{"id":127,"date":"2016-02-12T07:19:05","date_gmt":"2016-02-12T15:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.smallchelle.com\/?p=127"},"modified":"2016-02-12T07:19:05","modified_gmt":"2016-02-12T15:19:05","slug":"john-4-part-5-meanwhile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smallchelle.com\/?p=127","title":{"rendered":"John 4 Part 5 – Meanwhile…"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are nearing the end of our trip to Samaria with Jesus. He\u2019s just had a very intense conversation with a Samaritan woman who has suddenly come to faith in him as her Messiah. Right after Jesus reveals this to her the disciples come strolling back from town where they bought food. An article on the Near East Tourism Agency\u2019s website says that the town was about 1 kilometer or just over half of a mile from the well. How long does it take to walk that? 12 or maybe 15 minutes or so. Not all that long\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

This got me wondering\u2026 did they cross paths? Did the disciples ignore the woman on their way to town as she was on her way to the well to draw water? I think it\u2019s entirely possible.<\/p>\n

The conversation between Jesus and the woman lasted maybe 45 minutes while the disciples were gone buying food. John 4:27 says, \u201cJust then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, \u201cWhat do you seek?\u201d or, \u201cWhy are you talking with her?\u201d When they returned she left her jar and \u00a0took off running.<\/p>\n

So while the Samaritan woman ran back to town, witnessed her testimony to a bunch of people, then brought them all back out of the town to meet Jesus, he has a different conversation with his disciples. With how close the town was this wouldn\u2019t have taken very long, maybe an hour or so.<\/p>\n

The Work of God = Spiritual Food<\/span><\/h4>\n

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, \u201cRabbi, eat.\u201d But he said to them, <\/span>\u201cI have food to eat that you do not know about.\u201d<\/span> So the disciples said to one another, \u201cHas anyone brought him something to eat?\u201d Jesus said to them, <\/span>\u201cMy food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0John 4:31-33<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus has this mini leadership conference with his disciples. They are just as confused as the woman was between the spiritual and the physical. They are insisting Jesus eat physical food to nourish his physical body, but he tells them he doesn\u2019t need it. His food, nourishment, and satisfaction came from constantly operating in God\u2019s will and ultimately finishing his work on the cross.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine the scene as Jesus speaks these next words to his disciples. He tells them to open their eyes and look\u2026 Many commentators believe he may have been pointing to a nearby field of wheat. Based on the timing we looked at earlier I believe it\u2019s possible they would have seen the crowd of people coming back from town with the woman to meet Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you not say, \u2018There are yet four months, then comes the harvest\u2019? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, \u2018One sows and another reaps.\u2019 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.\u201d<\/span> John 4:35-38<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the disciples went to town to buy food for their hungry tummies they had every opportunity to tell the people the Messiah was in their midst, but they didn\u2019t. Then Jesus shows them how hungry the world is for him. The woman he met ran and brought back a crowd with hearts ripe to be harvested into the kingdom. He\u2019s telling the disciples they will reap what the woman has sown as they enter into her labor (witnessing her testimony) among the people.<\/p>\n

This was a foreshadowing of what \u00a0will also continue into their ministries after Jesus ascends. It is instruction to us as well. Some sow and some reap but we all work together in the harvest. It is satisfying to our souls to do the work of God. It is emptiness to our souls to focus on ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 63:5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. (NLT)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Glorious Result = the Harvest<\/span><\/h4>\n

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman\u2019s testimony, \u201cHe told me all that I ever did.\u201d So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, \u201cIt is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.\u201d John 4:39-42<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I love how Jesus speaks to us. When we are in sin, when we are being selfish, when he wants to teach us about the kingdom of God, he is perfectly patient with all of us. At certain times in my life I have related to each of the folks in this account, the hurting woman, the confused disciple, the seeking townspeople. Here he spends two days with these seekers. It doesn\u2019t even say he did miracles but that they believed because of his word.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and <\/span>it is they that bear witness about me,<\/span> <\/span>yet <\/span>you refuse to come to me that you may have life.\u201d<\/span> John 5:39-40<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

His word doesn\u2019t just give us a basis for morality, but it is the very thing that shows us who he is, his love for us, and leads us to believe in him for eternal life.<\/p>\n

I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this trip to Samaria with me. Jesus invites us today to participate in the harvest, casting seed and watering and even reaping when we see spiritually dead rise to new life in Christ. Be encouraged to share your testimony and help your family and friends become part of the harvest for eternal life. There\u2019s nothing else like it.<\/p>\n

Next Time<\/h5>\n

A Modern day well dig \u2013 My friend Rob shares his amazing experience of digging a well for a small village near Somalia and how his faith has impacted his life and military service. You won\u2019t want to miss it!<\/p>\n

Further reading<\/h5>\n

Near East Tourism Agency article on Nablus<\/a><\/span>
\n<\/span>Harvest America @ Dallas Texas and Nationwide Simulcast March 6 2016<\/a>\u00a0Find out how you can be a part of one of the nation\u2019s largest evangelistic events in history.<\/span>
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<\/h6>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are nearing the end of our trip to Samaria with Jesus. He\u2019s just had a very intense conversation with a Samaritan woman who has suddenly come to faith in him as her Messiah. Right after Jesus reveals this to her the disciples come strolling back from town where they bought food. An article on…<\/span><\/p>\n

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