John 5:19–30

 ¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. ²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. ²² For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. ²⁴ “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. ²⁵ Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, ²⁷ and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. ³⁰ I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Commentary

Vs. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

Since the Jews took great offense at Jesus both working on the Sabbath as well as making Himself out to be equal with God, Jesus now gives this profound discourse about Himself and His Authority and position with God. Therefore, if the Jews took offense at Jesus’ working on the Sabbath, they should know that Jesus’ Father; whom they say is they’re God; first sets the example which He Himself follows. For that is what Jesus is saying here that just as the Father does, so does His Son!

Vs. 20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”

Therefore, because the Father loves the Son, He shows Him all things that He Himself does. Nothing then of the Works of God are kept back from Jesus! For God the Father wants Jesus Christ the Son to know and do these very same things so that we may all marvel, marvel at the glory and majesty and power and grace and love of God towards us all!

Vs. 21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”

Since God the Father has Power to raise the dead and give life to them, He has also given this Authority and Power to His Son, to give life (Holy Spirit, and thus everlasting life) to whom He will! No one then attains to this life apart from Jesus Christ!

Vs. 22-23 ²² For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

God the Father than has not only exalted His Son, but He Himself has seated His Son Jesus Christ on His Throne of Judgment (vs. 22). Thus, the Son of God has both the Authority and Power to redeem and condemn. Now God has done this so, “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” ^{Vs. 23} Therefore if the Jews, or anyone else thinks that they can know God and are worshiping or serving Him apart from honoring His Son, then they are only then being deceived by their own hearts desires to adhere to their own traditions or ideas about God! For if these do not have the Lord Jesus Christ as the point and pinnacle of all things, for honor, glory, and majesty, then they are neither honoring God, nor His Son whom He sent! And thus, they only worship God in vain, if they do not believe in His Son whom He sent!

Vs. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

In no uncertain terms then the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that anyone and everyone who hears His Word and believes in Him who sent Him has everlasting life, thus He links faith in Himself, in His Person and Word, with faith in God His Father. For neither God the Father nor God the Son and His Word can be separated. Therefore, if anyone hears Jesus’ Word and believes in Him who sent Him, they have everlasting life! Not that they will have everlasting life by doing something, but they now have everlasting life! And so, because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we shall not come into judgment, but we have passed from death, i.e. spiritual death to now Spirit life! For we were once spiritually dead in our sins and transgressions, but now we been brought to Spirit life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Vs. 25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.”

The Lord Jesus Christ now reaffirms His own Authority and Power to bring to life everyone and anyone who hears the voice of the Son of God will live! Hearing then is not just with the ear; for one can hear with the ear and quickly dismiss what was once heard; rather it is with the heart and soul for it is there where faith is born, and thus where Christ Himself resides in any and every believing heart and soul who hears His voice will live!

Vs. 26-27 ²⁶ For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, ²⁷ and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Now that the Father has granted the Son to have life in Himself once again indicates Jesus’ equality with God the Father, for there is no one but the Son of Man who has life in themselves, and thus the ability to not only sustain Himself, but also to give life (everlasting life) to everyone who believes in Him (John 17:3). 

Vs. 28-29 ²⁸ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Having just revealed some incredible things, that both Life and Judgment comes through the Son, and has been committed to God’s Son, Jesus now tells us all not to marvel at this; “for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Jesus now moves from telling us how He gives us Spirit life to His giving life at the resurrection of the dead. And so, at the appointed time everyone who is deceased, from the beginning of creation to the Day of redemption, will hear His voice and come forth, and rise to either the resurrection of life, or to the resurrection of condemnation! Thus, the lives that we now live matter, because no one who claims to believe in God and yet continues to live an unholy, ungodly, and or unrighteous life will rise to the resurrection of life, but only to the resurrection of condemnation! Do not be deceived then because the the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11 NKJ). Thus, with salvation through the grace of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ comes a fundamental change of our person. If then there is no real good fruits in one’s new life as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ then it must be assumed there has been no regeneration of that person, that person has not been born-again by the Spirit of the Lord!

