WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.299 Well, I want to wish God's grace and peace upon you wherever you are today as you watch or listen. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:13.300 And even though we can't be together in person today, I'm thankful for technology, 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:16.420 which allows us to open God's word together in some measure. 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:20.699 And God's word is powerful. 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:26.379 He speaks through his word and we are changed. 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:27.620 It's amazing. 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:33.620 And I hope that that's what God does again in our hearts as we listen to his word today. 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:37.740 So let's pray and ask that the Lord would speak to us again through his word. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:40.920 Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:43.799 It is amazing. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:52.219 Your words are beautiful, radiant, pure, powerful. 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:55.159 They're precious. 00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:03.479 And we ask in these moments ahead that you would open the eyes of our hearts to see what you have said here. 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:06.420 That we would be changed by these words. 00:01:06.539 --> 00:01:09.060 That we would not be the same afterwards. 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:12.280 Please do this good work in us. 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:13.459 In your son's name. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:14.859 Amen. 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:20.799 Well, we're continuing on with the story of Jesus as told by John. 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:25.700 If you have a Bible with you, I encourage you to open it up to the Gospel of John. 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:34.340 Last Sunday, we heard the first part of the story of the woman at the well, the Samaritan woman at the well. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:35.859 It's a fairly well-known story. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:39.120 We're going to continue on with that story today. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:49.200 So just to remind us of what was going on in the story, Jesus is on his way from the Judean countryside up north to Galilee. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.480 And he and his disciples are passing through Samaria. 00:01:53.740 --> 00:02:03.560 And tired from the journey, they stop around noon near this town called Sychar. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:06.659 There's a well there and Jesus sits down at the well. 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.480 His disciples go into the town to buy food. 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:13.780 And Jesus meets this Samaritan woman who comes out to the well. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:15.240 And they have a bit of a conversation. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:19.840 The last thing that Jesus says to this woman is, 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:23.460 I who speak to you am he. 00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:26.659 She had made a comment about the Messiah. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.020 And he said, I who speak to you am he. 00:02:29.200 --> 00:02:30.980 I am the Messiah. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:40.379 Right as Jesus is speaking these things in the midst of this conversation with her, 00:02:41.160 --> 00:02:42.640 the disciples return. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:46.059 And we read this in John 4 verse 27. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:49.719 John chapter 4 verse 27. 00:02:50.579 --> 00:02:56.239 Just then Jesus' disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. 00:02:56.979 --> 00:02:59.959 But no one asked, what do you want? 00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:02.919 Or why are you talking with her? 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:09.659 So Jesus' disciples, they arrive back at the well. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:12.619 They've just come from the town to buy some food. 00:03:13.279 --> 00:03:17.399 And the thing that John tells us here is that they were surprised. 00:03:18.339 --> 00:03:18.919 They marveled. 00:03:19.519 --> 00:03:21.899 Jesus is talking with a woman. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:28.260 Now, in that culture and day, this is something that you just didn't do. 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:36.240 It was considered inappropriate to have a one-on-one sit down with a woman in public. 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:39.240 And especially here, in this case, this woman is a stranger. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:42.879 And so the disciples are surprised. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:47.699 And they have questions in their minds, John tells us. 00:03:48.099 --> 00:03:49.439 But they didn't ask them. 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:53.079 He says no one asked these two specific questions. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:56.400 But obviously they were thinking, what do you want? 00:03:56.859 --> 00:03:59.960 Or why are you talking with her? 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:05.099 Or was there something that you needed that you had to have this conversation with her? 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:07.360 Why are you talking with her? 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:12.980 And even though the disciples don't ask these questions and Jesus doesn't answer them, 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:19.840 I think it's good for us to just reflect for a moment on what the answer to these questions is. 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:24.379 What does Jesus want from this woman? 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:26.519 Why is he talking to her? 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:35.019 If we remember back to last Sunday, initially the conversation started with Jesus asking the woman for a drink of water from her bucket. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:39.039 And so if there was anything that he wanted in the conversation, it was that. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:47.959 But as things went on in the conversation, it soon became apparent that getting a drink of water was not the most important thing to Jesus. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:54.060 In fact, he wasn't just talking to her because he had to. 00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:57.180 He actually wanted to talk to her. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:07.220 He was very intentional and used his words to steer the conversation and keep it going and drive the conversation deeper. 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:08.759 Why? 