“What is your food?” (John 4b)

John 4:27-42
Key verse 4:34  

Yesterday we church members ate out for lunch in appreciation of each one’s service to the Lord last year. Again, I want to thank you for your labor for the Lord. After this Sunday worship service, we will have lunch RL prepared for us, which is way better than any other food – healthy and delicious. She always asks us, “What is your favorite food?” Then she prepares it with the best quality materials. If she does not know the recipe, she googles it and practices it all week and then presents the food as we like. Interestingly, today’s passage is about food. Jesus talks about what his food is. So I would like to ask you a similar question RL does. “What is your food?” That is also the title of my message today.

In the previous passage, Jesus met a Samaritan woman, who was thirsty. Jeremiah said, "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jer 2:13) The Samaritan woman was one of those who were thirsty. Jesus found her at the well and offered her living water (4:10), which referred to the Holy Spirit he would bestow (7:38). In fact, the Samaritan woman was thirsty for God but did not know how to worship Him. Jesus said to her that the time came to worship God in the Spirit and in truth. By saying this, he meant that his coming to the world opened the new way of worshiping God; that is, through the Holy Spirit and Jesus. Finally, the woman came to know that Jesus is the Messiah and through him she could worship God in the right way. Today’s passage is the continuation of the story. But the main character shifts from her to the other Samaritans in the town. We will find out how these people came to believe in Jesus. I pray that the Holy Spirit may lead this Sunday worship service so that we may know and believe in Jesus and worship God in the Spirit and in truth.

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?”

The long dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman was interrupted by Jesus’ disciples. They had gone into the town to buy food (8) and just returned. When they saw Jesus talking with a woman, they were surprised. It was a very rare scene those days because Samaritans and Jews did not associate with each other. Particularly a rabbi like Jesus was not supposed to talk in the public place with a woman, even his wife. Seeing Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman, the disciples were actually shocked. But they did not dare to ask Jesus because they perceived that Jesus had a good reason they did not know. Then they saw the woman suddenly leaving the place and going back to the town in hurry. The disciples wondered what’s going on.

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 Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

The woman was convinced that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Finally, her thirst was quenched and she was so much excited that she could come to worship God through Jesus. She could not hold her joy. She left her water jar at the well and ran into the town to share what she saw and heard. Her water jar was her necessity for her daily life but it never satisfied her. It was like coke. One person I knew in the past drank coke every day to quench his thirst. What coke was to him was what the water jar was to the Samaritan woman. She was never satisfied with it. But now she had living water through Jesus. She was not thirsty anymore. Her water jar was no longer as important as before. She was so excited with Jesus that she even forgot the water jar and left it.

By the way, it was a little past noon when most people were enjoying siesta sleep. And the woman probably was an outcast in the community because of her husband problem. So she came to draw water at daytime to avoid the townspeople. But her testimony was so exciting and impressive: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” So the townspeople came out of their homes and walked to Jacob’s well to see Jesus. Suddenly, the woman became a powerful witness to Jesus.

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?”

While the woman went to the town, Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus to eat something. Jesus was tired and hungry. That was why he had sat by the well and his disciples had gone to the town to get something to eat. (6,8) Jesus needed to eat something. But Jesus said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” The disciples thought that someone else already brought him food. But Jesus did not mean literal food.

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Everyone likes to eat food. Food is the source of energy, satisfaction, and joy. People work for food and even live for food. But where did Jesus get energy, satisfaction and joy? Jesus’ food was to do the will of God and accomplish the work God sent him for. Jesus lived for this and even gave his life for this. When his death was close, he prayed to God, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (17:4) By finishing the work of God for him, Jesus glorified God. Jesus also showed that man does not live on bread alone but on the work of God. (cf. Deut 8:3) In other words, he rejoiced in accomplishing God’s will for him. Though he was hungry physically, Jesus was full because he was doing the work of God for him. That was Jesus’ food. What is your food? What are you satisfied with the most?

