Spiritual Food                                   John 4:27-42

You probably figured out that today’s account takes place right after Jesus engages with the woman at the well. And just to refresh our memories, Jesus disciple’s left him just before he met her to go find food for them all. Also keep in mind that this woman is a Samrita, both are reasons Jesus would be within social norms not talking with her. I believe this is the key to this passage, at least a good part of it.

Verse 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?’”

For years I thought this was just because they didn’t want to interrupt Jesus. In the next few lines, you see the woman went to town and returned with a crowd. The disciples tell Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” (John 4:31) This leads me to believe they weren’t afraid of interrupting Jesus, they interrupted him with far more people than just one woman. So why didn’t they ask about her when they first got there?

I think the main reason is they were seeing this woman through their eyes, not God’s eyes. They were seeing this woman through their social norms and not God’s normal. Here is a woman and a Samaritan, both would put her beneath them, and that’s how they reacted. But as we can see in the beginning of Chapter 4, this is not how Jesus reacted to her. Here’s a lesson for us.

I shared before about my neighbor, a young man with disabilities. He loved to wait outside to talk to me when I got home from work. I’m embarrassed to say, many times I waved and ducked into the house. Why? I didn’t know how to talk to him. I didn’t want to be bothered. There were a variety of reasons, none of which were God’s reasons. Situations may be different, but I think any of us can respond like the disciples did. We can look through earthly eyes instead of Godly eyes.

As I looked over this I came to see that the disciples have already seen Jesus in other situations, engaging with people, helping people. A possible reason they didn’t ask about her was because they didn’t want Jesus to tell them to do something for her so they stayed silent and in the background. I know this happens to me, I’m not in the mood, I just don’t want to do anything, I want to be left alone so I’ll just stand quietly and out of the way. Anyone else? You just don’t want to get roped into anything, so you keep a distance.

John 4:6, “…Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well…” Jesus the man was tired, but God’s spirit engaged with the woman. In fact, if you read John 4: 7 you will see Jesus initiated the interaction. I’m not saying we will never be physically or mentally spent, but these verses show us God wants us to do his work, even when we may not want to.

Verse 31-32, “Rabbi, eat something.” “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Jesus’ food is spiritual food. Jesu’s food is doing the will of God. Our spiritual food is the same. When we do God’s will, when we do the work he asks us to do, our spirit will be satisfied.

As I was looking at spiritual food my mind wondered to diets. We seem to have a multitude of diets lately, the Mediterranean, low fat, low carb, and intermittent fasting. Spiritual food also involves a diet, and Jesus tells us what that is.

Jesus spiritual diet involves reaping the harvest; verse 35, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

Jesus here is referencing the population. They may not be adhering to their faith as they should, they may be intermarrying with those living around them. Israel’s greater population doesn’t look like it’s ready to come before God. The Samaritans and the Greeks, they all have different gods. They don’t appear ready for the kingdom of the one true God. The harvest looks like it won’t be ready for a long time. If the disciples looked at others with Jesus eyes, they would see the harvest is ready to be reaped now. They didn’t plant the spiritual seeds, but God was using them to reap the spiritual crop.

Can’t we all look at the one in jail, look at the addict, look at the one who doesn’t go to church, and think they’re not ready for the kingdom of God. God knows who is ready to be harvested for the kingdom, and he gives us the opportunity to get involved. Verse 36, “…so the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” God has given me the great privilege of being with several people when they accepted Christ. They were filled with the love of God, their spirits rejoiced, and my spirit rejoiced with theirs.

Jesus spiritual diet plan involves the sharing of the gospel. Verse 29, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

Remember, this woman had five husbands. She didn’t have the best of reputations. But she shared, and others listened.

Our reputations aren’t the same as hers, but the idea is the same. It doesn’t matter what we did before we came to faith, it doesn’t matter what mistakes we make in life; share the gospel, tell what Jesus has done for you and others will listen.

Now to be truthful, I’ve had some say to me, “I’ve shared, and people didn’t listen, they didn’t want to hear about it.” Let’s look at what our reading tells us, verse 39, “Many of the Samaritans from the town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.” It doesn’t say all the Samaritans. There will always be those who walk away.

I’ve shared my testimony and people tell my straight up, “I don’t believe in God.” I’ve had people tell me they may agree with my personal philosophy, but they don’t think it has anything to do with God. And I’ve had some who asked questions and gave God great consideration, and some of those have come to Christ. If even one out of one thousand I talk to accept Jesus, it’s worth my effort.

Don’t get discouraged by those who don’t listen. Look at what our scripture tells us in verse 41, “And because of (Jesus) words many more became believers.”

This woman didn’t know if anyone would listen to her, but she spoke up anyway because of the power and presence of Jesus. Those who heard and were curious came to Jesus and heard him and accepted. All we can do is let others know about Jesus in our lives. Those with a heart open to the planting of the seed of faith will seek more. They will listen and learn and feel the power and presence of our savior. They will believe because of the power of the Holy Spirit. But it is our job to plant the seeds.

The lessons Jesus teaches through his conversation with the woman at the well are many, but there are many lessons to be seen in what happens after their conversation.

Don’t push others away because you don’t want to be bothered, because you are uncomfortable with them. Let your spirit be nourished. By doing God’s work you will be refreshed.

Stick to Jesus spiritual diet plan. The harvest is ready, reap for the kingdom of God.

Don’t look behind you. Don’t look at your past. Witness for what Jesus has done for you. Don’t worry who does or does not listen, God knows who needs to hear you. Plant the seed, and let the Holy Spirit do his work.

And today we learn that we must see the world and its people through Jesus eyes. We can never adequately do the work of God if we see our surroundings through the norms of our society. See how Jesus sees. See the validity of others. No one is beyond God. James writes it his way: “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

Paul ends his second letter to the Corinthians with this; “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Co 13:14) This is my sentiment, and my prayer for each of you,

Amen.