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:13.639 Not to get something from this woman, but because he cared about this woman. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:23.199 Even though he had just met her and didn't know her personally, he cared deeply about her. 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:28.159 He didn't want to get something from her, but wanted to give something to her. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.019 He saw the deeper need of her soul. 00:05:33.979 --> 00:05:36.300 The deeper need for the gift of God. 00:05:36.300 --> 00:05:40.220 Living water is what he wanted to offer her. 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:41.740 Eternal life. 00:05:41.840 --> 00:05:46.420 He wanted her to become a true worshiper of his father. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:52.980 And this all because he is full of grace, full of kindness, full of love. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:58.199 Even for this Samaritan woman who he has never met before. 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:01.660 And so that's why Jesus is talking to her. 00:06:01.660 --> 00:06:07.560 As soon as the disciples arrive, it seems, the woman leaves. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:09.820 In verse 28, we read this. 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:15.900 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 00:06:16.580 --> 00:06:22.440 Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:24.420 Could this be the Messiah? 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:24.560 Yeah. 00:06:26.280 --> 00:06:30.800 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:38.040 So, as the disciples arrive, the Samaritan woman at the well leaves. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:39.580 She goes back to the town. 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:41.759 And I love the note that John makes here. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:46.259 That she left her water jar there at the well. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.040 And I think that that's significant. 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:55.980 The whole reason that she had come out to the well in the first place was to draw water from Jacob's well. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:07:01.580 And there was the whole conversation over this water or better water that Jesus had to offer. 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:02.439 Living water. 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:07.439 And I think it tells a lot that the woman leaves the jar. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.860 She's got something more important to do right now. 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:12.400 That can wait till later. 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:13.840 I'll come back for that. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:19.959 And she leaves and goes back into the town to tell of what has just happened to her. 00:07:20.039 --> 00:07:27.120 To tell what she has found about Jesus and him being the Messiah. 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:29.319 And so she does that. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:30.679 She comes to the town. 00:07:31.339 --> 00:07:33.419 And these are her words. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:33.899 She says, 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:38.079 Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. 00:07:38.779 --> 00:07:40.419 Could this be the Messiah? 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:44.560 I love her words there. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.800 These are not just the words of someone who is impressed. 00:07:49.580 --> 00:07:54.180 I mean, it's not like she just came into the town, knocked on a couple doors. 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:55.720 Oh, hey, guess what? 00:07:56.400 --> 00:08:03.060 Today I was out at the well and I ran into a guy, a Jew, and he said that he's the Messiah. 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:04.560 Oh, wow. 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.600 That sounds a little bit crazy. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:10.620 Well, actually, I mean, maybe he was. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:15.280 He told me a few things about myself that I don't know how else he could have known. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.460 No, this is not how the conversation goes. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.340 Do you hear the excitement in her words? 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.200 The urgency. 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:30.460 Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:34.559 As in, drop what you're doing right now and come with me. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:37.439 Come on, let's go right now out to the well. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.240 He's still there. 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:41.199 Come and see him. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:47.659 This man told me everything I ever did. 00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:53.319 And of course, in these words, the woman is exaggerating a little bit. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:58.800 She's probably speaking out of her emotion and feeling. 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:02.379 If we remember back to last Sunday and to earlier in this story, 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:09.600 Jesus told her some things about herself that there was no other way he could know 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:16.260 unless he had divine revelation, unless he knew what God knows. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:21.840 He told her that she had had five husbands in the past 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:25.720 and that the man that she was currently with was not her husband. 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:31.840 And so if you think about that, that's a good chunk probably of this woman's life. 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.059 You can imagine how she must have felt. 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.319 He knows about all of that. 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.299 This is how she says it to the people. 00:09:44.299 --> 00:09:47.559 A man who told me everything I ever did. 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:53.019 Like if he knows that, then nothing in my past is a secret from him. 00:09:53.859 --> 00:09:57.399 Her conclusion at the well was this. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:59.819 She said, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:03.459 You're a man who speaks from God. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:05.279 How else could you know these things? 00:10:06.339 --> 00:10:11.099 But now as she tells the news of what has just happened in the town, 00:10:11.699 --> 00:10:13.919 she says, Could this be the Messiah? 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:17.039 That's what Jesus said to her. 00:10:17.219 --> 00:10:17.919 I am he. 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.319 I am the Messiah. 