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. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a 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.

Here Jesus elaborated on the will of God for him, comparing his work to the harvest.

First, God’s work for Jesus was to harvest a crop for eternal life. Jesus came to reap souls for eternal life. What is eternal life? Jesus said in 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” In view of the book of John, eternal life is to know God who is the only true God and His son Jesus. In other words, eternal life is to be saved from sin through Jesus and join the fellowship between God and Jesus in eternity. Jesus came to the earth to give man eternal life. But he had to give his life instead. We will talk more about that in chapter 6. 

Second, it was the harvest time for Jesus. It was four months before the harvest time. The harvest here referred to the harvest of grain, such as barley and wheat, which began from the first fruit day (just after the Passover) until Pentecost (at the end of spring). So it was probably around January or so.

But the spiritual harvest time had already begun. He said, “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life.” Jesus’ coming already brought in the spiritual harvest. Despite people’s rejection and hesitation, the harvest was already taking place. God had prepared for this for thousands of years and finally Jesus came and began the harvest. The immediate reference may be to the Samaritan woman and Samaritans who were coming to Jesus at her testimony. There were four months remaining until harvest, but in the salvation view the harvest had already begun as Jesus came into the world. And it still continues even now.  

Lastly, Jesus had great joy from the harvest. Jesus said, “The sower and the reaper may be glad together.” The sower labors in anticipation of fruit. The reaper labors to harvest the crop. At the harvest time, both the sower and the reaper are glad together. Only these two know how great the joy of harvest is. My wife loves gardening. Whenever she has an opportunity, she plants something in springtime and waters it every day. Sometimes, I complain that she is wasting too much water. But later when she brings some fruit from the plants to the kitchen table, she and I are glad together. Two years ago she picked up cucumbers every day and I enjoyed eating them. How much more then when we harvest souls? I had great joy when my children were born. When I saw a new life after my wife’s labor, I rejoiced, forgetting all stress at work. I still remember my excitement. I also have the same joy when my Bible students come to know Jesus and receive eternal life. 

As such, Jesus’ food is to do the will of God, which gives him true joy and strength. He came to accomplish God’s will for him to give eternal life to lost souls.

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.”

Jesus was also inviting his disciples to the harvest so that they would join him in reaping the harvest. God sowed the seed of salvation through his servants and then Jesus came and sowed the gospel. The world was already ripe enough for the harvest. Jesus began to reap the harvest and also sent his disciples for the harvest.

Ever since, the harvest has continued even now. When we see with Jesus’ eye, we can see the world is ripe for the harvest. There are many souls out there who are waiting for the reaper. Jesus has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd. So Jesus is calling for workers who will go out and reap a crop for eternal life. So Jesus prayed in Matt 9:27,

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Let’s read verses 39-41 together.

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.

When Jesus finished his word to his disciples, the townspeople came to Jesus. They came to Jesus because of the woman’s testimony: “He told me everything I ever did.” But they wanted to know more about Jesus. So they urged him to stay with them and Jesus stayed two days. Jesus taught the word of God and many more people became believers. Afterward, they said to the woman that they came to believe in Jesus because of his word.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Personal testimony is a powerful way of preaching. Actually, many people come to Jesus through others’ testimonies because their testimonies are real. However, what really convinces people is the word of God. The faith built on the word of God is sound and solid. Only the word of God solidifies our faith in Jesus and leads us to salvation. That is why Bible study is one of our main focuses.

The townspeople confessed that Jesus is the Savior of the world. The Samaritan woman found Jesus as the Messiah prophesized in the Scripture. The townspeople found Jesus as the Messiah for the whole world, including themselves who were considered outsiders by Jews. They must have been very happy that God granted them salvation through Jesus.

