John 4:31-38 The call of a Christian is to forgive sins and bring eternal life to the world

John 4:31-38 The call of a Christian is to forgive sins and bring eternal life to the world

Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case 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 labor.”

Background

The disciples’ return occasioned an object lesson on the new era of eternal life in God’s kingdom. Jesus charged His disciples to place the agenda of the kingdom above personal agenda. The ministry of Jesus has opened the door to eternal life in God’s kingdom. Believers are now equipped with divine power to forgive sins and experience eternal life. Today’s devotion teaches us: The call of a Christian is to forgive sins and bring eternal life to the world.

Observation

But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

The disciples returned with food and eagerly offered it to Jesus. Jesus, having noticed their fixation on food seized the opportunity to teach them about the mission and call of the kingdom. Jesus’s reply: “I have food to eat that you do not know about” served as introduction to His object lesson. Jesus taught about spiritual food which is to do the will of Him. As the physical body cannot sustain apart from physical food, likewise man’s spirit cannot live apart from spiritual food; to do the will of God.

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.

Jesus elaborated on the subject of the work of God by pointing to the ongoing harvest. They were in the midst of the barley and wheat harvests that begins in April and ends in July (four months). Jesus declared that the appointed time had come for souls to be harvested into God’s kingdom. And Jesus solemnly charged His disciples to preach and lead people towards eternal life. Eternal life is a state where one is rebirthed to live in the manner that Jesus lives. Indeed, Jesus has made it possible for all to live out His virtues, wisdom and power.

For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’

The disciples of Jesus are reapers who bring to fruition the work of the sowers. The sowers refer to the priests, prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament; those who served in the Old Covenant. Indeed, this occasioned a double joy of ushering in eternal life and realising wages on behalf of the sowers. As reapers of the New Covenant, how would the disciples’ ministry differ from that of the sowers in the Old Covenant?

The sowers of the Old Covenant could only teach the Law and warn against disobedience. However, they had no power to remove the hardness of the people’s hearts. On the other hand, the reapers of the New Covenant teaches the full counsel of Christ’s life. They also possess the authority to forgive sins by breaking bondages. In essence, reapers can lead believers towards eternal life, something that sowers cannot do.

Sowers – they impart knowledge of the Law and warn people of the consequences if they disobey. But they cannot lead the people to obtain eternal life.

Reapers – they teach the full counsel of Christ and break the bondage of sin for those who believe. In so doing, the people may obtain eternal life to love God and love others.

The ministry of Jesus has accomplished that which the priests and prophets of the Old Covenant could only dream of. The blood of Christ offered through the Spirit is powerful in purifying man’s conscience to serve God. That said, Jesus also disarmed the rulers and authorities of darkness (Colossians 2:15) causing believers to triumph over them. In Luke 9 and 10, Jesus was recorded as giving authority to the twelve disciples and later to the seventy to heal diseases and cast out demons. After Jesus resurrected, He also gave His disciples authority to forgive sins and to release men from sin’s bondage (see John 20:23).

Truth

The call of a Christian is to forgive sins and bring eternal life to the world.

The disciples were so fixated on their personal agenda that they were unaware of the woman, the fruit that is waiting to be gathered for eternal life. They were so preoccupied with food, they missed out on the things that truly matters. But Jesus was single-minded towards the heavenly call and was constantly looking to forgive sins and bring eternal life to all. Indeed, all believers must accomplish the mission and not be sidetracked by the cares of life.

Food and material wealth are but resources which believers use to accomplish the work of God. They are means as opposed to being the focus of life. Material wealth does not make life abundant, but charity does. Yet, many are preoccupied with what they will eat, drink and wear. They work long hours to accumulate wealth so that they may feel secure and spend it on their pleasures. They surround themselves with the latest gadgets, and clutter their weekends with entertainment. Such are apathetic to the needy and to the kingdom’s agenda.

Jesus taught that abundant living necessitates the consumption of spiritual food; which is to obey the call of God. When Jesus was tempted to focus on his personal needs by turning stones into bread, He spoke of man’s greater need to live by the call of God (see Matthew 4:4). Regrettably, many are rich on the outside, but were rotting on the inside. Their souls are parched with thirst while they stand at the threshold of hell. Such will hear the very words that Abraham once spoke to the rich man, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.” – Luke 16:25).

Therefore, as New Covenant believers, it is wise to consider simplifying and re-ordering one’s life to focus on the things that truly matter; to forgive sins and bring eternal life to all.

Believers can exercise the full authority of Christ to bring eternal life to the world.

Jesus sent the disciples to reap the harvest by giving them authority over demons and to heal diseases. He also gave them the authority to forgive sins and break bondages. However, many in today’s churches behave like sowers of the Old Covenant. They preach the word but short of casting out demons and breaking the power of sin. Because many were not trained in the tasks of casting out demons and healing diseases, believers cannot experience eternal life as promised. It follows that these also find the words of Jesus impossible to follow. Subsequently, the church considers the full counsel of Christ a tall order and omits them. In so doing, they deprive the church of eternal life (see John 6:68).

Therefore, it is paramount that the church of the New Covenant receive the authority of Christ to forgive sins and bring eternal life to the world.

Application

Do you as a believer experience eternal life? Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3. Knowing Jesus is to understand His teachings and to live them out.

• Jesus must be accorded with the highest loyalty (see Luke 14:26).
• God’s kingdom concerns must take precedence over all other concerns (see Matthew 6:33).
• One must be prepared to lose all possessions to become a disciple of Jesus (see Luke 14:33).
• In order to bear fruit towards eternal life, one must die to his aspirations, rights and fleshly nature (see John 12:24).
• One must put God’s interest as well as the interest of the kingdom above his own (see Luke 22:42).
• One must forgive those who have hurt him (see Matthew 6:15).
• One must lay down his life for his friends (see John 15:13).

Is your life cluttered by work such that you have little time to read the word or to serve the needy? Is your soul burdened by mortgage payments and financial commitments? Simplify your life by getting rid of luxuries and things that you do not need. Begin by being a good and considerate spouse… a patient and exemplary parent to your child… a filial son or daughter to your parents… a thoughtful friend … a conscientious worker at the workplace. Let eternal life begin at home, then in the church and in the workplace and beyond.

Are your efforts in evangelism effective in bringing eternal life for the hearer? Are you anointed to forgive sins, cast out demons and heal diseases? Do not give up in seeking out a teacher who is gifted in this aspect of ministry. Humble yourself and submit to his authority. Above all, seek God for the anointing to reap the harvest towards eternal life.

Dear Lord, I will simplify and re-order my life so that I can invest my time and resources in things that truly matter. Anoint me with your power so that I may bring eternal life to the people around me. Regenerate me so that I may obtain eternal life; to live out the full counsel of Christ’s teachings. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.