At Jacob’s Well
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another reapeth.” Here Christ points out the sacred service owed to
God by those who receive the gospel. They are to be His living
agencies. He requires their individual service. And whether we sow or
reap, we are working for God. One scatters the seed; another gathers
in the harvest; and both the sower and the reaper receive wages. They
rejoice together in the reward of their labor.
Jesus said to the disciples, “I sent you to reap that whereon ye
bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their
labors.” The Saviour was here looking forward to the great ingathering
on the day of Pentecost. The disciples were not to regard this as the
result of their own efforts. They were entering into other men’s labors.
Ever since the fall of Adam Christ had been committing the seed of
the word to His chosen servants, to be sown in human hearts. And an
unseen agency, even an omnipotent power, had worked silently but
effectually to produce the harvest. The dew and rain and sunshine
of God’s grace had been given, to refresh and nourish the seed of
truth. Christ was about to water the seed with His own blood. His
disciples were privileged to be laborers together with God. They were
coworkers with Christ and with the holy men of old. By the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, thousands were to be converted in a
day. This was the result of Christ’s sowing, the harvest of His work.
In the words spoken to the woman at the well, good seed had been
sown, and how quickly the harvest was received. The Samaritans
came and heard Jesus, and believed on Him. Crowding about Him
at the well, they plied Him with questions, and eagerly received His
explanations of many things that had been obscure to them. As they
listened, their perplexity began to clear away. They were like a people
in great darkness tracing up a sudden ray of light till they had found
the day. But they were not satisfied with this short conference. They
were anxious to hear more, and to have their friends also listen to this
wonderful teacher. They invited Him to their city, and begged Him
to remain with them. For two days He tarried in Samaria, and many
more believed on Him.
The Pharisees despised the simplicity of Jesus. They ignored His
miracles, and demanded a sign that He was the Son of God. But the
Samaritans asked no sign, and Jesus performed no miracles among
them, save in revealing the secrets of her life to the woman at the well.
Yet many received Him. In their new joy they said to the woman,
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