John 4 - Water, Worship and Harvest

"...whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

In chapter four, John introduces the theme of living water. We see the symbolism of water in the miracle at the Cana wedding; and it is mentioned in passing in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. But here Jesus directly offers the living water. And in his profound conversation with the woman from Samaria, he declares himself to be the Messiah, I AM (v.26)

"...the hour is ... now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." John 4:23

What an incredible statement! Everything has changed! The time has now come when the only acceptable act of worship is total orientation of my life and action toward the Father.

And now we call God our Father, Abba Father. Although this concept was introduced in Isaiah (the Everlasting Father), it is not until Jesus comes into our world and shows us who God is do we have the right to become children of God.

"...lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." John 4:35

Jesus is trying to explain the urgency of his task here on earth. His food, that on which he relies for sustenance, is to do God's will and accomplish his work (v. 34). He challenges his disciples (and us) to take that same view of our lives.

I can just picture Jesus sitting at the well trying to teach this lesson to his disciples. He looks in the distance toward the city and sees the group of people that the woman from the well has gathered. He motions for his disciples to turn and look at the crowd, and he tells them, "These are the fields, ready to be harvested ... I am now sending you to reap."