The Gospel of John: John 4:27-42

John 4:27-42

Title: The Samaritans Believe in Christ.

Analysis:

                Not long after Christ witness to the women at the well, the disciples return and are amazed to see Him speaking with a woman (vs.27). The women was too shocked by what Jesus had claimed Himself to be so she leaves her water pot and rushes to the city telling all the people that Jesus could be their long awaited Messiah.

                The disciples, who were perplexed at this moment, offer Jesus some of the food they brought back, but he refuses saying in verse 32, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Jesus was of course speaking of spiritual food or, the gospel. Just like the Samaritan women the disciples did not understand that He spoke of obeying His Father who was in Heaven.

                Jesus now enters into dialogue comparing His work on earth to a farmer who must harvest his crops. He uses the fields surrounding them as a picture of the harvest that is coming, while also comparing it to the harvest of man’s souls. At the time of vs. 35 the Lord points out the crowd coming from the town and compares them to the fields around them. They were ripe for harvest because Jesus knew their hearts and knew that they would believe in Him. The Lord calls His disciples to work with Him in evangelizing the people for then they will have eternal rewards because of their service to Him.

                The Samaritans were genuine believers and John uses them as an example to prove that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God. First, the Lord’s interaction with the women at the well shows that His knowledge of mankind is omniscient, proving that He must be God. Secondly, the way that she reacted in verses 28-29 by telling the people of her town that Jesus is the Messiah. Subtly proving that she had believed in Him. And finally in Verses 41-42 showed that the work of their belief was not because of another person’s testimony but because of what they had seen and heard from Christ Himself.

                The people of Samaria were not superficial in their trust of the Saviour. Rather we read in verse 42, their confession of the Christ which says, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Saviour of the World.”        

Response:

                As I read verses 32-34, I was struck by the complete dependence that Jesus Christ had towards the Father while he was on earth. When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan women he was receiving more satisfaction and strength that any food could provide. He was also probably referring to Deut. 8:3 which states, “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” Jesus’s obedience to His Father was food enough for Him to live upon. And as I think of our Lord's dependence I think that I too can be dependent upon God. How well do I put my complete trust in Him so that I have no need of anything else? Do I rest in His very Words, or do I run to something else to find my security? I know that I must run to Him and depend on Him at all times.  

 

Blessings,

           Lucas C.

The Gospel of John: John 4:1-26

John 4:1-26

Title: Jesus Witnesses to the Samaritan Women

Analysis:

                As Jesus continues His ministry on this earth, He begins to travel from Judea to Galilee. Most Jews, because of their hatred for the Samaritans as ‘Half-Jews’ would never travel through Samaria but rather take the longer route north along the seacoast. Jesus though chose to pass through Samaria. In His sovereign knowledge he knew he had a divine appointment with the women at the well.

                While travelling Jesus and His disciples came to Jacob’s well in the evening time and it is here that we see a glimpse of our Lord’s humanity. Only a little while ago, we heard John the Baptist proclaim in 3:36, -“He who believes in the Son has eternal life…” Here John claims that Jesus is the only way to God which affirms His complete deity. But now we see in 4:6, “So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well…” Even the Lord has physical limitations while on this earth; they were necessary as he had to be fully God and fully man to be the right substitute.

                It was now 6:00 in the evening and the disciples had gone into the town to purchase food. As Jesus waits by the well side a Samaritan women comes to draw water from the well (vs. 7) Our Lord then speaks to her, asking her for a drink of water, something that any Jewish man would never have done as it resulted in a breach of the social animosity the two people groups held for each other. The women then answers Jesus according to the culture wondering why he would even speak to her, as she was a Samaritan women (vs. 9). Jesus replies and tells the lady that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for life giving water (vs. 10). The women, not understanding that Jesus spoke of spiritual life says in verse 15, “Sir Give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” Because of her misunderstanding Jesus asked the women to, “go call her husband” pointing to the direct spiritual need that she had.

                As we know the lady responds saying, I have no husband , to which Jesus acknowledges is right, because she has been married five times before (vs. 17-18). The Lord in this moment exposes his supernatural knowledge of this women’s life and she immediately recognizes it. Jesus then explains to her that it does not matter what location you worship God at, for both places would soon be destroyed. Instead the Lord reveals to her that you must worship the Father both in spirit and in truth (vs.24-25).

                In verse 25 the Samaritan lady now understands that the Lord was speaking about spiritual life and she acknowledges that the Messiah is coming, and he will make all things known to them. And to answer her claim that the Messiah will come, Jesus, in an amazing revelation of who He was says to her plainly, “I am He!” Declaring that the Messiah they were waiting for had come and was the one who was speaking with her face to face.         

Response:

                This passage shows to me the pleasure that our Lord has in making Himself known to all mankind. Jesus had come to this earth to seek and save the lost, and He was prepared to declare who he was so that mankind would believe in His name. Our Lord even travelled to places where the religious men would never go and speak to people who would never have the opportunity to hear the gospel. I am convicted by His readiness to share with this women about who He is. I know that I need to have this same sort of love that reaches out to everyone, sharing with them the blessed truth that Jesus was and is the Messiah.

 

Blessings,

           Lucas C.