John 4:27-38
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
When Jesus' disciples rejoin Him in Samaria...They do not ask Him any questions...Like the Samaritan woman, they are (still) confused as to who He is...
They do not ask why are with a Samaritan?...Why are you talking to a woman (from Samaria)?...Why are you talking to a sinful woman from Samaria?...The disciples are a passive group, but still have questions, mostly about their confusion about Him... They knew Jesus enough to know that His reasons in being with a Samaritan would be productive and be about our Father...
The Samaritan woman was influenced by Jesus...Jesus knew everything she had done and He speaks in such a way, that He has authority...And for these two reasons she goes back to town and tells other Samaritans about Him...Those who believe in God, when they learn a little from the Messiah, want to know more... We must remember that the Jews and disciples did not associate with each other...
The Samaritan woman gives witness to Jesus (to others) and she is effective...Other Samaritans come out and listen to Him...
Jesus' disciples still wondering why He is there and teaching, ask Him if He needs food...He tells them that His food is to do they will of God...Jesus in a sense is telling the disciples, you need your daily bread, but you also need the daily Word of God...He is divine and His words are always teaching, always focused on the Father...
Jesus compares His time to like that of the harvest...Harvest is a busy time...It is a definite time and work must be done and completed timely...Those who sow the LORD's message today would be helping others and not see the benefits until later... Much of Jesus' work would come to fruition and harvest, after His resurrection...
Jesus tells His disciples He must finish His work...His work is get His Father's word to all nations, starting with the Samaritans...
One will sow and another will reap...Jesus (who is sowing now) will later die for us and our sins...Then the disciples will reap those followers, who believe in Jesus and hear and follow God's message...