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So much more to learn about Jesus the Messiah

Text: John 4:1-45

SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS THE MESSIAH

The Disciples must have been surprised if not astounded by their teacher. They certainly could never accurately predict what He would do next! He had managed to astonish them all the time.

He had quietly performed a miracle at Cana of Galilee! How could anyone have chosen to perform a great miracle and keep quiet about it? Then He had given time to speak to a Pharisee! The Disciples had heard their former teacher, John the Baptizer speak scathingly of the Pharisees, and there was their teacher engaged in deep conversation with Nicodemus, a notable Pharisee!

The Disciples had gone to Sychar to buy some provisions and had returned to find Jesus speaking to a woman of Samaria! Of course, they did not dare to question their Teacher why He did what He did – to speak to a woman! Nevertheless, they wondered why Jesus would spend time talking to a woman!

Women-folk were not well regarded in those days! They were not given a chance to get educated. Their contribution to life and society was limited to the home! How could Jesus their Teacher have thought of talking to the woman!

The Disciples had much more to learn about their Teacher. He had challenged all their traditional ideas, and had left them speechless! They could not gainsay what Jesus did. They knew that He was not wrong in what He did, but they also realized that they could not always understand all that He did!

MUNDANE ISSUES

The roles of a teacher and disciples were fairly well defined in those days. The task of the teacher was of course to instruct and to impart knowledge. The disciples on the other hand had to ensure that they looked after the more mundane details. They would have to look after the physical details such as food.

The disciples had gone into the city of Sychar to purchase food. That was their duty. Jesus, being their Teacher, did not have to make the trek to Sychar with them. The arrangement was for Jesus to rest up at Jacob’s Well and the disciples would make a trip to Sychar and then return quickly with food for their noonday meal.

The disciples had purchased their food and had returned to Jesus. They had prepared the food and then they invited Jesus to have some. John wrote,

“In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying,
‘Rabbi, eat.’ “
John 4:31

It was normal for the disciples to ask Jesus to eat with them. How could they begin their meal without first asking Jesus to partake of it with them? However, Jesus seemed preoccupied, as if He was thinking of something else. His mind was certainly not on the food that the Disciples had taken the trouble to prepare.

What could the matter be? Why wasn’t their Teacher hungry? Why would He not respond to their invitation to partake of a meal with them? To their surprise He said,

“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
John 4:32

What could Jesus mean? The Disciples did not always understand the language Jesus employed. They were firstly very new at being His Disciples. Secondly, His thoughts were always very deep. His words required pondering over if they were to be fully understood.

The Disciples were puzzled and they spoke to one another concerning what He meant. Their lack of comprehension was well-evidenced in the way they talked with one another.

“Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
John 4:33

All the Disciples had gone to the city of Sychar to purchase food. Jesus had been all alone at Jacob’s Well. No one could have had brought Jesus food. The construction of the sentence was rhetorical. They knew that no one had brought Him food to eat. The rhetorical question they spoke out loud merely reflected that they did not understand what Jesus meant when He spoke about having consumed food that they did not know about!

ANOTHER DEEP SPIRITUAL LESSON TAUGHT

The Disciples had not failed to do their duty in looking after the physical needs of their Teacher. They had gone into Sychar, a city of the Samaritans, even though they might have had reservations about going there. They had made the trip there to purchase food for their Teacher. But now, Jesus virtually said that He wasn’t going to eat with them. He was full. He had already eaten. What could He mean?

Jesus, the eternal Teacher, wasn’t mocking them when He said that He had spiritual food to eat. He was just doing what He liked best – to teach deep spiritual truths effectively! As He watched the amazement written on the faces of the Disciples, He gently explained,

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,
and to finish His work.”
John 4:34

The Disciples did not know that Jesus had spoken at length to the woman of Samaria. They did not know about this “work” that Jesus had begun. It was His Father’s will that He spoke to the Samaritan woman. He had taught her deep truths, and had even revealed to her that He was the Messiah!

The woman had run back to her city. The work that Jesus had begun was not yet complete. He knew that she would return with other Samaritans to hear Him speak. This was a work that He had begun, and He must complete what He had commenced doing! The Disciples learned a deep lesson that day about the way Jesus worked! What a tremendous attitude towards serving God!