00:10:21.859 --> 00:10:27.759 And she took what Jesus was able to say about her past as a sign, 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:29.620 as confirmation that he was. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.000 Could this be the Messiah? 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:34.779 Come on, let's go. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:38.379 This is your chance to see him, to meet him. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:45.679 So the people, they came out of the town, says John in verse 30. 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:48.580 And they were coming toward him. 00:10:50.439 --> 00:10:57.539 At this point, John flips to Jesus and the disciples who are at the well. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:00.980 The Samaritans, they're coming. 00:11:01.459 --> 00:11:02.679 They're on the way. 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:08.819 But meanwhile, at the same time, this is what's happening with Jesus and his disciples at the well. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:09.759 Verse 31. 00:11:10.699 --> 00:11:14.839 Meanwhile, his disciples urged him, Rabbi, eat something. 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:21.220 But he said to them, I have food to eat that you know nothing about. 00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:26.700 Then his disciples were saying to each other, could someone have brought him food? 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:32.080 This is a funny moment between Jesus and his disciples. 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:35.740 They've just gone to town to buy food, and now they're back. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:37.900 And they're offering some to Jesus. 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:40.560 They're probably sitting down and having a little lunch themselves. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:43.900 And they're urging him, eat something. 00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:46.480 Come on, you need to eat something. 00:11:47.580 --> 00:11:49.920 You need something to keep you going. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:55.300 Jesus says, I have food to eat that you don't know about. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:02.140 And the disciples, just like the woman, take Jesus very literally. 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:06.780 But of course, Jesus was speaking in metaphor. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.640 He was using food as a metaphor. 00:12:09.460 --> 00:12:14.320 So the disciples, they start asking each other, well, where could he have got this food from? 00:12:15.140 --> 00:12:16.980 He didn't have it when we left. 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.720 He doesn't seem to have any now. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.740 Could someone have come by and given him some? 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:29.879 At this point, Jesus interjects and says, to make things clear, verse 34, 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:38.919 my food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:41.719 Don't you have a saying? 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.639 It's still four months until harvest? 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:50.019 I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.419 They are ripe for harvest. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:13:00.779 Even now, the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life. 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:06.759 So the disciples, they're trying to get Jesus to eat something. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.579 Come on, have some food. 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.579 Grab a bite to eat. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.899 You need something to keep you going. 00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:17.779 Jesus says, what keeps me going, my food, 00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:22.860 is to do the will of him who sent me 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:26.159 and to finish his work. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.500 There's work to be done. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:32.799 Listen, we don't have time to sit down and have a meal here. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.299 God, my father, the one who has sent me, 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:39.419 has given me a job to do and it's work time. 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:45.399 I must do his work. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.039 I must do his will. 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:53.659 He gives him a bit of analogy, an analogy from farming. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.639 He says, don't you have a saying? 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.080 It's still four months until harvest. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.940 In other words, harvest is still a long way off. 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:05.879 And then he jolts them with this statement. 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:10.559 I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields. 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:13.639 They are ripe for the harvest. 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:20.939 And I imagine Jesus' disciples are looking around at the fields 00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:24.179 and wondering what Jesus is talking about. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:27.159 I don't know if there were people out in the fields or not at the moment 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:28.439 or what season it was. 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:33.080 But of course, Jesus was talking in metaphor again. 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:36.640 And he wasn't talking about literal farming. 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:39.220 He was using it as an analogy. 00:14:40.020 --> 00:14:44.500 And the biggest clue to that comes in verse 36. 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:50.820 Even now, the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:54.580 Jesus is talking about eternal life. 00:14:54.840 --> 00:15:00.860 And up until this point, whenever he's talking about eternal life, 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:02.360 he's talking to people. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.919 He's offering it to people. 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:07.419 It's not grain that he's concerned about. 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:09.339 It's people. 00:15:10.719 --> 00:15:11.819 Don't you see? 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:12.939 Open your eyes. 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.059 Look at the fields. 00:15:14.479 --> 00:15:17.539 There's grain standing up, ready to be harvested. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:21.719 There's people that are ready to receive God's good gift. 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:28.459 To enter into and receive that gift of eternal life, of salvation. