In The Word
Read: John 4:27-54
27 And at this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What are You seeking?” or, “Why are You speaking with her?” 28 So the woman left her waterpot and went into the city, and *said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is He?” 30 They left the city and were coming to Him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and thencomes the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case 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 come into their labor.”
The Samaritans
39 Now from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of His word; 42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world.”
43 And after the two days, He departed from there for Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, only because they had seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.
Healing an Official’s Son
46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee, where He had made the water intowine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and beganasking Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simplywill not believe.” 49 The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son is alive.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went home. 51 And as he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was alive. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son is alive”; and he himself believed, and his entire household. 54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come from Judea into Galilee.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
After having an encounter with Yeshua, the woman left the well and told the city that she had met the Christ. This compelled the people to see and hear from Yeshua themselves. As Yeshua saw the people of the city coming, He taught His disciples that His food was to do the Father’s will. He also looked at the crowd as an opportunity to reap a great harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.
When the people of the city reached Him, they requested that He stay a while with them. During that time, many believed in Him because of His word. They accepted Him as the Savior of the world. We see the great fruit of one woman that had a true encounter with our Lord, and evangelized a whole city.
As followers of Yeshua, we should live our lives like this woman who was unashamed of Christ (Romans 1:16). When was the last time you shared your faith with someone else? When was the last time you compelled an unbeliever to come with you to church? Remember, the great commission that Yeshua left us with (Matthew 28:18-20) is for all followers of Christ. Do not allow the enemy to use fear and anxiety to silence you. Allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to boldly speak the gospel of our Lord. Go forth each day, planting and watering the seed, and allow God to cause the increase!