For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. John 4:8 WEB
Verse eight in chapter four of John’s gospel sets the stage for a lesson Jesus later teaches his disciples. As Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, his disciples were on their way to buy food in a town called Sychar. John, as one of the twelve and the author of this gospel, was not present to hear the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to share the story with his disciples after the event. For this reason, John’s account of the event reads as a summary of what he later learned from the Lord.
Gathering Fruit to Eternal Life
As he trained and taught his disciples, Jesus had not yet sent them into the world to proclaim the good news of salvation from sin through repentance and faith. And so, as his disciples traveled that day, they did not tell anyone about Christ. But Jesus, in sharing intimate knowledge of her life and revealing himself as the Messiah, so impacted the Samaritan woman that she took it upon herself to return to Sychar and invite the townspeople to come and meet Jesus.
When his disciples returned to the Lord, they offered him food. But, Jesus responded that he had food that they were unaware of. In John 4:34 Jesus said to his disciples, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. WEB” He follows in John 4:36 saying, “He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. WEB” Further, Jesus teaches his disciples in John 4:38, “I sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. WEB”
Preach the Good News
While his disciples sought worldly food in the city, Jesus sowed the seed of truth in the Samaritan woman. He let her know that he was the promised Savior of mankind. In turn, she enthusiastically shared the story of her meeting the Messiah. Because of her testimony, many Samaritans believed. After Christ stayed in Sychar for two days, many more placed their faith in him.
This is the lesson that Jesus’ disciples learned that day. Through Christ, God shares the truth of his grace and forgiveness. Consequently, the Lord reaps a harvest of repentant believers. As his disciples, it is our responsibility to share the truth of Christ with the world. When we do, like the Samaritan woman, we gather fruit to eternal life. For this reason, after his resurrection, Jesus commanded his disciples saying in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to the whole creation. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the truth of your holy word. Thank you for the example set by you Son, Jesus Christ. Guide me to do your will. Give me wisdom to share the good news of Christ with the world. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Not of This World