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:32.279 There's no time to sit down and have a meal. 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.959 There's work to do. 00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:40.659 Verse 39. 00:15:40.979 --> 00:15:46.439 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony. 00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:52.339 So John flips back again to the Samaritans who are right now on the way out. 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:56.899 And he tells us that many of them already believed that he was the Messiah from what the woman said. 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.059 From the woman's testimony. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.659 He told me everything I ever did. 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:08.299 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:10.980 And he stayed two days. 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:16.879 And because of his words, many more became believers. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:22.659 So the Samaritans, some of them, many of them believed just on the woman's testimony. 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:25.820 But then they came out to see Jesus at the well. 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:32.860 And we assume that there was probably more of a conversation that happened with Jesus there. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.980 We don't know. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:39.759 But at the end of it all, they urged Jesus to come and stay with them. 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:41.379 Come on into town. 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.379 Be our guest. 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.500 Stay with us. 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:46.860 And Jesus accepts their invitation. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.560 He stays with them two days. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:54.620 Now let's just remember for a moment who these people are. 00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:57.860 Jesus and his disciples are Jews. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:01.960 And the townspeople are Samaritans. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:07.980 As we heard last week, these people are not on friendly terms. 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.680 There's animosity. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.940 There's tension. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.779 There's history. 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:15.819 There's suspicion between them. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.819 The Jews looked down on the Samaritans. 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:24.900 They saw them as half-breeds, as those who were unclean. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:34.820 They would not eat at the same table or drink from the same cup as a Samaritan for fear that it would defile them and make them unclean. 00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:41.100 And of course, the Samaritans, we can only imagine, resented them for that. 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:52.820 And yet here, these Samaritan people, they obviously believe that Jesus is someone special sent from God because they invite him to come to their town and stay with them. 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:58.619 So Jesus accepts the invitation of the Samaritans. 00:17:58.879 --> 00:18:03.039 He goes into town and he stays with them for two days. 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:08.899 And John tells us that because of Jesus' words, many more became believers. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.240 So they were having conversations. 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:14.639 He was speaking to them, teaching them. 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:18.139 And we have to know these would have been riveting conversations. 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:22.259 There were some big differences between the Samaritans and the Jews. 00:18:23.800 --> 00:18:27.820 Jesus himself said to the woman at the well in verse 22, 00:18:28.040 --> 00:18:30.820 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:34.140 You worship in ignorance. 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:38.620 And so you have to know there were some conversations about their differences. 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:47.039 And at the end of it all, the result, because of Jesus' words, many more became believers. 00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:51.319 Verse 42, they said to the woman, 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:54.739 We no longer believe just because of what you said. 00:18:55.479 --> 00:19:04.919 Now we have heard for ourselves and we have come to know that this man truly is the Savior of the world. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:12.940 So at first, many of them believed secondhand because of what the woman had said. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:18.279 But now we've heard him for ourselves. 00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:20.740 We've seen him for ourselves. 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:29.080 And we have come to know, they say, that this man truly is the Savior of the world. 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:37.039 Now we don't know exactly what they were thinking to say that word Savior, that name Savior. 00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:43.519 Perhaps Jesus was talking to them about how they needed salvation because of their sins. 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:47.199 How they needed to repent and turn to God. 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.240 We don't know. 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:51.639 Perhaps they just latched on to Jesus' name. 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:56.079 Jesus' name means the Lord saves. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:05.859 Whatever the case, they came to say this, that we know that truly he is the Savior. 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:10.299 Not just of the Jews, but of the world. 00:20:11.179 --> 00:20:18.639 He is the one who all people need in order to be rescued, to be delivered. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:26.440 This was a wonderful day, a wonderful couple days for them. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:31.400 Now, what is there for us in this story? 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:40.080 The first thing that I hope that we see is the glory of Christ in this passage. 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:46.340 This is why John has written the gospel, so that we might see it and believe that he is the Messiah. 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.380 That he is the Son of God. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:56.480 Last Sunday, we saw how Jesus was full of grace and truth to the woman at the well. