João 4

Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin

João 4

Cole says "At the very least, begin praying for opportunities to share the gospel with others. Jot down a list of those that don’t know Christ with whom you regularly have contact and begin praying for their salvation and for God to give you an opportunity to talk to them about the Savior. To reap a harvest, we have to sow the seed." J C

João 4

Cole - One of the most common spiritual errors is that we get into heaven by our good works. Every religion, except for biblical Christianity, operates on the principle that you must work for or earn salvation… In total contrast, the Bible states (Ro 4:4-5+): “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”… Actually, it’s often good, religious people who exclude themselves from receiving this gift. They’re proud of their accomplishments and want some reward for what they’ve done. They don’t want to associate with people like this sinful woman or admit that they need living water from Jesus just as much as she did. But the gift is freely offered to notorious sinners and to self-righteous religious sinners. Both equally need the gift. (Living Water for a Thirsty Woman) Alford who sees the gift primarily as the living water explains "The water is, in this first part of the discourse, the subject, and serves as a point of connection, whereby the woman’s thoughts may be elevated, and her desire aroused. The process of the discourse in this particular is similar to that in Acts 14:17." (Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary) Alford on Who it is - These pregnant words form the second step in our Lord’s declaration. He who speaks with thee is no ordinary Jew, nor any ordinary man, but One who can give thee the gift of God; One sent from God, and God Himself.

João 4

Cole observes that "The woman has asked Jesus to give her this living water, even though she is still thinking too much on a material level. If Jesus had led her in a prayer to receive the living water at this point, she would have been a false convert, because something crucial was missing. So Jesus abruptly changes direction." This is an example of Jesus, the Light, shining in the darkness and exposing the evil deeds of this woman (Jn 1:5+; Jn 3:19-20+). Jesus shows her that He supernaturally knows all about her past and present. Jesus knew about Nathanael even before He met him (John 1:48+). He knew what was in the hearts of the superficial believers in Jerusalem, so that He did not entrust Himself to them (John 2:24-25+). We will see Jesus’ omniscience on other occasions in John’s Gospel (John 6:6; 6:64; Jn 11:14; Jn 13:38; Jn 18:4). It would be more than a little unnerving to have a perfect stranger uncover the sins of your past and present! But Jesus wasn’t doing it to be mean. He did it to show her that her real need was spiritual, not material. He was helping her come to terms with the nature of the gift that He was offering

João 4

Cole comments that "At this point she brings up a point of tension between the Samaritans and the Jews regarding whether people should worship at Mount Gerizim or in Jerusalem. As with Jn 4:15, so here commentators differ in interpreting the woman’s reason for bringing this into the conversation. Some say that she was trying to divert the conversation from her sins, which made her uncomfortable, to a safer topic: “Let’s talk about the religious controversy between the Samaritans and the Jews.” Others argue that Jesus’ exposing her sin made her realize that He truly was a great prophet, so she brought up to Him a sincere, nagging question about the proper way to worship God. Ryle (p. 221) goes so far as to say that her words are just another form of the Philippian jailer’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” I think that the truth is somewhere in the middle. She probably was uncomfortable with Jesus’ penetrating gaze into her secret life, as we all would be. So perhaps she was trying to divert the conversation to a safer topic. But also, she probably was sincerely confused about whether the Samaritan or the Jewish way of worship was correct. So the issue she raises in 4:20 was not insincere. She wanted to know from this prophet which way was right." (Bolding added) Must (1163) see note above on dei (including the "Ten Must's" in the Gospel of John). Worship (bow down) (4352) see note below on proskuneo a key word (verb) in this section (Jn 4:20, 22, 22, 23 24) John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. BGT John 4:21 λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· πίστευέ μοι, γύναι, ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα ὅτε οὔτε ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ οὔτε ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις προσκυνήσετε τῷ πατρί. NET John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. NLT John 4:21 Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ESV John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. NIV John 4:21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. GNT John 4:21 λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Πίστευέ μοι, γύναι, ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα ὅτε οὔτε ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ οὔτε ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις προσκυνήσετε τῷ πατρί. KJV John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. YLT John 4:21 Jesus saith to her, 'Woman, believe me, that there doth come an hour, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father; ASV John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. CSB John 4:21 Jesus told her, "Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. NKJ John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. NRS John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. NAB John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. NJB John 4:21 Jesus said: Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. GWN John 4:21 Jesus told her, "Believe me. A time is coming when you Samaritans won't be worshiping the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. said: Eze 14:3 20:3 when: Mal 1:11 Mt 18:20 Lu 21:5,6,24 Ac 6:14 1Ti 2:8 worship: John 4:23 14:6 Mt 28:19 Eph 2:18 3:14 1Pe 1:17 John 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Jesus said to her, “Woman - While to modern ears this sound a bit "cold," that was not the case in Jesus' address, for even on the Cross, He used the same address to His Own mother (Jn 19:26). Thus woman was actually a term of respect. Leon

