John 4:31–42 – Jesus tells his disciples that his true “food” was to do the Father’s will by completing the work entrusted to him, culminating in the salvation of the Samaritan woman and her town. The disciples then get a vivid illustration of this – the population of the Samaritan city walking towards them as a walking harvest; a field of people ripe for in-gathering into the kingdom. This was both a challenge and an encouragement to the disciples: a challenge, given that the Samaritans were at enmity with the Jews; an encouragement that salvation should be offered to all and often results in the most unexpected people joining themself to Jesus.