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:04.680 Today, we see how Jesus is full of that same kind of grace and truth. 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:13.660 Not just to the woman at the well, but to all the Samaritan townspeople who come out to him and who he meets as he goes into the town. 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:19.539 He treats them with kindness, with compassion. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.380 He cares about them. 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.960 He cares about their souls. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:33.799 The Jews, some of them would have likely looked down on them, thought of them as those filthy Samaritans. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:39.100 Jesus saw them as people made in the image of God, and he loved them. 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:42.860 He wanted to give them the same as he offered to the woman. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.819 Living water. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.000 Eternal life. 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:47.660 It's harvest time. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:59.740 He crosses the cultural divide, the ethnic boundary, the dividing wall of hostility and animosity between the two. 00:22:00.540 --> 00:22:02.320 Doesn't matter what they think. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.800 He cares about these people. 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:07.040 He goes, he spends time with them. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:18.259 And no doubt, he speaks the truth of God to them so that they might be saved and received the gift of God. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:23.879 So we see that Jesus is full of grace and truth. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:31.980 And we also see it against the backdrop of his having to lay aside his own needs and desires. 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:37.200 Here Jesus is, tired from the journey, John has told us. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.019 He's thirsty. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:41.299 He's no doubt hungry. 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:45.440 And yet, no, we're not going to stop for lunch now. 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:49.059 There's people that we need to serve. 00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:51.059 God has given us work to do. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:54.279 We want to take time with them. 00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:59.819 Rather than just merely looking to our own needs in this moment. 00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:02.180 So we see that Jesus is full of grace. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:06.500 Full of truth towards the Samaritan people. 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:15.640 The second thing that we see of the glory of Christ comes in his discussion about food with the disciples. 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:20.079 We see how Jesus lives to do his father's will. 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:24.859 I love that little conversation that he has with the disciples. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:32.319 You know, what keeps me going, what sustains me, 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:40.740 just as food sustains the body, is doing the will of the one who sent me, my father. 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.720 Is finishing his work. 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.579 That's the most important thing. 00:23:47.679 --> 00:23:54.000 You see how deeply committed Jesus is to doing what God has given him to do. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:24:02.579 Anything else that gets in the way, that competes with that, that conflicts with that, that takes a back seat. 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:05.319 Lunch, that can wait till later. 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:07.059 We've got work to do. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:14.140 I love how committed he is to doing the father's work, to doing the father's will. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:20.839 It shows just how Jesus loves God, his father, with all his heart. 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:24.339 And how he loves and cares about these people. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:33.199 Way before he even looks to his own needs and desires and wants in this situation. 00:24:33.459 --> 00:24:35.759 And in contrast to that, we see the disciples. 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:42.579 The disciples, they kind of probably, I think, feel rebuked here. 00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:46.599 You guys are just worried about filling your stomachs. 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:48.879 Open your eyes and see. 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:51.240 Look at, look at the fields. 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:53.219 It's time to work. 00:24:53.719 --> 00:24:54.799 Not to eat. 00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:58.939 Jesus stands in contrast to them. 00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:05.619 And I think he, you know, as I put myself into the story, he stands in contrast to us as well. 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:10.119 I mean, I see myself in the disciples. 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:20.439 How easily do we get just focused in on our own selves and what we need and want and want to do and earthly things. 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:25.079 Jesus, he's not distracted by anything. 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:28.279 He's focused on the eternal. 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:33.539 This harvest, the people, the work that God has given him to do. 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:39.619 Jesus just shines like a diamond that's flawless. 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:52.480 And in comparison to him, we're kind of, you know, like these dim stones with all kinds of flaws and cracks because of our sinfulness and our selfishness. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:26:02.920 I love what we see of how Jesus is just absolutely committed to live to do the Father's will. 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:07.900 And nothing else is going to get in the way. 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.799 There's priorities here. 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:13.759 He has his priorities straight. 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:17.720 And the disciples, they don't get it. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:27.319 Later on, we'll see how Jesus will not only live to do the Father's will, but he will die to do the Father's will. 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:32.500 It's in this that we see the glory of the Lord Jesus. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:44.259 Finally, I can't help but see a challenge from Jesus to his disciples. 