Vs. 30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

Here then the Lord Jesus reveals that He does not act, nor speak independently of the Father, for as He hears from the Father so He judges. Therefore, His Judgment is righteous, because He does not seek His own Will (as man always does) but the Will of the Father who sent Him. Only Jesus Christ then is not moved by self-interest, nor swayed by personal biases or preferences or loyalties on or about anyone or anything! You can trust His Judgment! Now of course the Lord Jesus Christ has loyalties, He is loyal to His Father and to His own Word, for these He will never violate. And thus, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we find His loyalty towards us through the Promises of His Word spoken to us!

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

 

 

John 5:1–18

¹ After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. ⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” ⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” ¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ” ¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” ¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. ¹⁶ For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” ¹⁸ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

Commentary

Vs. 1 “After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”

Once again there is a feast of the Jews; that is a yearly commanded feast that God required all His people to attend; now these were held at Jerusalem, the capital of the nation of Israel where the Temple was. Notice that the particular feast is not named, since it is not the feast that is important to Gospel, rather the Lord and His working on it for the wellbeing of mankind.

Vs. 2-4 ² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

Now in Jerusalem there was a certain pool of water called Bethesda where those who were afflicted with various diseases and crippling aliments went to seek to be healed of them. “For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.” ^{Vs. 4} This pool of water then became for those afflicted (in their own minds) the last chance of hope for them. Now what seems remarkable to me is that these being in Jerusalem, and so near the Temple, would not seek the Lord God. Nonetheless God’s mercy was still being shown to them, for the angels stirring the water, and thus healing whoever stepped in first, was demonstrating (to them and to all) His healing power.

Vs. 5-6 ⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

And so, it was that Jesus attended this very place, and seeing a man there who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years, and knowing that he had been in that condition a long time, now says to him, “Do you want to be made well?” Really is a question that He asks us all, because we are all born spiritually dead because of sin, and thus we are all alienated from God because of it. And so only Jesus Christ can heal us and restore us to God, by first cleansing us of our sins and transgressions by His shed blood on the Cross, and then He brings us to new and everlasting and abundant life by His Spirit. All which takes place the moment we believe in Him (Eph. 1:13-14).

Vs. 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

And so, the disabled man not yet knowing who Jesus is responds to Him under the notion that being placed first in the water of pool was the answer to his plight, rather than seeing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Answer!

Vs. 8-9 ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

Jesus then upon hearing the man’s response immediately says to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And with that Word the man was immediately made well, and so he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath which for the Jews was a commanded day of rest, (when one was to do no work), and yet for them it only became a burden where every little deed and action could be judged as doing work. Yet its intent was to bring to mankind, and the beasts of burden, and even the land, a time of rest and refreshing. Something which Jesus in healing the crippled man on the Sabbath would’ve been doing for him, for that man’s body, mind, and soul.

Vs. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

Amazingly when the Jews saw that the long-time crippled man; who had just been healed by Jesus; was now walking and carrying his bed, they were only deeply offended and outraged! For they now say to him, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” Thus, in their zeal for wanting to keep the Sabbath, they had lost complete sight of its God given purpose!

Vs. 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

And so, the now healed crippled man, obviously feeling the pressure from them, (for too “break” the Sabbath for a Jew was a very serious matter), now says to those rebuking him, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

Vs. 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

Immediately then when the man said that, the Jews wanted to know, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Thus, their wrath is now turning from him, to Him who made him well and told him to take up his bed and walk.

Vs. 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

However, the healed man did not know who Jesus was, for their interaction had been brief and Jesus had withdrawn from there, for a multitude of people was gathered in that place.

Vs. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Later then when the crowd had dispersed and things had calmed down, Jesus went and found the man that He had healed now in the Temple, and finding him there, He now says to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Apparently then that man’s long-term affliction was as a direct result of his own sin, for Jesus here warns him, “… Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Vs. 15 “The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.”

Now when Jesus told him that, that man went directly to the Jews and told them that it was Jesus who had made him well. And so, though the man’s body had been healed, yet his heart had not been changed.

Vs. 16 “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.”

This then became the rallying cry for the Jews, to both persecute and seek to kill Jesus, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. Not that Jesus had broken the Sabbath, only that Jesus had violated their strict and extreme interpretations of it, and so for them Jesus doing so was akin to a declaration of war against them, and their beliefs about it!

