest would come four months later in April. Jesus had been ministering for almost a year.
Now, as Jesus waved his hand toward the city, the disciples turned to see something totally unexpected. A large crowd was coming... a "field" ripe for harvesting! The disciples saw it ; there on the paths leading from the city, a gathering crowd of some size, coming through the fields of grain. The disciples knew immediately what Jesus was talking about!
He continued on...
32.9 He that reaps receives pay and gathers fruit to eternal life -- so that he who sows, (plants seed),
and he who reaps may rejoice together. John 4:36The "fruit" of the harvest is of course the people saved for all eternity! This "fruit" lasts forever. Because of this the evangelists who "plant the seed" and the ministers who reap it will both share the reward. They will both rejoice together. Both will receive that holy joy -- their pay for what they have done. What else could they be paid with? Nothing else would be right. But they will have that holy joy -- in the presence of God -- both now and in heaven forever. Lasting wages!
32.10 Jesus had more to say....
It is absolutely true. One person plants the seed -- someone else reaps it. John 4:37
I myself sent you to reap a harvest that you have not worked for. Others worked themselves to exhaustion, and you have entered into their labor. John 4:38
Moses, the prophets, and others had planted, watered and tended. Now Jesus and the disciples would reap. That will always be true. Jesus gives credit where credit is due.
32.11 A few minutes later the large crowd arrived. The Bible makes it clear that they had already begun to believe on Christ before they got to the well!
Now from that city many* of the Samaritans believed on him because of the woman's testimony, saying, "He told me everything I ever did." John 4:39 (*This is how we know that the crowd was large.)
So, when the Samaritans came to him they asked him repeatedly to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. John 4:40
They would not have asked him to stay with them except that they already believed in him because of what the woman had said.
32.12 And many more believed for the sake of his word, and they kept telling the woman over and over again, "Now we believe, not just because of what you said, but we have heard for ourselves, and now we know that this is in fact the Savior of the world! John 4:41-42
32.13 The next several verses tells us that Jesus spent two days with them and then went to Nazareth.
Now after two days he left from there and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.* John 4:43-44 (*This happened at Nazareth as we shall see.)
Discussion questions: What is the value of your testimony?
How did the people of Sychar come to faith in Christ?
Memory verse: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17