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:46.879 And I think ultimately to all of us. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:52.720 What is that lesson that Jesus was trying to teach his disciples that day? 00:26:54.700 --> 00:27:03.339 What did he hope for them to learn in that moment as they had the back and forth over the food and the harvest? 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:10.720 We might capture the lesson in verse 35 with what Jesus says. 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.759 The analogy of farming. 00:27:12.939 --> 00:27:18.759 I tell you, he says, open your eyes and look at the fields. 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:22.279 They are ripe for harvest. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:28.799 The picture we get of the disciples is they're just thinking about themselves. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:32.460 They're thinking about food, the earthly stuff. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:40.180 Meanwhile, the Samaritans are on their way out. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:43.779 That's the harvest that Jesus is referring to. 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:49.299 There are people that are going to receive the gift of God. 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.940 They're on their way. 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.859 Look up. 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.700 Can't you see it? 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.259 They're coming. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.819 It's time to work. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:05.359 I don't think that Jesus would just say this to the disciples here and now. 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:09.440 I think he would say this to all of his followers, to all of his disciples. 00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:15.039 Open your eyes and look at the fields. 00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:21.740 Now, we may not see a bunch of people coming towards us at the moment saying, 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:23.640 how can I be saved? 00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:26.359 But what do we see? 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:31.579 Open your eyes and look at the fields. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:36.120 So often, I think we're like the disciples. 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:38.680 We're just thinking about ourselves. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:44.799 We're just thinking about what we desire, what we want, what we crave. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:51.259 Meanwhile, here we are, surrounded by a world of need. 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:56.480 Do we have our priorities straight? 00:28:56.480 --> 00:29:08.039 If there's been one blessing to this coronavirus, it's that it's given us the opportunity to re-evaluate whether or not we have our priorities straight. 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:12.000 We've had to change all of our routines and things around us. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:15.940 What's most important to us? 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:27.019 I know for myself, I find it all too easy to have my head down as the disciples did. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:30.160 To be watching another YouTube video. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:33.519 Or scrolling through another Facebook post. 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:38.580 Or watching another episode of something on TV. 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:45.559 Meanwhile, here we are, in the middle of a world of need. 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:51.680 And it's so apparent right now with this pandemic that's going on. 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:55.320 This has touched everybody worldwide. 00:29:57.460 --> 00:30:00.519 Not everybody has contracted the virus. 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.660 Not everybody has died. 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:05.380 Not everybody has lost loved ones. 00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:08.860 But it has affected us all in all kinds of ways. 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:16.959 Whether it's simply even just because of the social distancing and the measures that are being asked of us by the government. 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:20.179 It's affected our relationships with one another. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:23.379 For some of us, it's affected us financially. 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.740 Jobs have been lost. 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:31.099 Or our industries that we're involved in have been affected. 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.839 It's affected us emotionally. 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:43.279 It's got us, a lot of us, panicked or anxious or worried about even just how do we do life differently in the middle of all this. 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:48.980 There's so many different ways that it's affected not just us, but everybody in our world. 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:54.839 And that's just the surface level needs. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.839 There's the deeper spiritual need. 00:30:57.980 --> 00:31:03.160 The people in our world need this living water. 00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:09.099 This gift of God, which Jesus has been talking about with the woman at the well. 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:10.700 They need eternal life. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:12.220 They need salvation. 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.200 They need a savior. 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.160 They need to know him. 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:18.940 And so often I think here we are. 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:22.840 We're caught up in our own little worlds, just like the disciples. 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:27.240 And Jesus is saying to us, open your eyes. 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:31.640 Look and see the fields. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.880 There's work to be done. 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:39.540 Do we have our priorities straight? 00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:44.759 I want to leave us with a question. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:47.820 Who do you know? 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:52.560 I mean, we could talk about the need of the world being great right now. 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:56.200 But God's not calling us to meet the needs of the whole world. 00:31:57.900 --> 00:32:00.160 That's something that he alone can do. 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:09.360 But he uses us, his disciples, his followers, to meet the needs of some. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:13.079 As he will later say to his own disciples. 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:16.279 Or actually, he'll pray it to God about his disciples. 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:22.719 As you have sent me, he'll say to his father, so I have sent them into the world. 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:26.680 And so we have work to do. 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:31.259 We have a mission given to us from God. 00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:35.839 Do we have our priorities straight? 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:40.420 God's not calling us to meet the needs of everyone. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.339 We can't. 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:47.839 He's simply calling us to meet the needs of those that we're able to. 00:32:48.399 --> 00:32:49.559 Of those near us. 00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.599 Of those around us. 00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:51.359 Of our neighbors. 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:59.619 And so I want to challenge you to really take time to think about this simple question. 00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:01.939 Who is near me? 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:05.039 Who's around me that doesn't know Jesus? 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.739 But needs to. 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:18.659 Who can I show the grace and truth of Jesus to in the weeks ahead? 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:26.279 What can I do to initiate relationship and conversation with them? 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:28.339 Just like Jesus did with the woman at the well. 00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:32.959 Could be something as simple as writing a note to them. 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:35.059 On a text message. 00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:38.919 Or giving them a phone call. 00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.579 Asking how they're doing. 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:44.479 Ask them how this virus is affecting them. 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.259 And if they're well. 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.739 Ask if you can pray for them. 00:33:47.939 --> 00:33:50.399 Is there anything we can be praying for you as a church? 00:33:54.479 --> 00:33:56.419 Ask how this has affected their families. 00:33:56.420 --> 00:34:02.560 There's most of all I think we could just simply ask the Lord. 00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:06.920 Lord what would you have me do with that person. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:11.019 Or those few people that are near me. 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:16.639 That I have the ability to reach out to in the middle of all this. 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:18.960 We're in the midst of a world of need. 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:21.679 A community in need. 00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:24.599 And I think Jesus is saying to us. 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.519 Open your eyes. 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:27.360 And look at the fields. 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:30.099 There's work to be done. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:37.679 And so what will you do this week to connect with someone? 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:39.759 I encourage you to pray about that. 00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:43.419 And think over what God would have you do. 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.980 How he would have you reach out. 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:48.059 And do his will. 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.619 Do his work. 00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:52.559 For those who don't know him. 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:54.299 And who need to. 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.159 Let's pray. 00:34:58.399 --> 00:34:59.219 Father in heaven. 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.940 We thank you for your word. 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.019 Lord. 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.980 We ask that you would. 00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:05.700 That you would cause it to sink deep. 00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.920 Into our hearts. 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:09.860 And that you would enable us to respond. 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.820 Lord we thank you that for every way. 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:14.320 In which we fall short. 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:16.139 And we are not like Jesus. 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:18.420 In every way that we are selfish. 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:21.740 And just ugly. 00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:22.720 Because of sin. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:27.139 That you have cleansed and forgiven us. 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:28.480 Because of Christ. 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.780 And what he has done. 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:31.220 For us. 00:35:31.720 --> 00:35:34.300 We thank you that you move towards people. 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.880 Like the Samaritans. 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.680 Like us. 00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.940 People with issues. 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:43.620 People with sin. 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.820 People with struggles. 00:35:47.120 --> 00:35:49.340 We ask that you would use us. 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:51.320 That you would. 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:54.600 Allow us to participate. 00:35:55.040 --> 00:35:57.220 As you've decided that we should. 00:35:57.360 --> 00:35:59.220 That you would give us creativity. 00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:00.439 Give us inspiration. 00:36:00.439 --> 00:36:01.279 And show us. 00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:03.099 Just who to reach out to. 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:04.019 In the weeks ahead. 00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:06.839 We ask this in Jesus name. 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.500 Amen. 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:08.679 Amen. 00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:10.000 Amen. 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:22.539 Amen. 00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:22.859 Amen. 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.019 Amen. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:24.119 Amen. 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.599 Amen.