Vs. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

Even while under the threat of death from the Jews, Jesus did not capitulate to their wrong interpretations of it, rather He more boldly declared to them that, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” After God had finished creating the world and galaxies and universes and all things in them in six days, He rested on the seventh day. Later He would use this in commanding Moses to tell the children of Israel to do likewise, to rest on the seventh day from all their labors. However here Jesus makes it clear that God in creation rested on the seventh day, that is for sure, but God in redemption does not rest, for as Jesus reveals, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Working yes, but not for their own profit, but for the profit and well-being of others, because sin and Satan never rests! And so, until God’s Word and Will is completed and fulfilled, they will be working!

Vs. 18 “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

Now when the Jews heard Jesus say that, they became even more entrenched in their desires to kill Him, because He not only broke their Sabbath, (not God’s), But Jesus also made it plainly clear to them all that God was His Father, thus making Himself equal with God, which was something the Jews could not comprehend, the Triune or Trinity God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, all three in One! And yet throughout the Scriptures you can find examples of God in speaking of Himself, even from the beginning, speaking of Himself in the plural, ex. “Let Us make man in Our image…” ^{Gen. 1:26}

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

John 4:46–54

 ⁴⁶ So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored 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 will by no means believe.” ⁴⁹ The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. ⁵¹ And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” ⁵² Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” ⁵³ So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. ⁵⁴ This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Commentary

Vs. 46-47 ⁴⁶ So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

Jesus now returns to Cana of Galilee, the place where He had made the water into wine at the wedding, for this was the place where He had done His first public miracle, and it may be Jesus’ returning there was to see if any genuine faith in His Person had taken root there. Now there was also a certain nobleman from Capernaum who had a son who was sick unto death, and so when He heard that Jesus had come out of Judea, he went down there to Cana to come and plead with Him to heal His son.

Vs. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

Here Jesus was not just addressing the nobleman, but the people of that region who were only looking to Him to do some sign or miracle, (like he did at the wedding feast) or to meet some immediate need in their lives, (not that Jesus is adverse to meeting any need in our lives), rather He is adverse when we only look to Him as a “miracle worker” rather than the Savior of our souls. Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ is not impressed with their wanting to first see signs from Him before they would believe in Him, for His very Person in their midst is the sign from God in heaven, to them and us all to repent and believe in Him!

Vs. 49-50 ⁴⁹ The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.”

The nobleman then believing that Jesus could heal his son then requests that Jesus come down to his house and heal him, Jesus then seeing that he believed He could do this then says to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” Thus, there would be no miraculous healing of his son in the presence of those who were only seeking signs and miracles from Him.

Vs. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

The nobleman then believing that Jesus had healed his son (requests nothing more of Him) but now leaves and begins the journey to his home to see his son. And so, as he was traveling home his servants came and met him telling him that his son was alive and well!

Vs. 52-53 ⁵² Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” ⁵³ So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

When the nobleman heard the news of his sons’ condition, that he was now completely well, he asked his servants at what hour this occurred, and they told him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” (vs. 52). “So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.” ^{Vs. 53}

Not only then did that man believe in Jesus, but his whole household also came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! All which began when he being in great desperation and despair over his son’s wellbeing began seeking the Lord Jesus Christ, and then when He found Him, He believed Jesus Christ’s Word! The positive ripple effects then of one’s persons faith exercised in the Lord Jesus Christ than can never be fully measured by us. 

Vs. 54 “This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”

This then was the second sign Jesus did in establishing both the reality of His Person and His Ministry, as having come to men, by which He was glorifying God by doing the Will of God.

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

John 4:43–45

 ⁴³ Now after the two days He departed from there and went to 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, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

Commentary

Vs. 43 “Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.”

Having just spent two days with the Samaritans who received and believed in Him Jesus now returns to Galilee.

Vs. 44 “For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.”

The fact the Judeans did not receive Jesus as the despised Samaritans speaks volumes about them both, and so here though Jesus was from Nazareth of Galilee, yet He was born in Bethlehem, and so the reference of prophet not having no honor in His own country (Matt. 13:54-48) is referring to His not only being rejected at Nazareth His “hometown”, but also it was in Jerusalem and Judea (the quintessential region, or land, or country of the Jews) where the Lord Jesus found His most fierce opposition.

