My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work
John 4:27-37 [1]
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?’
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could this be the Messiah?’ 30 They came out of the town and made their way towards him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’
32 But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’
33 Then his disciples said to each other, ‘Could someone have brought him food?’
34 ‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, “It’s still four months until harvest”? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying “One sows and another reaps” is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labour.’
I. The Samaritan Woman Changed (27-30)
V27 reminds us that talking with a woman in public was prohibited by the traditional Jewish custom of the day. Jesus helped her beyond such a social barrier [2].
The woman left her water jar and went back to the town (28a). Maybe she left her jar to indicate that she would be back, or for them to use while she was away. When people repented and believed the Gospel, they shared everything they had (Acts 4:32-37). This may indicate that John 4:26 was the turning point of her life. Her new life is demonstrated in v28-30.
Previously she avoided others by coming to the well at noon alone (John 4:6-7). But now she invited the people to Christ (28b-30). Previously she hid her past (John 4:17). Now she admitted her past (29). The born-blind beggar admitted his past after being healed by Jesus in John 9:9b. It is important to remember and admit our sinful and miserable past to maintain our humility and give the glory to God who deserves it.
II. My food is to do the will of God and finish His Work (31-34)
Jesus saved this woman (John 4:7-26), glorified God (John 17:4) and was filled with gladness (36) but the disciples knew nothing about it (32). Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (34)
This reminds us of what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 amid his extreme hunger (Matthew 4:2).
4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’
But the devil wants us to prioritise physical food (Matthew 4:3) and forbidden food (Genesis 3:1-24). There are situations when prayer and fasting are critical (Mark 9:29). See Mark 9:29.
29 He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer [and fasting].’
Jesus declared in John 6:38.
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
Similar verses are Psalm 40:7-8, Matthew 7:21, John 5:30, John 14:31a, John 19:28, John 19:30, Acts 20:24, and 1 John 2:17.
III. Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (35-37)
Jesus wants us to open our spiritual eyes to look at the world ripe for harvest (35). Here a crop to harvest is mankind. That is, people in the world are ready to repent of their sins and receive eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Here, the seed of the sower is the word in the message from God as in the Parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the seed represents the word in the message about the heavenly kingdom.
The Samaritan woman already knew about God, Jacob, worship, and Messiah (=Christ). This knowledge is from the seed of God’s Word in her heart, sown by the believers such as her parents, prophets, and bible teachers. She couldn’t find the true husband and waiting for Messiah. She was ripe for harvest.
‘Sowing’ is hard work as expressed in Psalm 125:5-6. The sowers sow with tears and go out weeping, carrying seed to sow. That’s how they work to get joyful results.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
We are reapers (38). What is great about being a reaper?
- One who reaps draws a wage (36) (1 Corinthians 9:9-18)
- This harvest results in eternal life for the crop (36).
- The reaper is rewarded with gladness as much as the sower (36).
- The sowers have done the hard work, and we have reaped the benefits of their labour (37-38).
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Park, Y. Jesus who gives living water. 2023 5/02/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/jesus-who-gives-living-water/.
