Continuing our journey through the Gospel of John
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
It’s interesting how often this passage is spoken of how Jesus reached out to a Samaritan woman. Rightly so, because it is surprising for Jews and Samaritans to in deep conversation. However, it says that she as simply a ‘woman’ here and that it was surprising.
What barriers might Jesus be breaking today?
It’s often also rightly noted that the woman had left her ‘water jar’ – likely alluding to how she had discovered ‘living water’ and no longer needed water that kept her thirsty, but what I find more fascinating is how she left the jar to immediately share her encounter with Christ with others.
What’s holding us back from sharing Christ?
v38 is also reminiscent of Matthew 25 in the parable of the talents – have a read and see how things relate for yourself.
Either way, we truly need to acknowledge the abundance of work and effort that has happened before and continues around us as we join God in what he’s doing.
