John 4:27–45
Read the passage.
The disciples return right after Jesus tells the woman that He is the Messiah. This apparently prompts her to leave her water jar and go tell the town what she has heard. Be careful as you read that you don’t assume that “disciples” means “the Twelve” whenever you see it. John doesn’t tell us when all of the Twelve were called, and many more people were following Jesus at various points in His ministry. However many they were, they were confused as to why the Rabbi would be teaching a woman, and a Samaritan at that, but they keep their questions to themselves. At that time, giving women theological instruction was largely considered a waste of time. Even in a legal setting, the testimony of a woman was considered only half as good as a man’s. Counter to this prevailing notion, this woman was more effective at leading the community of Sychar to Jesus than all of His disciples at once.
As the disciples try to get Jesus to eat the food they brought, we learn that they are way more focused on His physical needs—real and a legitimate concern—than they are on the spiritual needs of the town they are in. Jesus tells them that the harvest of souls is ripe and ready to be brought in. Many are desperately longing for salvation, even if they don’t realize it. God has been at work in their hearts sowing the seeds of regeneration and they are ready to put their faith in Him if only someone would show them the way.
The townsfolk knew the woman’s past as well as she did, and the fact that Jesus knew it too when He had no reason to is enough to get them to listen to Him teach. They asked Him to stay overnight so they could continue to hear what He had to say, and many more believed in Him because of that. This response is contrasted with the Galileans He encounters at the end of this journey. They also welcome Him, but it is because of the signs He performed at the feast in Jerusalem, which they had seen Him do.
Prepare our hearts to receive You, and help us to see and do the works You have prepared for us.