Sermons by the Monday Club John 4:27-42 And on this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seek you? or, Why talk you with her?… I. THE GREAT TEACHER, AS HE AVAILS HIMSELF OF AN INSIGNIFICANT AND UNPROMISING OPPORTUNITY. The disciples marvelled at His doing what was beneath a Rabbi's dignity. The same spirit interposed between Christ and little children. The woman, moreover, was a despised, hated, and ignorant Samaritan. 1. This was unpromising ground, but Jesus did not consider it beneath His notice. 2. In this unpromising soil He sows the best seed. An audience of one was not too small to call forth His richest treasures of truth. 3. Here is an example for every teacher. Wesley remembered his father saying to his mother, "How could you have the patience to tell that blockhead the same thing twenty times over?" "Because if I had only told him nineteen times I should have lost all my labour." 4. Never mind if your seed falls by the wayside: a bird may carry it elsewhere. II. THE DELIGHT OF THE TEACHER IN HIS WORK. He has sources of refreshment unknown to the disciples. He would rather work than eat. 1. No one can do his work well until he has learned to enjoy it. 2. The delight of labour is not only in that part of it which is interesting and agreeable. A teacher of imbecile children had one boy of five who had never spoken or given an intelligent look. He lay beside the child for half an hour every day, reading aloud, and watching eagerly for any volition. At length, being utterly weary, he did not read. The child began to be uneasy, and then, alter repeated efforts, the child placed his fingers on the teacher's lips, as much as to say: "Make that sound again." After a time the boy was taught to walk, and speak, and think. III. THE GREAT SOWER EXPECTING A SPEEDY HARVEST. Men are too prone not to look for an early reaping, and so sometimes miss the harvest. We sow with too little hope. Four months, said the disciples. "Now," said the Master. Expectancy is needful for courage and patience. Always look for near results. Do not pull up the stalk to see if it has taken root, but watch, and wait, and believe. IV. THE DISPROPORTOINATENESS OF THE HARVEST. The audience and time were seemingly .unfavourable — the result was that many believed. 1. The woman heard and heeded. Then she ran, as did the woman from the empty tomb, to tell those nearest. 2. All barriers were broken down. They believed not only because He spoke as never man spoke, but because He spoke the truth they needed. 3. God alone gives the increase, but He does so to the feeblest efforts. (Sermons by the Monday Club.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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? |
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