Tue, Apr 22nd - 12:42PM
Book of John
4:31-42 The Subject of Labor for God
"In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat. But He said to them, I have meat to eat that you know nothing about. Therefore the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought Him anything to eat? Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, there are yet four months, and then the harvest comes? behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white unto harvest already. And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps. I sent you to reap that which you did no labor: other men labored, and you are entered into their labors.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that I ever did. So when the Samaritans were come to Him, they beseeched Him to stay with them: and He remained there two days. And many more people believed because of His own word; And they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."
We continue with the woman at the well account. Jesus has a conversation with His disciples as they gathered around Him. The disciples are all about physical nourishment while Jesus tells them that even more importantly is the need for spiritual nourishment. This tension between physical vs spiritual nourishment continues throughout the centuries and is still with us today. I fear that much too often spiritual nourishment falls by the wayside in many congregations. We tend to become physically busy with programs/ministries meeting the physical needs of those in our communities. Not saying that that is a bad thing, but what about meeting people's spiritual needs? Hopefully we do not act like these disciples, more concerned about food and drink rather than the Samaritan woman. They did not have any spiritual depth yet. They were not focused on Christ's mission of salvation, or upon a world lost in sin and shame, or even looking for every opportunity to reach and help people for God. They were still ignorant of the great warfare being waged between the physical and spiritual concerns of life. Jesus was concerned about spiritual food and nourishment, to do the will and work of God. This involves leading people to the Living Water, helping people quench their inner thirst, bringing people to God, and seeking and saving the lost including those considered to be a lower caste, undesirable, unholy, heretical, and even despicable. God's will and work are supreme, it is His will and work that must be done.
God sent Christ Jesus. Jesus was not sent to do his own will or the will of other men. What is important to recognize here is that Believers are sent by God. They are to be single-minded. They are not to allow themselves to get entangled in the business, politics, or affairs of the world. Christ came to finish the will and work of God which only Christ could do. Obedience was of utmost importance in order for this work to be finished. That was a graphic picture of how each believer must approach their Christian life: be obedient to Christ just as He was obedient to God the Father. God expects this of us therefore there must be a day of accountability, a day when wages are paid out. Each believer is expected to labor for God since the "harvest" is ripe. Whereas we tend to focus our hearts upon the physical things of this world, Jesus' heart was continually upon the harvest of souls. Jesus continues to desire the planting of the gospel seed and the reaping of souls for God. Jesus challenged His disciples to stop looking at the world and lift up their eyes and SEE all of the people in dire need of hearing about the Gospel. There are plenty of people today looking for spiritual answers to explain why the world is seemingly getting flushed down the toilet. People are nervous, scared, despondent, angry, etc. What is the purpose of all of this that is happening? The church must remain active out in the fields spreading God's good news.
Christ mentions six rewards/benefits. Laborers will receive wages. Of course, this does not imply monetary wages nor does it negate the possibility of receiving same. Laborers gather fruit to receive life eternal. What they do is of supreme value. The work is lasting, it will remain forever. Laborers experience the joy of serving God with fellow laborers. All do their work without conflict or envy of what another is doing. Laborers are given the privilege of having a specific part in God's great plans. You may be sowing or you may be watering, or you may be reaping. It does not matter in God's eyes. Laborers have the privilege of being chosen and sent by Christ. God does the choosing, not other men. Laborers are given the privilege of serving alongside of other great servants. I /Corinthians 3:9 teaches us that we all labor together under the guidance of Christ Jesus.
Finally, we see the results of working in the "fields." Many more Samaritans came to believe because they heard the word of Jesus. You see the word "Saviour" (soter) means a Deliverer, a Preserver. It embodies the idea of a Deliverer who snatches a person from some terrible disaster that would lead to perishing.
I hope that you will choose to walk on the Christian journey today. If you are already walking I encourage you to do so with the utmost determination. We just celebrated Easter and now is a great time to become a "pilgrim" and begin your walk through this world of ours on your way home to New Jerusalem. We are just a passing through this world, sojourners on our way home.
have a blessed day!
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Mon, Apr 7th - 11:20AM
Book of John
Chapter 4:25-30
The Subject of the Messiah
"The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah comes, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us things. Jesus said to her, I that speak to you am He. And His disciples came upon this, and marvelled that He spoke with the woman: yet no man said, What do You seek? or, Why talk with her? The woman left her waterpot, and went into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came to Him."
Here we can see a dramatic picture of witnessing and then conversion. Messiah is discovered and this discovery is excitedly shared with others. This woman knew from the Old Testament that the Messiah was to come. That was the expectation. Jesus revealing her sin and claiming to be Messiah caused her heart to reach out towards God. She could sense something very special about Jesus.
We see that she brought up a couple of things that she believed. That the Messiah was coming and that He would tell us all things. Her second belief reveals her belief that the Messiah would be the Supreme Authority. She had mental or intellectual belief but not a saving belief. So many people today only have the intellectual belief in Jesus but not the personal, saving belief that is necessary for redemption from their sins. This Samaritan woman was open to being reached by God. Whereas the agnostic or atheistic person is seldom reached for Christ.
We also see here three claims made by Jesus. That He was the Messiah, that He was the great "I am," and that He was the One who could tell people everything there was to know about them. Now when His disciples finally arrive at the well we get to consider their attitudes. Prejudice towards Samaritans. There was also the matter of Jesus speaking alone to a woman. The scriptures reveal that the disciples were amazed, bewildered, marvelling at the fact that He was sitting and talking with this Samaritan woman. It was considered improper in that day for Rabbis to be alone or talk with women in public. Granted, leaders must be aware of what people will gossip about, what they will assume. But this can't be carried too far. Wisdom and self control must be utilized in all situations. As for her being a Samaritan, well, they were despised by Jews, considered below their social standing, unfit to be seen with in public.
Jesus did not care about social standing policy. The disciples had at least learned enough by this time to keep their comments to themselves and only wonder why He had stopped here to talk with this woman. We find here a method of witnessing. Meet people where they are, strike up a conversation, listen intently, and ask targeted questions that lead to talking about Jesus. This reminds us of Mark 5:19, Acts 4:20, Titus 2:15, Psalm 66:16, And Daniel 4:2.
Please understand this, this woman was of no importance socially. She had been often misused, the subject of gossip and jokes. But she was willing to listen to Jesus and then recognize who He truly was. This event at the well changed her behavior and attitude so much that people were willing to listen to her. A good number of people responded to what she said and went out to find this Messiah and see for themselves. Isn't that what we want people to do after we talk with them about Jesus?
That is all for today my friends. Next time we shall look at the matter of laboring for God in verses 31-42.
Have a blessed day!
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Name: Eric Rajaniemi
