Today, we see the effects of the Samaritan women’s testimony. First, the word of Jesus is given to the disciples. The fields are ready for harvest. They will reap what they did not work for. The “success” we have in life and in faith is often because of the work of those who have gone before us. This should give us perspective. Likewise, the work we do may not show its fruit until years in the future. We reap what we do not sow, and others may reap what we have sowed. We also see that people now believe not because of the woman’s words but because they have heard for themselves. This should also give us perspective. We do not save anyone. Only Jesus saves.

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Good morning and Happy Friday! I hope you’re doing well and have had a great week. I’m really looking forward to the weekend because tonight marks my son’s first marching band performance at a football game this year. Last week we had a scrimmage, but this will be the first official game. I’ll be at Germantown tonight, helping out by cooking french fries, so if you’re planning to support Germantown Athletics, come by and grab some seasoned fries from the Germantown Band Boosters!

Today, we’re going to continue with chapter four of the Gospel of John, reading the rest of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. We’ll start with verse 31 and read through verse 42.

In this passage, the disciples urge Jesus to eat something, but He responds, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” The disciples are puzzled, wondering if someone else had brought Him food. But Jesus clarifies, saying, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to complete His work.” He goes on to talk about the fields being ripe for harvest and how the reapers are already gathering fruit for eternal life. He tells the disciples that they are reaping what others have sown, entering into the labor of those who came before them.

This is a powerful message. Prophets like John the Baptist had come before Jesus, preparing the way. The disciples are now benefiting from their work, reaping what they did not labor for. As a preacher, I can relate to this. I stand on the shoulders of the pastors who came before me—great men like David Carol, Bill Macaulay, Steve Castile, and Hank Winston. They laid the foundation, and I am blessed to build upon their work. I’m just trying not to mess up what they’ve already started.

We are all part of a long line of believers. We’re not the first to live, to be faithful, or to seek after Jesus. This should be freeing for us, knowing that it doesn’t all rest on our shoulders. God had people here before us, and He’ll have people here after us. It’s an encouraging thought that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves.

It’s also important to remember that just because we are working, sowing, and planting seeds doesn’t mean we will always see the fruit of our labor. You might tell someone about Jesus, and it may take decades for that seed to bear fruit. You never know the impact your life may have on someone else, even if you never see it.

At the end of the passage, the Samaritans tell the woman that they no longer believe just because of what she said, but because they have heard for themselves and now know that Jesus is truly the Savior of the world. This is key. Our testimony as Christians is vital in sharing the good news, but what truly matters is that people hear from Jesus themselves. They hear from Jesus through scripture, through worship, and by putting themselves in a position to encounter Him personally.

Faith is both communal and individual. We all need each other, but our faith is our own. Our job as Christians is to help others understand that God loves them and to share the good news of Jesus. But ultimately, it’s Jesus who saves. The woman at the well didn’t save the Samaritans; she simply pointed them to Jesus. They believed because they heard from Him directly.

This passage gives us proper perspective on our work. We often reap the rewards of someone else’s labor, and someone else may reap the rewards of ours. But in all of it, God gets the glory. The Samaritans believed not just because of the woman’s testimony, but because they heard from Jesus themselves. That’s what makes the difference.

We need to tell our testimony and encourage others to hear from Jesus. We also need to be careful not to mistake someone else’s testimony for our own encounter with God. It’s not enough to live off someone else’s joy or experience. We need to go to the original source. Don’t just read what someone says about the Bible—read the Bible yourself. Don’t just listen to someone else talk about prayer—pray yourself. Don’t just hear about serving others—serve somebody.

Let’s not be satisfied with hearing someone else’s testimony. Let’s do the things that allow us to encounter God personally, so that we can go from hearing someone else’s testimony to having our own. That should be our goal and our hope.

On Monday, we’ll pick up again with John chapter four. I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful Labor Day. I’ll have a special devotional on Labor Day, so stay tuned. Have a great day!