John 4:31-42

What a beautiful picture! The disciples offer Jesus some food to eat, and He is so focused on what has been going on with this Samaritan woman – and what is about to happen – that food doesn't interest Him. He tells the disciples that He has a source of nourishment already. Of course, I wouldn't have understood what He was saying, either. So when the disciples start questioning who might have fed Him, Jesus explains that He is nourished by doing the will of the One who sent Him and completing the Sender's work.

 

This is directly linked to one of the C&MA's most-used Scripture passages and applies to the Samaritans. Jesus tells His disciples that they should be aware that the harvest time is now. Here, in this Samaritan village. People have sown the seed of God's Word, and now is the time for the harvest! The disciples get to participate in this harvest. They were not the ones who invested in the Samaritans, but they are about to participate in the redemption of this village! Harvesting people for eternal life is the Sender's will that nourishes Jesus; it is the Sender's work Jesus came to complete.

 

John tells us how the harvest took place. Initially, many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because the woman testified about Him that He knew her entire life. Because they trusted Him, they invited Him to stay with them for a couple of days (which He and His disciples did! Jews among Samaritans for a couple of days!). After Jesus had spent some time with them, the other Samaritans were able to say to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your testimony, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this man is indeed the Savior of the world!"

 

How beautiful! Through the testimony of the prophets in the ancient Scriptures, and through the (distorted) testimony of their fathers, the Samaritans received the seed of truth sown among them. Then Jesus comes and talks to a lowly member of their society, reaping a harvest of fruit by her belief. This woman testifies to the rest of her community, and the disciples join Jesus for two days in reaping a harvest of belief among the Samaritans. Also, the Samaritans initially believe in Jesus because of the woman's testimony, but ultimately believe in Jesus because they have come to know Him! Rejected Samaritans become a part of God's harvest people!

 

Father, I want people to know You through Jesus Christ. I want them to believe in Him. As one of His disciples, I am excited to know that there is a harvest waiting to be harvested. Help me to serve in Your fields, sowing gospel seed where it still needs sown and reaping the harvest where it is ready for reaping. May my testimony lead people to trust in Jesus, and may they ultimately trust in Jesus by their own knowledge of Him!