Last time we learned about the woman at the well and how Jesus offered her living water as He offers living water to all thirsty sinners.
John 4:31-38 – The Harvest
The disciples rejoined Jesus and urged Him to eat. Jesus said that He had food that they knew nothing about. “My food, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” – John 4:34. He was saying that His true satisfaction was to do the will of His Father. Jesus knew the mission He came to do. He came to finish His work on the cross.
The disciples were confused by Jesus’ words. They thought He needed physical food for strength, but Jesus found greater strength and satisfaction in doing the Father’s will. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). Food and drink were secondary.
(John 4:34-38) Jesus spoke of the harvest, fields, crop, sower, reaper and wages. He said the disciples shouldn’t think there were still four months and then the harvest. He said the fields were ripe for the harvest. The harvest is ready now meaning there were many people ready to be received into His kingdom. They were to open up their eyes and see people the spiritual harvest is ready. The disciples should see themselves as worker or reapers in the harvest.
The fields and crops are the people of the world. The harvest is those who are ready to receive the truth. People are searching and are hungry for something or someone to believe in. They may not realize it, but deep down they are not satisfied and are searching.
The sower and the reaper in this case is Jesus, but the disciples and all believers are sowers. We plant the seed of the gospel. We may or may not see or reap the results right away. The reaper is one who actually sees the person come to believe in Christ. The wages are the joy, blessings, rewards, and satisfaction in seeing someone saved. Jesus says one sows and one reaps the harvest. All who work the harvest will be rewarded and rejoice together. It’s encouraging to know that even though we may not see the fruits of our labor, those seeds we planted will grow and mature and someday that person that we’ve witnessed to and prayed for will be saved.
How are you doing the work God has given you?
Principle: Believers are to be alert to the readiness of the spiritual harvest.
John 4:39-42 – The Belief
The Samaritan woman took the gospel to her town and many Samaritans came to see Jesus. They spent time with Him and because of His Words, they became believers. They called Him, “The Savior of the world”. (John 4:39-42)
The town’s people saw a change in the woman and they had to see for themselves. It started with seeds she planted. Through her planting their souls were harvested.
How are you planting the seeds of the gospel?
So many people today here in America with all kinds of opportunities are rejecting Jesus. But people in the more backward countries who are less fortunate and don’t have the opportunities we have, are hearing about Jesus and accepting Him almost without question. It’s just like the Jews rejecting Jesus and people like the Samaritans accepting Him.
Principle: Jesus is the Savior of the world.
John 4:43-54 – The Faith
Jesus left Samaria for His own home country, Galilee. The people welcomed Him, but not in the way that honored Him. They were just interested in His signs and wonders. Jesus had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country. John 7:5 states even His own brothers didn’t believe in Him. He visited Cana in Galilee where He had turned water into wine.
In John 4:46-51 news about Jesus had spread. A royal official traveled from Capernaum to the Cana in Galilee to see Jesus. He worked for the government so he had authority over Jesus, but he was humble and realized that Jesus had a different kind of authority. Probably a crowd had gathered because of Jesus used the words, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe.” – John 4:48. He was rebuking people because of their superficial reasons for seeking Him. They knew His miracles, but didn’t understand He was their Messiah.
The official didn’t get angry and leave. He told Jesus his son was ill and was going to die. Jesus told him to go home and his son would live. The official acted in faith by believing Jesus and returned home. To believe is to act and that’s just what he did. He had faith when he believed Jesus could help his son, faith by believing Jesus’ words, and faith when saw his son healed. This is real faith to believe in a miracle before you see it. It was grace that healed his son, not for anything he had done.
The official realized that the exact time Jesus told him “your son will live” was the exact time his fever broke so all his household believed. This was Jesus’ 2nd miracle. (John 4:53-54). He was healed with a word, over distance, and at once. Such is the power of Jesus.
Principle: As infinite God, Jesus is not limited by time and space.
We learn in this passage that Jesus is compassionate. He can do all things. He can change lives. We need to give our concerns and problems to Him, believe, and He will do the rest. You won’t receive, if you don’t ask.
What miracle has God done in your life?
I am sure the official had some doubts, but Jesus challenged his faith. True faith is not absence of doubts – it’s acting in spite of it. True faith is believing God and courageously acting on His Word.
Next week we will study John 5. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site. Hope to see you here next time. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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