John 4, Part Two

The work of Jesus (vs. 27-42)—Even though the location is the same (the well at Samaria), there is a shift of emphasis in this section to the work that Jesus came to do. His disciples returned from Sychar and, being the good Jews that they were, couldn’t understand why Jesus was talking to a despised Samaritan woman. But they had enough sense not to ask Him (v. 27). The woman, stricken by the meeting she had just had with Christ, returned to the city and drew a crowd out to see Him (vs. 28-30). In the meantime, the apostles urged Jesus to eat (v. 31), which He turns into another object lesson. He was very good at that, and had already done it once in this chapter—the water at the well became a lesson for “living water.” Now the food He was offered gave Him an opportunity to discuss the work He came to do. His initial response to their urging was “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (v. 32), which, not surprisingly, the disciples misunderstood (v. 33). But Jesus then explained that His true “meat”—the true substance and importance of His life—was “to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (v. 34). There is plenty of work to be done for the Lord (v. 35), and those who labor faithfully will be rewarded, gathering “fruit for eternal life” (v. 36). The sower and reaper receive the same blessing, and, at the moment, the apostles are reapers of others’ labor, though it’s not totally clear who those others are (v. 38). Possibly the prophets of old and the writings in the Old Testament.

At this stage, many of the Samaritans followed the woman out to see and hear Jesus and a lot of them were convinced, because “we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (v. 42). The woman’s word wasn’t sufficient to convict them; a five-time loser might indeed render skepticism. But at least they were willing to listen. The word of Christ will take it from there, if an individual has the right kind of heart.

Return to Galilee (vs. 43-45)—Jesus stayed in Sychar for two days, and then went to Galilee, where He will preach for the next two years. At first, He was welcomed in Galilee (v. 45), but as Jesus Himself had testified, the vast majority would eventually reject Him. Shallow hearted Galileans! For awhile, they were willing to bask in the light and fame of their native son, but when they realized the price He demanded, it was too much to pay. ‘Tis a major reason why most people reject Him.

The nobleman’s son (vs. 46-54)—This is a completely different story from the one recorded in Matthew 8, so don’t be confused. Here a rich man—a “nobleman,” he is called—heard that Jesus had returned to Cana in Galilee, and went to Him, and “implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death” (v. 47). Jesus gives him a mild rebuke, or at least teaches him a lesson—there is more to faith that just seeing miracles (v. 48). The nobleman was persistent (v. 49), and Jesus healed the boy (v. 50). The man believed Jesus’ word (v. 50), and that was the key. As he was going home—and apparently he lived some distance away (v. 52)—his servants met him and announced that his son had become well, and at the very hour at which Jesus pronounced the healing. This created a greater faith in the nobleman and his household (v. 53). Notice that Jesus did not have to go to the boy to heal him. There was no public healing service. Jesus simply spoke the word, and from at least a day’s distance away, the child was made whole. Let’s see some of the modern “miracle workers” do that. John concludes the chapter by telling us that this was Jesus second major miracle in that region (v. 54). He had done plenty of other miracles in the time being, but now He was returned to Galilee, Cana in particular, where He had performed the miracle recorded in John 2.