Vs. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

And so, coming into the region of Galilee, the Galileans received Him, for they too had gone down to the yearly Passover feast at Jerusalem, and they saw the signs that He did there, so they too now wanted to receive Him. That said this does not indicate saving faith by them all. For though there now is a willingness to receive Him, because of the signs that He did, yet there is no declaration of Him, no belief in Him, as the Christ, the Savior of the world as there was in Samaria. For they were only enamored with seeing the signs that He did, and not with His Word!

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

John 4:39–42

 ³⁹ And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. ⁴¹ And many more believed because of His own word. 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.”

Commentary

Incredible how the Lord used a “chance” encounter with a sinful Samaritan woman at Jacobs well to not only save that woman, but also to bring the Gospel to the people there. In this one verse then is demonstrated the power of a personal testimony, of how the Lord not only seeks out and saves the lost, but also works through our persons and lives! For after her encounter with the Lord, she became His vessel by which many also believed in Him. Initially then the woman’s testimony moved the people there to believe in Him, but later it would be the Lord Jesus Christ’s own Word which would seal the deal as it were, and thus Samaria of all places, in contrast then to Judea of which Jesus had just come out of would be the first region to widely receive and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ! Notice too how they urged Jesus to stay with them, for they wanted the Lord to be with them and to be His people, and so the Lord stayed there with them two days and taught them His own Word (vs. 40-42). Demonstrating to us all that the Gospel crosses all lines and boundaries, it bridges the gap between all cultures, peoples, languages and ages. For Jesus doesn’t restrict Himself from going anywhere, nor saving anyone who will receive Him, for anyone, anywhere, at any time who receives Him, they will have Him (Rev. 3:20). These Samaritans then in this regard demonstrate to us all the way of saving faith!

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

 

John 4:27–38

 ²⁷ And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?” ²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ²⁹ “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” ³⁰ Then they went out of the city and came to Him. ³¹ In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” ³² But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” ³³ Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. ³⁵ Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! ³⁶ And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. ³⁷ For in this 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 entered into their labors.”

Commentary

Vs. 27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”

Now just as Jesus had revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman the disciples came, and seeing Jesus talking with such a woman they marveled, for Jesus was clearly breaking a cultural taboo for them. Yet none of them said to Him, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?” Now we know the reason why, because He was trying to reach not only her, but also all those there who would also believe in Him.

 Vs. 28-29 ²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ²⁹ “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Thus when the disciples came, the woman still contemplating what Jesus had just said to her; that He was the Messiah (the Christ) whom she was seeking; left her waterpot (for that thirst was not what was now needing to be quenched) rather her soul being awakened, she went into the city and said to the men there, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” ^{vs. 29}

Vs. 30 “Then they went out of the city and came to Him.”

The woman’s words to the men there must have been very compelling, for they now come out of the city to Jesus who is still sitting at the well. 

Vs. 31-32 ³¹ In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” ³² But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

The disciples then having returned with the food now urge Jesus to eat, saying to Him, Rabbi eat. However Jesus’ thoughts are not on His physical nourishment but rather on what lies ahead for Him, for He knows He must suffer Crucifixion death if He is going to save the Samaritan woman or anyone else, including His disciples, and so He says to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

Vs. 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”

The disciple’s thoughts though are only on seeking to meet an immediate need, rather than on trying to see the bigger picture, which we too can miss out on what God is doing, if we stay focused and fixated on every little need and problem that arises in our lives as well.

Vs. 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

In response to the disciple’s pre-occupation with food, with finding something for Jesus to eat, He now says to them all, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

First and foremost, then is Jesus Word that His food is to do the will of the God the Father who sent Him; for in doing that He is nourished in every way; and so in entering into doing the will of God, Jesus then says that He wants to finish the work of God. The same then applies to our own lives as well as we too enter into doing the will of God, we should likewise be focused on finishing the will of God, for this will take all of our lives and resources. For a race started isn’t won unless it is completed.

