The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 330

Ver. 34.-Spfritual work and sptri'.tua.lfood. The incident in our Saviour's ministry recor~ed in this narrative pictures him as possessed and engrossed by tho very purest <lcl'ot10n to the great ends of bis ministry. He had been thirsty; but he hnd lost all thought of bodily thirst in his absorbing interest in the living water and In tho satisfac- tion of spiritual aspirations. He was in need of foo<l; yet wheu his disciples brou<rht him food from the city he was indifferent to it, for he had meat to cat which tboy kn;w not of. The work of his Father was the food of his soul. Christ's lan.,uage 0 here exhibits- I. THE IDGHEST VIF.W OF SPIRITUAL AIID BE:<:EVOLENT EFFORT, 'l'his is all the more strikin?: and won<lerful when we remember the dignity, the Divinity of the Speaker. 1. All he did had reference to his Father. The " will" of the Father was for him supreme; the Father had "sent" him into the world for a definite pnrposo. 2. His mission was one of active service. Jesus, no doubt, came to live; to be himself, to suffer for our sins. Ilut although his mere living among men was a.n incomparable lesson, though l1is death was of incomparaLle value, we must not lose sight of bis activity, his ministry of energetic service. 3. His aim was to bring the undertaking committed to him to a conclusion honourable to himself and to the Father. In accomplishing, in :finishing, his work, he found a Divine satisfaction. Allowing for tho differeuce between Master and servants, we may recognize in Christ's view of his life-work the model for our own. To think thus of our human vocation will add a dignity to our life, an effectiveness to our ministry. Il. TJIE PLACE WBICH A LIFE OF SPIBITUAL AND BENEVOLENT EFFORT HOLDS IN TIIE AFFECTIONS. 1. Work for God is the necessity of the Master and of the servants alike. As the body cannot live without food,so the higher nature cannot be maintained in health, in life, without work for God. It was so with Christ, who collld forget water and bread, though thirsty and hungry, but who could not exist without labouring for the cause of human well-being. 2. Work for God affords the servant of God the purest satisfaction and delight. The thirsty and famishing traveller is revived and gladdened when he comes where he can quench his thirst and satisfy bis hunger. G~eater joy did our Lord find when there opened up before him some opportunity of doing the will of God in securing the enlightenment, the conversion, the consolation, of some poor human soul. 3. Work for God, like food, strengthens for new and larger efforts. Work is its own wages. They who toil eat, and they who eat are the fitter for renewed and happy work. If it was thus with the Master and Lord, shall it not be thus with the disciple, the follower, the servant, the friend? We are encouraged, not only to take a high view of Christian service, but to seek in it our purest satisfaction, and the means of unceasing devotedness and usefulness.-T. Ver. 42.-" T!te Saviour of t,-,e world." This witness was a glorious close to our Lord's brief ministry among the Samaritans. L THE MARVEL OF THIS WITNESS TO CHBIST. Nothing in the gospel narrative can be to the thoughtful reader more surprising than that this view of our Lord's office should have been taken and expressed by persons in the position of these Samaritans in the village of Sychar, and especially at this early stage of our Lord's ministry. 'l'his ii, the more marvellous when we remember that neither the Jews generally, nor even Ch. ist's own disciples, had attained to such a conception of Jesus, and when we ren;1ember also that the Samaritans occupied a position of inferior privilege, for "salvation was from the Jews." Il THE lllEANS WHICH LED TO THIS WITNESS To CHRIST. 1. The testimony of the woman who had been favoured with a long and intimate conversation with the Divine Prophet, and whose conscience had testified to his acquaintance with her character and moral life. 2. Their own acquaintance with his religious doctrines, gained dwing the two days' residence among them. 3. Tlie impression which his presence and demeanour had made upon their minds; for they could not but perceive his superiority to all others whom they had known. HI. THE FULNESB OF THlS wn·NP.:SB TO CHRlBT. It io remarkable that nono, how- en. IV. 1-64.J 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 195