According to John 4:27-42
Disciples Question While The Samaritan Woman Shares What She Knows
Verses 27-30
Disciples Question Jesus' Scruples
Verses 31-38
Jesus Teaches the Disciples
Verses 39-42
The woman affects her town
27. At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do You seek?: or "Why do You speak with her?" 28. So the woman left her water pot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29. "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” 30. They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.
31. Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32. But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33. So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34. Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. 35. "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37. "For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38. "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”
39. From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40. So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41. Many more believed because of His word; 42. and they were saying to the woman, “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 Savior of the world.”
COMMENTARY
Verses 27-30
27. At this point His disciples came: Remember the disciples were in town getting food. They missed the whole conversation Jesus had with the woman. They return to where they left Jesus which was by the well for Him to rest and refresh Himself. Then, they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman. The disciples reaffirm the gender issue that Jesus overcame which led to His ἐγὼ εἰμι proclamation in verse 26. This phrase also states the fact that the disciples were 'amazed. The Greek word is ἐθαύμαζον 3rd Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative verb from θαυμάζω meaning: to marvel, amaze, to admire or be astonied (astonished). The same from of this same verb appears in John 17:5 when the Jews are reported to have marvel at Jesus uneducated wisdom. Yet no one said, "What do You seek?: or "Why do You speak with her?" As they were approaching them at the well, they asked these questions. The same Greek word τί (an interrogative pronoun from τίς ) is translated here as either 'what?,' 'why?,' or 'which?' They were inquiring after what He 'desired,' 'endeavored,' or 'sought.' Since they were just arrived it was obvious that they missed a major event which culminated in Jesus speaking with this woman alone. "They were astonished to see Him talking to a woman; for remember according to Jewish law, no Rabbi must ever hold conversation with a woman alone (Morgan, G. Campbell, The Gospel According to John, Revell Company, USA , p. 77)." It would appear as they disciples came closer to them at the well, the woman left, forgetting the reason she originally came to the well. For the woman left her water pot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29. "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” The impact of Jesus revealing His identity, ἐγὼ εἰμι , had a profound effect on the woman. She, who, was alone largely because of her life choices, was now motivated to lay all the stigma aside and be a spokesperson to her city. This is the consistent behavior of one having received a revelation of Jesus. 30. They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. Wow, if only I had that gift of evangelism or leadership. If only I could speak of Him in such a way that a whole city would trust me to come to Him. What did she say to the MEN of the city? She bid them to come. She spoke of Him perceiving all the the things she had done. She spoke of Him being the Christ, Messiah. The English translates the bidding regarding Jesus' as the Messiah as a question. In our evangelistic attempts, so we call them, do we ask questions and leave them unanswered?
Verses 31-38
31. Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” Now that the woman was gone and all the gender issues resolved, lets replenish ourselves. 32. But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” Here we have our favorite Greek conjunction that draws contradiction. The disciples were urging, BUT Jesus said. 33. So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Amazing how we think, like the disciples, that we can be in the presence of Jesus and carry on a secretive conversation. Do we not know that He knows our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts. He, as in this case of the disciples knows how well we receive His teaching. Yet, we cannot call Him rude, prying, snoopy or nosy. He cares for us and His primary objective for His caring is that we know Him. Therefore 34. Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. When the disciples are pondering where Jesus got His food. Jesus leaps into a deep issue of the importance of life. Accomplishing the work of God is as important as food. Here is His basis presentation of obeying God being juxtaposed to providing for this life even in the basic sustenance items as food and water. He will describe this juxtaposition many times as we walk with John through his gospel. For now it is important for the disciples to understand that they are "...not (to) say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37. "For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38. "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.” In their understanding of accomplishing the will of God, they are not to be concerned with the seasons. We are to be busy now. They, as He is, are to be about the task of accomplishing the work of God. In that they are not to compare their work or their rewards with others. Each one has his task and will get his reward. The Apostle Paul also expands on this subject in his letter to the Corinthians by encouraging his followers not to deify one teacher or apostle over another. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 "So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God."
Verses 39-42
39. From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” Isn't it amazing what a simple testimony, a life story, can do to influence people. What is your story? And, how is it influencing people around you? The half-breed social outcast of a woman told her story and many of the people in her city believed in Jesus. Think with me for a moment. Can you imagine what the people of the city thought when she said, "He told me all the things that I have done"? Remember, this woman was a ......... and a .......... and she did ............. and ............. and she said ............. and ............ about .............. The people of the city were probably embarrassed with her sharing some of her intimate events. Her so-called husband probably could not believe that was airing out their dirty laundry. What's your story? Is colored with dirt? with shameful acts? with embarrassing moments producing jaw dropping responses? If told, it might be embarrassing to you, your family or your friends, but it would not be embarrassing to Jesus for He did NOT condemn or scold her. Therefore, He will not scold you. It pleases Him for us to respond in the same manner that this half-breed outcast woman responded. Tell your story then invite your audience to meet Him for themselves. 40. So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.Be it known that there is power in one who is willing to be known by Jesus and is vulnerable to Him revealing all things. This woman's words change the life of her city that was lost and without hope from its history. Jesus, through the woman, was now a welcomed guest and they asked Him to stay and He did. 41. Many more believed because of His word; 42. and they were saying to the woman, “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 Savior of the world.” In this statement which covers two verses, we have a climatic theological statement that supports the ἐγώ εἰμι of verse 26 in the preceding blog post. Jesus is the I AM, the One, the Savior of the world and this declaration is spoken by non Jewish Samaritans who were definitely outside the fold of kosher religiosity. Be sure not to miss that the source of the people's belief transcended the words of the woman as if from a third party. Their belief, which is paramount for us, is a result of hearing and knowing for themselves. What have you heard? And, who have you heard it from? If it is from men or women, then you need to question its validity. If it is from Jesus, the Bible, then you have found the TRUTH. I hope that those men and women who speak to you, speak in such a way as to line up with the Truth. THIS ONE IS INDEED THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
SUMMARY
Compare and contrast the woman and the disciples. The disciples have questions of stature and social protocol but are afraid or embarrassed to asked them. The Woman just experienced a time of candid Q&A with Jesus but resultantly forgot why she came to the well and ran off into the city. She leads a city out to Jesus and they believe. The Disciples remain a questioning bunch of followers, at least for now.
In large part of God's revelation to us, He reveals His name. His name is precious to Him and should be revered by us. As Jesus speaks the name of God and embraces it regarding His identity, all of Scripture is being unraveled. In the Old Testament we find the original pattern of God's name in the Hebrew. It was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and protected through the centuries. When Solomon built the Temple for the Lord, it was a Temple for the NAME of the Lord. “Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’"- 1 Kings 5:1. "The LORD said to him, 'I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.'" - 1 Kings 9:3. The NAME not only refers to the person of the Lord, it refers to the presence of the Lord. Therefore, when you revere His NAME and speak His NAME, you are not only addressing Him, He is in your presence. He is with you. He is with .... He is....
If we can help in anyway with your journey with Jesus, let us know by emailing us at: FLSMinistries@bellsouth.net
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