Vs. 35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

And so, staying with the analogy of food (since that was what the disciples were focused on), Jesus now says to the disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Thus, Jesus takes a common saying and uses it to reveal a great spiritual truth, for just as there first must be a seeding, then a growth season, before there is a harvest, so too with the Gospel, which is being sown in men and woman’s hearts everywhere! Therefore Jesus redirects the disciples thoughts away from being fixated on food to look and consider what is happening before them, and all around them, for He says to them and us all, Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

All around us then are the seeds of the Gospel in people’s hearts and lives now coming to fruition and in need of harvest! And so, we are to seek to be coworkers with God in this as He seeks to harvest the fields of eternal life!

For that is an important work of the church, to both sow the Gospel and reap the fruits of the Gospel which is people coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Vs. 36 “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”

Here Jesus is the Sower, and we His disciples are His reapers, and so Jesus says, “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life…”

Thus, as reapers in the Lord’s harvest field we will receive wages, both in this life and for all eternity. And by doing so we are gathering fruit for eternal life, that is we are gathering in God’s fruit for Him from His field. However, we are not earning eternal by doing so, rather we are gathering fruit for eternal life, meaning we are gathering fruit that does not rot or decay, but lasts forever! Now this we do so that both He who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together, because no greater joy has heaven, nor the children of it, then to see someone repent and believe in the Gospel! Thus, the churches and individual believers’ strength and joy is found in sowing and reaping together with the Lord Jesus Christ on earth for heaven.

Vs. 37-38 For in this 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 entered into their labors.”

 Truly then one sows while another reaps (vs. 37). For Gospel requires both and we are God’s appointed workers for it, therefore one must sow while another reaps. Each one is needed, and not one is more important than the other. Missionaries than might spend decades and never see their fruits and labors come to fruition, and yet at the right time there will be a harvest and it will be reaped! Same with Gospel preachers or teachers, many ministries will not know the full impact of their work until eternity. For even the Old Testament prophets who faithfully ministered the Word of God did not then see the fruits of their labors, but they are seeing them now as the Lord Jesus Christ fulfills and magnifies the Word of God spoken through them. Therefore, the Lord Jesus says to us all, “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Therefore, let us all then be people who willingly enter into the labors and work of all those who came before us. who as a great cloud of witnesses are now watching us from high, so that we too might have joy with them all when we come home and meet and greet them all in heaven!

 Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

John 4:1–26

 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ² (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), ³ He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. ⁴ But He needed to go through Samaria. ⁵ So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. ⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ⁸ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. ⁹ Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” ¹¹ The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? ¹² Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” ¹³ Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” ¹⁷ The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” ¹⁹ The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 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. ²² You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

 

Commentary

 

Commentary

Vs. 1-3 ¹ Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ² (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), ³ He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

 As the Lord Jesus Christ’s Ministry increased Johns decreased, and so the Pharisees focus shifted from John, to now closely watching the Lord Jesus Christ. For they were after all the “guardians” of their own faith and practices, and anyone who posed a “threat” to them and their established order they were immediately going to set themselves against. Now here we learn that it was not the Lord Jesus Christ who was water baptizing those people coming to Him, but His disciples, which is something that still takes place today. Now that Jesus left the region of Judea and departed again to Galilee in many ways is a judgment against them. For Judea was the epi-center of the Jews religion and practices; kind of like the “Bible belt” of its day; and yet this region would only become most hostile towards Him, for it would be the people there who would later Crucify Him. And so, once Jesus baptized all His disciples there, He left for Galilee. Now Galilee was generally considered by those of Judea as an “unclean” land because of the large Gentile population that was dispersed amongst the Jews dwelling there. And so, when the Pharisees heard that Jesus returned there, their immediate reaction would be to cease following Him, though they would not cease to be antagonistic and hostile towards Him, instead they would recruit others to continue on in this, both to observe and follow Him, and thus try to induce Him into doing or saying something so that they can now accuse Him, and render judgment against Him. None of which will succeed, but all of which will only lead to their own (and those who obey them) total blindness to just who He is, and all the good that He does towards Israel and towards all!

