The Savior

Introduction

There are so many blessings from God that we take for granted. Certainly basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter are provided us. We are thankful for these and so many others. But let’s look at the intricacy of eating. It isn’t just that we have food to eat; we have variety. God created us with the ability to discern different flavors. We can even with ample practice discern the different flavors within a dish of food. We can pick out the flavor of spices. Accompanying the ability to discern taste is the blessing of being able to smell our food. Without the ability to smell our food wouldn’t taste as good. When we have a cold severe enough to reduce our ability to smell we often do not find food appealing.

We get energy from the food we eat. We have to have so many calories a day in order for our body to function well. But eating just to be eating doesn’t have the same affect. There is something about a wonderful meal that makes us thankful. It can be elaborate or simple. The meal often is not about cost but about the company, the extent of our hunger, and the appreciation for something that absolutely entices. Food is a big part of our lives.

The point is simply this: God blesses us in so many ways that we often take for granted. As we finish our study of the Samaritan woman from John 4, may we take just a moment to remember that our time on this earth matters. The brief time we have serves a greater purpose than becoming proficient at living life well. Like Jesus we must find a greater purpose in doing the will of God and to finish His work well. Let’s bless God’s name in song as we begin together.

Harvest

Jesus and his disciples have been traveling for about six hours when they arrive at Sychar in Samaria. The disciples go into town to find food for energy. Jesus rests waiting on their return. But he isn’t waiting on them so much as he is waiting for the woman who comes to the well. When the disciples return, Jesus and this woman are completing an intense conversation. With food in hand, they urge Jesus to eat. But Jesus isn’t interested in eating. He is energized by this conversation with the woman. Ever had that experience? Been tired but then a conversation or an experience re-energizes you? I’m not talking about a tragedy that increases adrenaline. Wednesday nights often provide that for many of us. Tired from a day of work, we find new energy with our brothers and sisters. This is an energy that comes from realigning with God again.

Jesus announces that he has already eaten. The disciples thinking physically wonder if someone else has brought him food. So Jesus explains. When I do God’s will, then I am fed. Food has some merit. It is important but Jesus announces that his greater purpose is to do God’s will and with that announcement, he calls his disciples to a deeper appreciation for what is going on around them. Surrounded by those that are Jewish half-breeds and rejected in the Jewish mind, Jesus tells his disciples to look around. It is harvest time. This is not the time to shrink back from doing God’s will. This is the time to look around. You get the privilege of reaping what others have sown.

Can you imagine how the disciples felt going into a city to get food? A city that wasn’t Jewish? A place that could easily contaminate them? Can you imagine seeing their teacher talking to a woman breaking all kinds of cultural, political, and gender sensibilities. Can you imagine Jesus telling them to quit despising and wanting this moment to go more quickly? There is no time like the present. Jesus says it is time now to engage. He knew what was coming. The people are going to come out to him. He is energized. He gets to teach. He gets to persuade. He gets to reveal the will of God to people that have been rejected, neglected, and ostracized. He will stay two days in a place that most rabbis would avoid. He will stay two days with people that most Jewish religious leaders would continue to ignore. He will stay two days and show his disciples how to reap a harvest.

Lessons

Two lessons from this text. First, we need to understand what Jesus knew to be true—our purpose in this life is far greater than living life well. Like Jesus we must lift our eyes to see the spiritual reality that surrounds us. In our minds we are too much like the disciples. We are hesitant, reluctant, and lack courage. We want people to know Jesus and hope that “someone” will help them. Let’s open our eyes and look at what is already in front of us. We are all in places and situations that afford us the privilege of doing the will of God. Doing such will energize us. This is our spiritual food.

Jesus chides his disciples with the words “four months more and then the harvest.” Samaria was not a place they would have thought about baptizing people. This is what they were doing at the beginning of chapter 4. Opposition is growing so Jesus leaves the Jerusalem area and heads north. Samaria is a stopover not a place for a spiritual harvest. Jesus says “what are you waiting for.” The time to act is now not later. How do we do that? We have forgotten the basic truth—this life is not about us. It is about doing Father’s will. What does that mean? Faithful living. Listening to others. Thinking about others before we think of ourselves. Hearing the words of people who are lonely and hurting and finding ways to connect. Be bold and courageous enough to speak for Jesus when possible even when it feels uncomfortable.

Second, John’s trial continues. We have an interaction with Jesus outside of the Jewish kingdom and after this encounter the pronouncement is that Jesus is the Savior of the world. This phrase deserves our attention. John writes his gospel toward the latter part of the 1st century. There is no doubt that these descriptive phrase was used to describe Jesus but it is a loaded phrase at the end of the 1st century. The word “Savior” is not a usual word in the NT gospel accounts. Only Luke uses this word to describe the baby Jesus in Luke 2:11. The word is used in the NT with some frequency. The point is simply this—Jesus is called a number of things in the gospel accounts: Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah but Savior is rare. Thus, we should see some significance with this title.

This word “Savior” was used to describe Greek gods and Roman emperors. Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Vespasian, and Titus all used this term to describe themselves. Since John is written toward the end of 1st century this phrase contests the current usage as applied to Roman emperors. Titus was emperor from 79–81 A.D. and was the general that destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. John is a master at using words that have double meanings. Savior of the world was applied to Titus and now is applied to Jesus. Interesting to think that Titus may have died in 81 and that John wrote his gospel soon afterwards as a way of demonstrating that what was once thought eternal has an end and the one who was crucified is the only one to give eternal life.

Here’s the lesson for us. We follow the one who is eternal. The temporary leaders of this world will rise and die. For every politician who is seen as the next “Savior” there is truly only one who gives life eternal. There is only one who gives living water. There is only one who is recognized as the Savior of the world—Jesus, the Christ. After two days, a small Samaritan village recognized who Jesus was. The question is do you?

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