João 4

Cole - Their amazement stemmed from two sources: cultural conditioning and they didn’t understand Jesus’ mission (ED: WHICH HE GOES ON TO EXPLAIN IN Jn 4:31-38)..... the fact that they did not question Jesus should teach us that if anything in God’s Word is disagreeable or puzzling to us, we should not murmur against God, but rather wait in silence until He reveals the matter to us more clearly.

João 4

Cole - When Jesus told this woman that He is the Messiah, she had to decide: Is He or isn’t He? Although a few commentators question whether she believed in Christ (John never states this explicitly), the great majority believe that she did. How do we know? We know because of her response to Jesus’ self-revelation and because of the result that came from her witness: She immediately went to tell others about Jesus resulting in their believing in Him.

João 4

Cole - If you’re anything like me, you struggle at being an effective witness for Jesus Christ. I’ve prayed about it for decades, I’ve read many books, gone to different training seminars, and even taken a seminary class in evangelism, but still I often fail at being a good witness. An hour or two after an opportunity, I think, “I should have said such and such,” but I didn’t think of it at the time. Our text gives us some help in being the kind of witness that God uses from an unlikely source: A woman who is a brand new convert, who is still living with a man outside of marriage, who knows almost no sound doctrine, and who has not had a training course in how to share her faith. Yet she effectively evangelizes her entire village for Christ! When Jesus tells her that He is the Messiah (Jn 4:26), she gets so excited that she leaves her waterpot, goes back to her village, and tells the men, who normally would have laughed at anything she said (Jn 4:29), “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” As a result, they streamed out of the city to meet Jesus. They invited Him to stay with them. He spent two days there, during which time many more Samaritans came to believe in Him. At the end of that time, they proclaimed (Jn 4:42b), “This One is indeed the Savior of the world.” This narrative teaches us that…God uses witnesses who are excited about Jesus, have a harvest perspective, and invite others to come to Him. CONTRASTS BETWEEN NICODEMUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN Nicodemus Samaritan Woman (Jerusalem) Judah Samaria By night About noon Planned visit By chance Theological Practical Initiator - Nicodemus Initiator - Jesus Jew Samaritan (mixed blood) Highly respected ruler, teacher Despised woman (immoral) Male Female Polite, calling Jesus Rabbi First hostility, then respect Nicodemus faded out, dialogue became monologue Dialogue carried to the end Result not mentioned Woman converted, witnesses, many converted John 4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” BGT John 4:31 Ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ λέγοντες· ῥαββί, φάγε. NET John 4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." NLT John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something." ESV John 4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." NIV John 4:31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." GNT John 4:31 Ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ λέγοντες, Ῥαββί, φάγε. KJV John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. YLT John 4:31 And in the meanwhile his disciples were asking him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat;' ASV John 4:31 In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat. CSB John 4:31 In the meantime the disciples kept urging Him, " Rabbi, eat something." NKJ John 4:31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." NRS John 4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." NAB John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat." NJB John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, 'Rabbi, do have something to eat'; GWN John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, have something to eat." Master (KJV): Ge 24:33 Ac 16:30-34 John 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MEANWHILE "BACK AT THE WELL" The disciples have returned with the "burgers and fries" and they are getting cold. As an aside, did you notice that ALL the disciples went to town to get the food. That is quite strange as it would not take all of them to bring back enough food. Surely the providence of God is at play again, for this gave Jesus the opportunity for focused attention on the Samaritan woman. John

