THE GOSPEL: Power of Our Witness!

And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with the woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?” The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. (John 4:27-30)

As we studied in THE GOSPEL: Jesus Knows ALL About Us, the Jews from Jerusalem, Judah had nothing to do with the "half-breed" Jews in Samaria, Isreal.  That's why the disciples marveled that He talked with the woman; but they knew better than to question Christ as to why.  In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (John 4:31-34)

In the previous study, Christ explained to the woman that “Whoever drinks of this water [from Jacob's well] will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14) Now Christ is telling the disciples I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Just as the woman, the disciples don't understand what Christ is talking about.  If they were knowledgeable of the scriptures, the Old Testament books at that time, they would have recalled Moses explaining to the children of Isreal that God ...humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:3) In other words, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:13, 19)

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” (John 4:35-38) Now Christ changes from talking about drinking and eating, to harvesting and reaping.  What is He talking about now?  Remember when He called the first disciples, he told them “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17)

All of us are to drink of water springing up into everlasting life, which means to accept the gift of salvation that God freely offers through belief and faith in Christ Jesus: And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’"[Exodus 15:2] Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:1-3) All of us are to eat every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD, meaning to obey the Word of God: My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food. (Job 23:12-13) Then all of us are to witness and share, sows and reaps the "seed", the Word of God: Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. (Daniel 12:3)

Well, the Samaritan woman had only spent a few moments with Christ, but she was so moved by the experience that she did all of the above - believed, received and shared: 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.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. 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.” (John 4:39-42) What a powerful witness!  Let this be a lesson to all of us, we don't have to memorize the Bible, but just share with others why we know God is real, based on what He's done in our lives.  Not all will believe, but many will ...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.