Jesus demonstrates how bringing people to faith can nourish us

John 4:31-54
AIM: God wills his work is done, his way by his workers
A) Jesus explains his food is doing God's will in bringing people to eternal life
(31-33) disciples urged Jesus to eat but he had food they didn't know about ("someone else brought food?")
(34) “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

• Psalm 40:8, I delight to do your will; law within my heart. 
• John 5:30, not my own will but God's will
• John 6:38 come to do the will of Him who sent me
• John 8:29 He sent me, with me always do what pleases Him
• John 17:4 Glorified You on earth accomplishing the work You gave me to do
• John 19:28-30 everything accomplished, scripture fulfilled He said "It is Finished"

(35) Field is ripe for harvest now

• Luke 10:1-2, Matthew 9:37-38 Harvest is plentiful, workers are few...pray to the Lord of harvest to send out workers into his harvest field (Mark 13:28-37, Matthew 24:45; 25:14; Luke 19:12-17) Son of Man is a man taking a far journey, left his fields
• 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, I planted Apollos watered but God made it grow
• 2 Thes 3:1 - Pray for us, message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored

(36) One who reaps draws a wage and harvest a crop for eternal life (sower/reaper glad together)

• Eternal life through belief (John 3:36; 4:14;5:24)
• We reap the harvest (Romans 1:13) that was sown in righteousness (Proverbs 11:18), wage as a true reward, leaving temporal for the eternal (Matthew 19:29)
• Not an earned wage, but eternal life is the gift of God (Romans 2:7;6:23;1 Cor 9:18)

(37-38) One sows/another reaps true. Sent reap not worked for, others hard work, you benefit their labor

B) Many Samaritans believed Jesus because of woman's testimony and being with Jesus for 2 days
(39-41) Samaritans believed Jesus, caused by her testimony, urged him to stay 2 days, then more believed
(42) Believe not just her testimony, heard from Jesus, know the Savior of world

C) In Cana Jesus heals the royal officials son
(43-45) Jesus to Galilee, (prophet without honor/country) welcomed witnessed Jerusalem/Passover he'd done
(46-47) Cana, royal official son sick at Capernaum - begged "heal my son"
(48) unless people see signs/wonders won't believe

• "Lord lamenting over ignorant/sensuous faith" - MacLaren's Expositions 

(49-50) "come before he dies", Jesus 1) Go, 2) son will live 3) took Jesus at his word.
(51-53) on way, servants boy is living, got better the moment Jesus said "your son will live"
(54) Second sign Jesus performed (first was John 2:1-11),

• Not the same miracle as in Matthew 8/Luke 7 - John 4:54
• Contrast miracles reminded me of wedding vows "in good times (wedding) and in bad (sickness)"
• Both required faith in action the first (do whatever he says, obey), the second (go, believe my word)

Luke 10:2, Mark 13:34, John 4:34, JOhn 4:36
Ellicott's commentary for English readers (Expository English Bible)
MacLaren's Expositions