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Lingering in His presence... (John 4:36-42)
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this 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 labors." 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word. 42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."
This should be the last of our sections that deal with the response to Jesus talking to the woman at the well. The main topic here is the response of the people of the Samaritan city.
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
If we are serving the Lord, then there is a fruit that comes from it. Some people will sow seeds of faith. Others will reap those seeds. But the result of it all is that people will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Everyone who helps in this work will some day receive a reward in heaven that we can offer at the feet of God.
37 For in this 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 labors."
Specifically He was talking to the disciples here because it was the woman at the well who planted the seeds in the people. They were coming and the disciples just needed to point them right back to Jesus. Pretty easy, right? Well, for most of us that is all we have to do also. That is point people right back to Jesus. Let’s get busy.
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."
This is awesome that the so many came to Jesus because of this one woman’s testimony. Who are you? Do you feel pretty little or not good enough to share Christ with people? Look at who this woman was. She had probably been rejected by the whole town because of her lifestyle and yet she chose to go to that town and share. She didn’t have elegant speech. She didn’t even know her Bible well. But she had met with Jesus. Have you met with Jesus? Then share Him with others.
40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.
So the fourth response to Jesus talking to the woman at the well... So the first response was from the disciples. They were amazed that He talked to a woman. Second, was from the woman. She forsook all her earthly provisions and shared about Jesus with others. Third, was how Jesus used this as an object lesson to teach His disciples that the fields are NOW white for the harvest.
Our fourth response is here. When the Samaritans had an encounter with Christ, they wanted Him to stay with them. This is a common thing for many of us. The desire to linger in His presence. Here is the thing that we miss. Now that Jesus has died and God’s spirit can live inside of us if we ask Him to. So now He will stay with us forever. But it is us who goes away from Him... Please Lord keep us close and give us even more of a desire to ALWAYS stay close!
41 And many more believed because of His own word. 42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."
That is our job as Christians. To bring others to the presence of Christ. It is His job and His work to save people not ours. Our just is to show them who He is!
As we point others to Christ,
Randall \o/
John 4:36-42 Lingering in His presence... (Text)
John 4:36-40
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