John 4

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

And he must needs go through Samaria.

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

And many more believed because of his own word;

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

What does John 4:34 mean?

Explanation

John 4:34 is a statement made by Jesus to His disciples that emphasizes His devotion to fulfilling the will of God the Father who sent Him.

The term "meat" metaphorically represents Jesus's spiritual nourishment and purpose.

In a literal sense, "meat" refers to the food that one eats to sustain physical life, but in this context, Jesus uses it to illustrate that His sustenance comes from obedience to God and accomplishing the mission given to Him.

The "will of him that sent me" signifies the divine plan and purpose that Jesus came to fulfill, which is to preach the gospel, to heal the brokenhearted, and to provide salvation to humanity.

The phrase "and to finish his work" underscores the importance of completion, indicating that Jesus was committed to seeing God's plan through to the end.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is positioned within the context of Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, described in John 4.

After the interaction with the woman, His disciples return and express their concern for Jesus's need to eat.

The disciples are focused on earthly, physical needs, while Jesus uses this opportunity to teach them a spiritual lesson.

Historically, the Jews had little to do with the Samaritans due to deep-seated ethnic and religious tensions. Jesus transcends these barriers, illustrating the universal scope of His mission.

Additionally, the exchange occurs during a time when rabbinic teachings were highly influential among Jews, and Jesus's response contrasts earthly concerns with spiritual priorities in line with His ministry's overarching focus on the Kingdom of God.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, John 4:34 offers significant insights into the nature and mission of Jesus.

Firstly, it reveals Jesus's identity as one sent by God, affirming His divine appointment and authority.

Secondly, it presents Jesus's primary purpose: to follow God's will, uncommon among religious leaders of His time who often pursued their own interpretations of the Law.

Thirdly, it teaches the concept of divine sustenance – that spiritual fulfillment can be as vital as physical nourishment.

Different theological traditions have embraced these themes, with some emphasizing the messianic role of Jesus and others focusing on the model He provides for human obedience to God's will.

Practical Applications

John 4:34 challenges believers to reconsider their own sources of fulfillment and purpose.

The "food" of doing God's will can be understood as the spiritual fulfillment derived from living in obedience to God's directives.

For Christians, this might mean prioritizing service, ministry, or personal sanctification over worldly ambitions.

It also serves as a reminder to complete the tasks God gives us with perseverance.

In a broader sense, this teaching can be applied in daily life by finding purpose and satisfaction in contributing positively to the community and seeking to align one's personal goals with higher, more selfless causes.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
John 6:38: "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
John 17:4: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."
Luke 22:42: "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
Hebrews 12:2: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "meat" is βρώσις (brōsis), which refers to the act of eating or the food itself.

However, in many places within the New Testament, the word carries metaphorical connotations linked to spiritual sustenance and nourishment.

The phrase "to do" is from the Greek ποιέω (poieō), which means to make or to carry out, indicating active engagement and accomplishment.

The term "finish" is derived from τελειόω (teleioō), suggesting not just to end something, but to bring it to perfection or completion, fulfilling its intended purpose.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be made between this verse and various other religious and cultural texts that emphasize divine missions, obedience, and spiritual nourishment.

For instance, in Hinduism, the concept of Dharma aligns with fulfilling one's duty and purpose in life.

In Buddhism, the idea of Right Action as part of the Eightfold Path similarly encourages followers to act in accordance with compassionate and ethical norms.

While these concepts do not align perfectly with Christian theology, they resonate with the idea of living according to a higher purpose beyond mere physical existence.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific understanding of human purpose and motivation has been explored in various fields, such as psychology.

From a scientific perspective, humans are seen as having both lower-level physical needs and higher-level psychological and self-fulfillment needs, a concept famously illustrated in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

While this framework is secular in nature, it parallels the biblical theme presented in John 4:34, which distinguishes between physical sustenance and the fulfillment derived from accomplishing a purposeful mission.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various insights into John 4:34.

Some commentaries focus on Jesus's role as the obedient Son, setting an example for believers to follow. Others emphasize the missional aspect of Jesus's statement, pointing out that His ministry went beyond meeting physical needs to addressing the spiritual hunger in humanity.

Many also note the contrast between Jesus's understanding of nourishment and that of His disciples, highlighting the reorientation from worldly perspectives to a heavenly focus provided throughout the Gospel of John.

Overall, this verse is recognized as a foundational statement about Jesus's identity and purpose.

John 4

John 4

What does John 4:34 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 4:34 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?