João 4

Cole comments that "The disciples were focused on eating lunch; Jesus was focused on doing the Father’s will and accomplishing the work that the Father had sent Him to do. We don’t know whether Jesus ever got His drink of water or whether He ever ate the lunch that the disciples had brought back. But He saw a whole village of Samaritans come to faith in Him as they discovered that He is the Savior of the world. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). Food and drink were secondary; reaching lost people was primary. So in three short years, Jesus could pray (John 17:4), “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” The real secret of an unsatisfied life ies too often in an unsurrendered will. -- Hudson Taylor Swindoll - Jesus “had to pass through Samaria” (4:4) to redeem this woman, who brought her entire town to Christ with her testimony. And, just as important, He “had to pass through Samaria” in order to give His disciples crucial training in evangelism. This was Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth and the destiny of His disciples. Moreover, it was a tangible lesson on the first rule of the new kingdom: Obedience to the Word of God is more important and more satisfying than fulfilling any mere physical need (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4). (Insights on John - pages omitted or BORROW Insights on John) And to accomplish (teleioo) His work - While Jesus was nourished by what He took in, He was also nourished by what He gave out. What was His Father's Work? His work was to give His life a ransom ( lutron) for many. (Mk 10:45, Mt 20:28). In Luke's Gospel Jesus succinctly summarizes why He was sent explaining that "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Lk 19:10+). Comment - See similar passages regarding the work Jesus was sent to accomplish in John 5:17, 36; Jn 9:4; Jn 10:25, 32, 37–38; Jn 14:10; Jn 17:4, Jn 6:38–40; Mt. 1:21; Lk 5:31–32; 1 John 4:9 Earlier in Luke Jesus declared “But I have a baptism (SPEAKING OF THE CROSS) to undergo, and how distressed (sunecho) I am until (until is an important time phrase) it is accomplished (related verb teleo)! (Luke 12:50+) And so He had been sent to do was finished on the cross, when He cried: "It is finished!", one word in Greek tetelestai (perfect tense of teleo). Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30+). In His high priestly prayer Jesus prayed "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do." (John 17:4) Will (2307)(thelema rom thelo = to will with the "-ma" suffix indicating the result of the will = "a thing willed") generally speaks of the result of what one has decided. In its most basic form, thelema refers to a wish, a strong desire, and the willing of some event. Most of the NT uses of thelema (over 3/4's) refer to God's will and signify His gracious disposition toward something. God's will usually refers to what He has decreed, but occasionally God's will refers to what He desires but has not decreed (Mt 18:14). "Will, not to be conceived as a demand, but as an expression or inclination of pleasure towards that which is liked, that which pleases and creates joy. When it denotes God's will, it signifies His gracious disposition toward something. Used to designate what God Himself does of His own good pleasure. (Zodhiates) Accomplish (5048)(teleioo related to teleios from telos = an end, a purpose; cf cognate verb teleo used in John 19:30+ = "It is finished!") means to accomplish or bring to an end or to the intended goal (telos). It means to be complete, mature, fully developed, full grown, brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness or in good working order. It does not mean simply to terminate something but to carry it out to the full finish which is picked up in the translation "perfected". Teleioo signifies the attainment of consummate soundness and includes the idea of being made whole. Interestingly the Gnostics used teleios of one fully initiated into their mysteries and that may have been why Paul used teleios in this epistle.