Vs. 4-5 ⁴ But He needed to go through Samaria. ⁵ So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

 Now on His way to Galilee, Jesus needed to pass through the region of Samaria (vs.4), that is the ancient territory that formed when northern Israel rebelled against the southern kingdom established in Judea. And so, when they did so, they set up their own religious practices there. Now later when the Northern Israelites were taken into captivity because of their ongoing idolatry against and disobedience towards God, by the Assyrians, the Assyrians resettled the land with the Gentile peoples from the various nations which they had conquered, who then adopted some of the Samaritans basic beliefs and practices. And so, for every Jew, Samaria and the native Samaritans who remained there, because of their long antagonistic history towards each other, became a land that was only regarded by them as an apostate land and people, and so Jews had no dealings with them. However, Jesus needed to pass through Samaria; not that He had to pass through it to get to Galilee, for He could’ve made His way around it as the Jews in Judea always had done. Instead Jesus needed to pass through it. For as we will see, there He will find a certain woman and some true disciples. And so, Jesus will not shun going to Samaria, or anywhere else, when He knows that there is someone who will believe in Him. Now the place that Jesus came to was the city (better translated village) of Sychar which was near the plot of ground that Jacob (i.e. Israel) gave to his son Joseph (Gen. 48:22). Thus, this place was first established and founded by the Israel himself!

Vs. 6 “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”

 That Jacobs well was there only adds to the historical backdrop (see Gen. 33:18-20), and that Jesus was wearied by His journey shows that though the Son of God, He was still in every way the Son of Man! Thus, Jesus truly does understand what is like to be cold, or hunger, or thirsty, or physically or emotionally exhausted. Thus, Jesus needing to rest sat down by Jacobs well.

 Vs. 7-8 ⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ⁸ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

 And so, it was while Jesus was sitting at the well that a certain woman of Samaria came to draw water. Now it was the sixth hour of the day (about noon, vs. 6), thus it was most unusual for someone to be drawing water in the heat of the day, since this was usually done in the early morning hours. Clearly then this woman did not expect to encounter anyone when she went to draw water. Now when Jesus saw her, that she had a vessel in her hand to draw water with, being wearied with thirst, He said to her, “Give Me a drink.” “For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.” ^{Vs. 8}

 Vs. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

 Initially the woman is less than cordial towards Jesus, for she only responds to His request by saying, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” And so she only expresses the ancient animosity that existed between Samaritans and Jews, for having been shunned even by her own people (for that would be why she would be drawing water in the heat of the day), it’s easy to see why she would ‘ve initially responded to Jesus this way. Now that she knew Jesus was a Jew would be simply by His robe, since Jewish men wore tassels on their robes (Deut. 22:12).

 Vs. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

 Even though the woman is initially callous towards Him, this in no way dissuades Jesus, for He now says to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

 Jesus then takes a rather ordinary encounter with a woman and turns it into a moment of revelation about Himself and the gift of God that He offers to one and to all, using the metaphor of living water to describe the gift of God of eternal salvation to all who believe in Him (Isaiah 12:3). Thus, if she knew who Jesus was her only response to Him would have been to ask Him for living waters!

Vs. 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

 The woman though is only confused by Jesus’ response and revelation to her, and so she says to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

Vs. 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

 Returning then to her ancestral roots (since the Samaritans claimed their ancestry from Jacob) who dug the well and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock? She now questions Jesus Person, since He had gone far beyond just claiming to be a Jewish rabbi, but Someone who could give her living waters.

Vs. 13-14 ¹³ Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Jesus now makes it clear that whoever drinks of this water, that is literally the water from Jacobs well; but more importantly the water from any sort of religious belief or practice that is not of Him; will thirst again (vs. 13). That is, they will not be satisfied with it. For only the living water that Jesus Christ gives us satisfies the eternal thirst of our souls! That said not only does His living water satisfy our souls, but it becomes in us a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. Thus, from being nourished replenished and refreshed to then becoming nourishers ourselves is how salvation works itself out through us all who believe in Christ.

Vs. 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

Upon hearing this, the woman now has her true hearts and souls desire awakened to its need, and so she says to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

Vs. 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

The woman then having just asked for the living waters that Jesus gives, Jesus now changes the conversation and asks the woman to, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” ^{Vs. 16} The reason being she herself like all people everywhere can very easily say they want the living waters that Christ gives to all who believe in Him, but if they do not first see that what they have been doing in trying to satisfy that thirst themselves has only been sinful they may very well just return to it. For only repentant sinners truly see that Christ alone satisfies their deepest needs and desires!

