NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 31
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4:35
Matt 9:37
Luke 10:2
4:37
Job 31:8
Mic 6:15
4:42
Luke 2:11
1 Jn 4:14
4:44
Matt 13:57
Luke 4:24
4:46
John 2:1-11
4:48
1 Cor 1:22
4:50
Matt 8:13
Mark 7:29
4:53
Acts 11:14; 16:14-15
4:54
John 2:11
•
J ohn
4
sent me, and from finishing his work. 35You know the saying, ‘Four months between
planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe*
for harvest. 36The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people
brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37You
know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get
to gather the harvest.”
Many Samaritans Believe in Jesus (29)
39Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He
told me everything I ever did!” 40When they came out to see him, they begged him to
stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41long enough for many more to hear his
message and believe. 42Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because
of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is
indeed the Savior of the world.”
Jesus Preaches in Galilee (30/Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15)
43At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. 44He himself had said that a prophet
is not honored in his own hometown. 45Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had
been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
Jesus Heals a Government Official’s Son (31)
he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into
wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.
47When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus
to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
48Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and
wonders?”
49The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
50Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what
Jesus said and started home.
51While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his
son was alive and well. 52He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they
replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53Then the
father realized that that was the very time J esus had told him, “Your son will live.” And
he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54This was the second miraculous sign
Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
46As
4:35 Greek white.
4:35 Sometimes Christians excuse themselves from sharing their faith
by saying that their family members or friends aren’t ready to believe.
Jesus, however, makes it clear that around us a continual harvest waits
to be reaped. Don’t let Jesus find you making excuses. Look around. You
will find people ready to hear God’s Word.
4:36-38 The wages Jesus offers are the joy of working for him and seeing the harvest of believers. These wages come to planter and harvester
alike because both find joy in seeing new believers come into Christ’s
Kingdom. The statement “others had already done the work” (4:38) may
refer to the Old Testament prophets and to John the Baptist, who paved
the way for the Good News.
4:39 The Samaritan woman immediately shared her experience with
others. Despite her reputation, many took her up on her invitation
and came out to meet Jesus. Perhaps you have past sins that make
you ashamed. But Jesus changes us. As people see these changes,
they become curious. Use stories of your experiences, including your
past mistakes, as opportunities to introduce others to the new life
Jesus offers.
4:46-49 This government official was probably an officer in Herod’s
service. He had walked 20 miles to see Jesus and addressed him as “Lord,”
putting himself under Jesus even though he had legal authority over Jesus.
4:48 This miracle was more than a favor to one official; it was a sign
to all the people. John’s Gospel was written to all humankind to urge
us toward faith in Jesus. Here a government official had faith that
Jesus could do what he claimed. The official believed; then he saw
a miraculous sign.
4:50 This government official not only believed Jesus could heal but
also obeyed Jesus by returning home, thus demonstrating his faith. Merely
saying we believe that Jesus can take care of our problems isn’t enough.
We need to act as if he can. When you pray about a need or problem, live
as though you believe Jesus can do what he says.
4:51 Jesus’ miracles were not illusions. Although the official’s son was
20 miles away, he was healed when Jesus spoke the word. Just as he
had mastered physical elements to create wine, Jesus now overcame
space. Distance was no problem because he has mastery not only over
disease but also over time and space. We can never put so much distance
between ourselves and Jesus that we are beyond his reach.
4:53 Notice how the official’s faith grew. First, he believed enough to
ask Jesus to help his son. Second, he believed Jesus’ assurance that his
son would live, and he acted on it. Third, he and his whole household
believed in Jesus. Faith grows as we use it.