João 4

Cole comments that "The disciples needed to develop a harvest mindset. They needed to understand what God was doing in this situation. I’ve often been just like these clueless disciples, focused on the natural when I should have been awake to what God was doing spiritually around me. Like them, I needed to develop a harvest mindset....(Here in v 35) Jesus seems to be quoting a familiar saying (PROVERB) that means something like, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” You don’t sow seed and expect to go out the next day and reap a harvest. It takes time for the crop to grow. But in this case, the spiritual harvest was instant. This Samaritan woman was an unlikely prospect for evangelism if there ever was one! She wasn’t interested in spiritual things when Jesus turned the conversation in that direction. She had all kinds of mixed up ideas due to her Samaritan religious beliefs. She was an immoral woman, not a “key” person and potential leader, as Nicodemus was. But by crossing cultural taboos and taking the time to talk with this messed up Samaritan woman, Jesus ended up reaping a harvest with the entire village. You never know how God may use your witness with someone whom you consider to be an unlikely prospect for the gospel. I would have zeroed in on Nicodemus, but he proved to be a bit slow in responding and we’re not told that he ever reached anyone else with the gospel. Like the disciples, I probably would have kept my distance from this immoral Samaritan woman, but she proved to be the key to reaching an entire village. Vincent on white for harvest (therismos) - Spiritual harvest. The crowd of Samaritans now pouring out toward the well was to Jesus as a ripe harvest-field, prefiguring the larger harvest of mankind which would be reaped by His disciples. (John 4 Commentary) Brian Bell - During WWI there was a great wheat harvest in Australia that rotted in the fields. Because so many men had responded to the call of the colors, nobody was left to gather in the grain harvest. It was a case of “reap or rot”. This is exactly the situation we face in our churches today: a plentiful harvest, and few reapers. The vast needs of the world stand as a fresh call to prayer. Christians have been commissioned to the high task of being co-laborers with God in His harvest. In so many nations, it is ripe to be gathered. It is a harvest for which God gave heaven’s best. He is not about to let it rot in the fields. THOUGHT - Sometimes Christians excuse themselves from witnessing by saying that their family or friends aren't ready to believe. Jesus, however, makes it clear that around us a continual harvest waits to be reaped. Don't let Jesus find you making excuses. Look around. You will find people ready to hear God's Word. (Life Application Study Bible) Barton - HARVEST TIME Sometimes Christians excuse themselves from witnessing by saying that their family or friends aren’t ready to believe. But our excuses don’t stand up very well before the example of the Samaritan woman, who spoke to the very people most likely to reject anything she had to say. Her message was attractive because she described how Jesus had met her needs; she did not attempt to expose their needs. Jesus made it clear that a continual harvest awaits reaping. Don’t make excuses. If you are watchful and available, you will find people ready to hear God’s Word. (BORROW Life application New Testament commentary ) Lift up (raise)(1869)(epairo) means literally to lift up and here is used in an idiom with "your eyes" (ophthalmos) together meaning to look closely, take notice. Jesus is calling on His disciples (AND US!) to direct their (OUR) attention to something by looking closely. He is not saying pay close attention to the ripening grain fields. Instead He is commanding them to lift their eyes spiritually to see the harvest of souls that was ripe. Look (2300)(theaomai from tháomai =to wonder) means to have an attentive look, implying an intent contemplative gaze. The point is that it is not a mere glance or quick look, but a searching gaze. Jesus' second command amplifies the first (lift your eyes) and tells them to now focus their attention on the spiritual harvest of souls. This was a harvest that in contrast to delay with the grain harvest, was in fact even now ripe for harvest. Harvest (2326) therismos David Jeremiah - MAYBE NOT! JOHN 4:35 Tennessee pastor Robert Shockey doesn’t believe in chance encounters. To him, every contact is an opportunity to evangelize. When he answers the phone, for example, and hears the person on the other end saying, “Sorry, I must have the wrong number,” Bob responds, “Maybe not!” Usually there is a pause on the line, followed by something like, “What do you mean?” That gives Shockey an opening to initiate a conversation about the Gospel. He has led more than one person to faith in Christ that way. Evangelist Billy Graham once answered the phone in his hotel room. The person on the other end asked for so-and-so, and Mr. Graham told him he had the wrong number. There was a pause, and the person said, “You sure sound a lot like Billy Graham.” “This is Billy Graham,” replied the evangelist. During the ensuing conversation, the caller gave his life to Christ. There are opportunities all around us to witness for Christ, some in unexpected places. We are ambassadors for Christ—harvesters, witnesses. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will lead you to someone today who needs a word from the Lord. John

