Sow and Reap

One sows and another reaps

JOHN 4 BIBLE STUDY ◄
John 4:31-35 God’s Work

John 4:36-42 Sow and Reap

JOHN 4:36-38 36 “And he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit unto everlasting life, so that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

What does John 4:36-37 imply?
The person who “sows” or first tells someone about Jesus may not be the one who gets to witness him or her get saved. But both the sower and the reaper will “rejoice together” in heaven if they haven’t already on earth.

Do Jesus’ words to the disciples sound congratulatory or admonishing?
Admonishing.

Why?

Between them and the Samaritan woman, who was more qualified to tell the people of Sychar about Jesus?

JOHN 4:39-42 39 And many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His word. 42 And they said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

Why did the “many” (John 4:39) Samaritans believe in Jesus?
Many believed simply based on the woman’s account.

Why might they have been intrigued by what she had to say?
Since she was on her sixth “husband” (John 4:18), she may have had a ‘reputation’ in town, and her announcement that “He told me everything that I ever did” (John 4:29) may have perked some ears. This also means that she risked or took on personal embarrassment for a chance to tell people about Jesus.

Would you?

Why or when did “many more” believe in Jesus as “the Christ, the Savior of the World” (John 4:42)?
After having heard “His word” (John 4:41) for themselves. It’s imperative for what you believe to be grounded directly in the Bible, which you must know for yourself. The everlasting destination of your soul is too important for you to entrust it to any person regardless of how learned or sincere they may seem.