Vs. 17-18 ¹⁷ The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

Now when Jesus told the woman to go and get her husband and come here, she responded to Jesus saying, “I have no husband.” However Jesus knew otherwise, and so He now says to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” Thus, the woman had been living a very promiscuous life, going from man to man as each relationship failed, and yet for all that her soul was never satisfied, for she as Jesus said, only thirsted again and again.

Vs. 19-20 ¹⁹ The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

The woman upon hearing Jesus reveal to her just how she had been living promiscuously, now says to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” That is, You are one sent by God with the Words and Message of God. And so, she now says to Him, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” ^{Vs. 20} Now in saying as much she may have been testing Jesus about His and her forefathers’ beliefs and practices. For Samaritans had made Mount Gerizim the place where God was to be worshiped, while the Jews rightly maintained that Jerusalem and the Temple established there by God was where mankind was to seek and worship Him.

Vs. 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.

Now the Lord Jesus Christ in responding to her now seeks to move the woman’s focus from Temples and their importance and significance back to the salvation (i.e. living waters) He is offering her, because now in the Gospel age (or New Covenant era) which He was ushering in, the Temple and its central importance to the Jews faith and practices was no longer going to be relevant, for the Lord had come to His people and He was going to make His dwelling Place amongst us all who believe in Him! For by His Holy Spirit dwelling in us He has made us, His people, His Temple! (consider Acts 7:44-50; 17:24-25; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16 etc.). Therefore worship of God does take place exclusively here or there, rather it first takes place in one’s heart, and thus maybe felt and expressed anywhere, but most especially where two or more are gathered in Jesus Christ’s Name!

Vs. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.”

Though the Samaritans had similar beliefs to the Jews (they held to the Law of Moses), yet because they had long ago rejected God’s Temple and Throne at Jerusalem, they were essentially worshiping what they did not know, that is by holding to their own religious beliefs and practices, and especially Mount Gerizim as the place to worship the Lord, they were neither knowing Him, nor worshipping the Lord God Almighty. Something that is not unique to them. For when people seek to follow their own ideas and practices, they cease to worship God the Father. Now that salvation is of the Jews does not mean that salvation is only for the Jews, rather by saying as much Jesus is pointing to the fact that with the Jews keeping and holding to the entire Old Testament Scripture, they were in effect preserving the way for God’s salvation to come to all of mankind. That said, those same Scriptures and sacrificial worship practices at Jerusalem should’ve pointed them all to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Fulfilment of them.

Vs. 23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

The Lord Jesus Christ now foretells of when His Spirit is poured out on believing humanity, and thus the true worshipers of God, who are all of us who now believe in His Son, will worship Him in spirit and truth, for God is seeking such worship, for only that is genuine worship of Him, because it is not born out of trying to keep the law; that is mankind’s self-efforts to make themselves approved before God; nor is it born out of trying to keep the doctrines and commandments of men, who either corrupt it, or just add more weight to the load, rather it comes from within us, because His Spirit now dwells in us, who has brought us to Spirit life simply by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, being born again, that is born from on High, we can by His Spirit and by His Word, worship Him in spirit and truth!

Vs. 24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God is Spirit, that is the Eternal Nature of God, therefore those who worship Him must also first be born-again by His Spirit, so as to not only bear the Spiritual likeness of God, but also to have union with God we must come to Him through Jesus Christ alone. For that is the beginning of worship with God in Spirit. And so once one is Spiritually alive, now united to God through Christ, they can be led by His Spirit and guided by His Word to worship Him in Spirit and truth! For the Spirit always works in complete harmony with God’s Words truth. And so, by saying as much Jesus is not only affirming the Nature of God, but He is shelving all of mankind’s attempts at worship and religion of Him. For it must be God Himself who first brings us to life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then by His Word and by His Spirit, He guides our spirits to worship Him in Spirit and truth.

Vs. 25-26 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

The woman then begins to understand that neither the traditions of her own Samaritan people, nor even following the traditions of the Jews, will lead her or anyone else, to worship God in Spirit and truth. And so, turning away from the traditions of the Samaritans and the Jews to what revelation of the Scripture that she has, she now says to Jesus, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” By saying as much then she reveals that her heart was now open to hear and learn from Him, and so with that Jesus now plainly reveals Himself to her, saying, “I who speak to you am He.”

Continued on next blog post