João 4

Cole - Earthly wages are of no value after you die, but wages that pay rewards for eternity are worth working for! A billionaire on his deathbed who has not laid up treasure in heaven is like the man in Jesus’ parable who planned to build bigger barns, but was not rich toward God (Luke 12:15-21+). He was a fool. But the one with a harvest mindset who labors for souls is storing up eternal joy. Larry Richards - God’s field is perpetually ripe. Each day is the “today” when some will welcome the Gospel and find salvation. Your part may be sowing the seed. Or encouraging its growth. Or perhaps gathering in a crop over which someone else has labored. No matter. Whenever a person is gathered into God’s kingdom, all are filled with joy. ILLUSTRATION OF SOWING AND REAPING - Andrew Meekens did not waste an opportunity to reach others for Christ. He was an elder in the International Evangelical Church of Addis Ababa, and was one of those who died on November 23, 1996, when a hijacked jet ran out of fuel and crashed near the Comoros Islands. According to survivors of the crash, after the pilot announced he would attempt an emergency landing, Meekens stood up and spoke, calming passengers on the Ethiopian Airlines flight. Meekens then presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and invited people to be saved. A surviving flight attendant said that about twenty people accepted Christ as their Savior, including a flight attendant who did not survive the crash. Beloved, we are to speak as dying people to dying people. (From Rod Mattoon) Bruce Barton - SEEDS AND SHEAVES God oversees the continual work of planting the seeds of the gospel (Luke 8:4–15) and then reaping the crop. That the fields are ripe for harvest reminds us that many are ready to receive salvation because others have sown the seed. Can you identify the process of sowing and reaping that occurred in your life? Perhaps your mother or father, a Sunday school teacher, a pastor, a camp director, or a youth group leader sowed or nourished the gospel seed in you. Then a “reaper” came along whose gospel message found you ripe to respond, and you accepted eternal life. At the moment of being “harvested,” we became sowers and reapers ourselves. Our lives ought to be an effort to sow wherever and reap whenever. As was done for us, we ought to seek to do for others. In the end, the sowers, reapers, and the harvest will all rejoice! (BORROW Life application New Testament commentary ) Reaping (present tense)(2325)(therizo from théros = summer, harvest time ~ time of harvests) conveys the picture of cutting ripe grain and gathering the bundles together. To reap, to harvest, harvest, reaping. The immutable law of sowing and reaping dictates that we can be assured that we will reap what we sow, but we can never know exactly how much we reap until the time of the harvest. Wages (3408)(misthos) literally refers to pay which is due for labor performed or dues paid for work. Misthos is used in two general senses in the NT, either to refer to wages or to reward, recognition or recompense. In this latter figurative usage, misthos refers to rewards which God bestows for the moral quality of an action, such rewards most often to be bestowed in eternity future. Gathering (4863)(sunago from sun = with + ago = to lead) means literally to lead together. To gather (in) or gather (up) (Mt 13:47; 25:24, 26; Lk 3:17; 15:13; Jn 6:12f; 15:6). To bring or call together, gather (Mt 22:10; 25:32; Mk 2:2; 7:1; Jn 11:47; 18:2; Acts 13:44; 14:27; 1 Cor 5:4). To invite or receive as a guest (Mt 25:35, 38, 43). This verb gives us our English word synagogue a place where Jews pray and worship. Fruit (2590)(karpos) literally refers to fruit, produce or offspring, which describes that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism. Figuratively, karpos is used of the consequence of physical, mental, or spiritual action. The author of Hebrews uses karpos to picture the results of the disciplined lifestyle (the result of divine discipline) (Heb 12:11+) Human actions and words are often viewed as fruit growing out of a person's essential being or character. Scripture has 3 general kinds of spiritual fruit: (1) Spiritual attitudes that characterize a Spirit-filled/led (Eph 5:18+, Gal 5:16, 18+) believer - Gal 5:22-23+ (2) Righteous actions - Ro 6:22+, Php 4:16,17+; Heb 13:5+ (3) New converts - Ro 16:5+ (AND HERE IN JOHN 4:36). Uses of Karpos in John's gospel - Jn. 4:36; Jn. 12:24; Jn. 15:2; Jn. 15:4; Jn. 15:5; Jn. 15:8; Jn. 15:16 (See Fruit - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) Sows (present tense)(4687)(speiro from spao = draw out, pull) literally means to scatter (seed) and the opposite of reaping or gathering. Speiro is used figuratively to describe the sowing of the "seed" of the Word of God, the Gospel (="the word of the kingdom" - Mt13:19, cp Mk 4:14 15, 16, 18), "the ideas and precepts that have been implanted like seed in their hearts, ie, received in their hearts (Mk 4:18)." (Thayer). Jesus used speiro repeatedly in His parables (Mt 13:3, 18, 24, 31) Audi Lewis - Learn and Then Go JOHN 4:36 He came out from his solitude and began to sow. This is what I mean. At first, a Christian man very wisely lives indoors. There is a lot of cleaning and scrubbing