Today’s passage is the last part of Jesus’ first sign. Jesus’s first sign in Canaan opened the new era of salvation through Jesus who came into the world. Then the first sign was explained more through four kinds of people – the people in Jerusalem, Nicodemus, John’s disciples and these Samaritans. Jesus testified to Jews that he would become the new temple by his death and resurrection. But they did not believe in him. Some believed but based on Jesus’ miracles. So Jesus did not trust them. Nicodemus was an elite in Judaism. Though he eventually came to believe in Jesus, he was hesitant and reluctant when Jesus told him that he must be born again. John’s disciples did not believe in Jesus yet though John witnessed to them about Jesus. And finally the Samaritans who were at the bottom of the community of God’s people came to believe in Jesus based on his word. In this way, the author says that whoever believes in Jesus through the word shall not perish but have eternal life.

In today’s passage, we have learned about Jesus’ food. His food is to do the will of God by harvesting a crop for eternal life. That is his joy. That is his mission on earth. Now he wants us to join him in his joy and his work.

Last month at the North America staff conference, we all celebrated Mother Barry’s birthday. She is one of the cofounders of this ministry. After the conference, I stumbled on her life testimony. Here is what she said in her life testimony. (http://history.ubfservice.com/people/sarah_barry/sarah_barry.htm)

One night I opened my Bible to James 1:5. I found that God promised wisdom to anyone who asked him for wisdom. So I got down on my knees and asked God if – there is a God–to give me wisdom. A few days later I joined a Romans Bible study group. God worked in my heart. I got a glimpse of my selfish, proud sinful heart and life. And I learned that through the blood of Jesus my sins were forgiven. I met Jesus, my Savior. I accepted the Bible as God’s word. I accepted the sovereignty of God…When the Korean War began June 25, 1950, I was a junior at Mississippi State College for Women…I thought about war and peace. It seemed that it would be better to send missionaries to troubled people than to send guns and soldiers. I promised the Lord that I would go anywhere as a missionary if he wanted me to…So I volunteered to the Presbyterian Board of World Missions. I went to Nashville for an interview. I passed everything, but the Board psychiatrist flunked me because I didn’t have a boyfriend. So I decided to look for a boyfriend. I went from Nashville to attend a Student Workers’ conference at George Williams College in Lake Geneva, WI. I met one preacher who liked me and wanted to visit me in Mississippi. But when I told him that I was committed to go as a missionary, he didn’t write me anymore. Anyway, the Board of World Missions appointed me as a missionary and assigned me to serve with the Korea mission of the Presbyterian Church, US. This was God’s grace in my life. I accepted Jesus command, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and claimed Jesus promise, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”…

The Korean War ended in 1953...There were orphans and widows and broken homes and wounded people. Tuberculosis was at epidemic proportions. I accepted John 12:24 as my key verse for missionary life: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies it produces much fruit.” Based on this verse, I decided to study the language with all my heart and try to understand and love and learn from the Korean people. I wanted to plant a seed.”

Soon, she sailed for Korea on an ocean freighter together with three other single Presbyterian missionaries. It was when she was in her 20’s. Her food was to preach the gospel to Korean people. Now she is 88 years old and she is still single. After her are standing thousands of people who have accepted Jesus as the Savior of the world. I am one of them. My dream was to be a medical doctor because my mom always suffered from health problems. But for some reason I entered an engineer school. Then through Bible study I came to know Jesus as the Savior and received God’s forgiveness of my sins. Then he called me to share the gospel. From my freshman I began to invite college students to Bible study. Then God compelled my family to go over to USA to preach the gospel to college students. Harvesting souls is not easy. It is labor and sometime it is painful. Yet there is nothing that is more joyful and meaningful than reaping a crop for eternal life. I have been doing this for the last 37 years. And I will do the will of God continually to my last day. I couldn’t be a medical doctor but God has blessed me to be a spiritual doctor. I am truly blessed and privileged to be sent for the harvest to share eternal life with others. I am so thankful and I am so joyful. That is my food.  

What about you? What is your food? May God bless you with the food for eternal life.

By David Yun