to be done there. When the bees come out of their cells, they always spend the first few days of their life in the hive cleaning and getting everything tidy. They do not go out to gather honey till they have first of all done the housework at home. I wish that all Christian people would get their housework done as soon as they can. It needs to be done. I mean, acquaintance with experimental matters of indwelling sin, and overcoming grace. But after that, then the sower went forth to sow. He was not content with his own private experience, but he went forth to sow. There are numbers of people who are miserable because they are always at home. Go out, brother; go out, sister. Important as your experience is, it is only important as a platform for real usefulness. Get all right within, in order that you may get to work without. David Jeremiah - THE GOLDEN RULE JOHN 4:36 When you hear phrases like “Land of a Thousand Lakes,” “Sunshine State,” “Famous Potatoes,” and “Big Sky Country,” you’ll probably think of license plates and state slogans. What about “Golden Rule State”? In the spring of 2003, State Concurrent Resolution 1006 was passed, designating Arizona as the “Golden Rule State.” In part, the resolution says, “Living and practicing the Golden Rule will have a powerfully positive effect on each individual and the society in which we all live.” Applying the golden rule to everyday life is contagious even in the secular world. But as Christians, we should treat others the way we want to be treated, not just because it’s a decent creed to live by. Matthew 7:12 tells us to “treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (NASB). That’s a tall order! But start out by taking it one day at a time—even one minute at a time. Think about how you can affirm a loved one or a coworker right now. If you would like to receive attention and encouragement, make sure you are giving them out. Rewards an Inspiration for Service - Robert Neighbor "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (John 4:36). If all that has been set forth concerning rewards, is true, we have certainly found a tremendous inspiration for fidelity in life and faithfulness in service. No wonder that Paul said "I therefore so run * * so fight I", that I may obtain. No wonder he said, "I press * * for the prize". Surely, if there is to be a crown of life given to those who love Him, we will seek to endure temptation that we may obtain (James 1:12). Surely, if there is a possibility of our losing the things which we have wrought, we will look to ourselves that we may receive a full reward (2 John 1:8). Surely, if our God is coming to judge every man's work, without any respect of persons, we should pass the time of our sojourning here with fear (I Peter 1:17). We read of Christ, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). If Christ "endured the Cross" and despised the shame, inspired with the blessed joy of seeing the redeemed, set before Him: should not we also keep before us the joy of seeing those who may be won for Christ, through us? Thus, it was that Paul said in substance, concerning the Thessalonian Christians, "Ye shall be my joy and crown of rejoicing at the coming of the Lord". Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King; Moses suffered affliction with the children of God, because he saw the "recompense of the reward" and "he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:26, 27). Should we not then also be inspired to serve and to sacrifice, with the same blessed "recompense of reward," inspiring us? Let us so run that we may obtain. John 4:37 “For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ BGT John 4:37 ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν ἀληθινὸς ὅτι ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ σπείρων καὶ ἄλλος ὁ θερίζων. NET John 4:37 For in this instance the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.' NLT John 4:37 You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true. ESV John 4:37 For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' NIV John 4:37 Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. GNT John 4:37 ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν ἀληθινὸς ὅτι Ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ σπείρων καὶ ἄλλος ὁ θερίζων. KJV John 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. YLT John 4:37 for in this the saying is the true one, that one is the sower and another the reaper. ASV John 4:37 For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. CSB John 4:37 For in this case the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' NKJ John 4:37 "For in this the saying is true:`One sows and another reaps.' NRS John 4:37 For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' NAB John 4:37 For here the saying is verified that 'One sows and another reaps.' NJB John 4:37 For here the proverb holds true: one sows, another reaps; GWN John 4:37 In this respect the saying is true: 'One person plants, and another person harvests.' One: Jdg 6:3 Mic 6:15 Lu 19:21 John 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE GOSPEL IS A "TEAM SPORT" One team member sows the seed of the Gospel and the other team member reaps the harvest. Sometimes the same person fulfills both functions.

João 4

Cole - In light of the centuries of hostility between Samaritans and Jews, the Samaritans’ warm acceptance of Jesus is amazing. The Holy Spirit can break down barriers that the world has erected. Just as Nathanael had to “come and see” Jesus for himself (1:46), so now at the woman’s invitation to “come,” the Samaritans came to Jesus and came to believe that He is the Savior of the world. John 4:41 Many more believed because of His word; BGT John 4:41 καὶ πολλῷ πλείους ἐπίστευσαν διὰ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, NET John 4:41 and because of his word many more believed. NLT John 4:41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. ESV John 4:41 And many more believed because of his word. NIV John 4:41 And because of his words many more became believers. GNT John 4:41 καὶ πολλῷ πλείους ἐπίστευσαν διὰ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, KJV John 4:41 And many more believed because of his own word; YLT John 4:41 and many more did believe because of his word, ASV John 4:41 And many more believed because of his word; CSB John 4:41 Many more believed because of what He said. NKJ John 4:41 And many more believed because of His own word. NRS John 4:41 And many more believed because of his word. NAB John 4:41 Many more began to believe in him because of his word, NJB John 4:41 many more came to believe on the strength of the words he spoke to them; GWN John 4:41 Many more Samaritans believed because of what Jesus said. many: Ge 49:10 Ac 1:8 8:12,25 15:3 because: Joh 6:63 7:46 Mt 7:28,29 Lu 4:32 1Co 2:4,5 Heb 4:13 John 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BELIEF IN JESUS' WORD Many more believed (pisteuo) because of His word - Note Many in Jn 4:40 and many in this passage. The city of Sychar must have experienced and incredible transformation with so many believers! Presumably these were Samaritans who did not hear the woman's testimony, but came to Him in the city and heard His word of salvation and believed in Him. His Word is tantamount to the Gospel or Good News of salvation available to all who believed in Him, the Word incarnate (Jn 1:1+ >> Jn 1:14+). John 4:42 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 is indeed the Savior of the world.” BGT John 4:42 τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου. NET John 4:42 They said to the woman, "No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world." NLT John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world." ESV John 4:42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." NIV John 4:42 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." GNT John 4:42 τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι Οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου. KJV John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. YLT John 4:42 and said to the woman -- 'No more because of thy speaking do we believe; for we ourselves have heard and known that this is truly the Saviour of the world -- the Christ.' ASV John 4:42 and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world. CSB John 4:42 And they told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world." NKJ John 4:42 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." NRS John 4:42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world." NAB John 4:42 and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." NJB John 4:42 and they said to the woman, 'Now we believe no longer because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he is indeed the Saviour of the world.' GWN John 4:42 They told the woman, "Our faith is no longer based on what you've said. We have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the savior of the world." for : Joh 1:45-49 17:8 Ac 17:11,12 and know: Joh 4:29 Jn 1:29 Jn 3:14-18 Jn 6:68,69 Jn 11:17 Isa 45:22 52:10 Lu 2:10,11,32 Ac 4:12 Ro 10:11-13 2Co 5:19 1Jn 4:14 John 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: John 3:14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. SAMARITANS' UNDERSTAND JESUS MISSION IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe (see pisteuo above) - Her word, what you said, was a link in the chain in the salvation of many of her fellow townsmen, but ultimately it was the words of Jesus. THOUGHT - In the same way, while our personal testimony points to Jesus, it is not our testimony that saves, but it is Jesus alone that saves (Acts 4:12+). It therefore behooves us to be diligent to point to the Savior when we give our testimony to others!

João 4:4-15

Cole - One of the most common spiritual errors is that we get into heaven by our good works. Every religion, except for biblical Christianity, operates on the principle that you must work for or earn salvation… In total contrast, the Bible states (Ro 4:4-5-note): “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”… Actually, it’s often good, religious people who exclude themselves from receiving this gift. They’re proud of their accomplishments and want some reward for what they’ve done. They don’t want to associate with people like this sinful woman or admit that they need living water from Jesus just as much as she did. But the gift is freely offered to notorious sinners and to self-righteous religious sinners. Both equally need the gift. (Living Water for a Thirsty Woman) Alford who sees the gift primarily as the living water explains "The water is, in this first part of the discourse, the subject, and serves as a point of connection, whereby the woman’s thoughts may be elevated, and her desire aroused. The process of the discourse in this particular is similar to that in Acts 14:17." (Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary) Alford on Who it is - These pregnant words form the second step in our Lord’s declaration. He who speaks with thee is no ordinary Jew, nor any ordinary man, but One who can give thee the gift of God; One sent from God, and God Himself. Asked (154) (aiteo) means to ask for something with a sense of urgency and even to the point of demanding. In contrast to the related verb erotao, aiteô more frequently suggests attitude of a suppliant, the petition of one who is lesser in position than the one to whom the petition is made. For example, aiteo is used of men in asking something from God = Mt 7:7 Jas 1:5 1Jn 3:22; a child from a parent = Mt 7:9-10; a subject from a king = Acts 12:20; priests and people from Pilate = Lk 23:23; beggar from a passer by = Acts 3:2.