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ed to the city； to carry the message to others。 Jesus knew why she had gone。 Leaving her waterpot spoke unmistakably as to the effect of His words。 It was the earnest desire of her soul to obtain the living water； and she forgot her errand to the well； she forgot the Saviour's thirst； which she had purposed to supply。 With heart overflowing with gladness； she hastened on her way； to impart to others the precious light she had received。
〃Come； see a man； which told me all things that ever I did；〃 she said to the men of the city。 〃Is not this the Christ？〃 Her words touched their hearts。 There was a new expression on her face； a change in her whole appearance。 They were interested to see Jesus。 〃Then they went out of the city； and came unto Him。〃
As Jesus still sat at the well side； He looked over the fields of grain that were spread out before Him； their tender green touched by the golden sunlight。 Pointing His disciples to the scene； He employed it as a symbol： 〃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 as He spoke； He looked on the groups that were coming to the well。 It was four months to the time for harvesting the grain； but here was a harvest ready for the reaper。
〃He that reapeth；〃 He said； 〃receiveth wages； and gathereth fruit unto life eternal： that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice
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together。 And herein is that saying true； One soweth； and another reapeth。〃 Here Christ points out the sacred service owed to God by those who receive the gospel。 They are to be His living agencies。 He requires their individual service。 And whether we sow or reap； we are working for God。 One scatters the seed； another gathers in the harvest； and both the sower and the reaper receive wages。 They rejoice together in the reward of their labor。
Jesus said to the disciples； 〃I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor： other men labored； and ye are entered into their labors。〃 The Saviour was here looking forward to the great ingathering on the day of Pentecost。 The disciples were not to regard this as the result of their own efforts。 They were entering into other men's labors。 Ever since the fall of Adam Christ had been committing the seed of the word to His chosen servants； to be sown in human hearts。 And an unseen agency； even an omnipotent power； had worked silently but effectually to produce the harvest。 The dew and rain and sunshine of God's grace had been given； to refresh and nourish the seed of truth。 Christ was about to water the seed with His own blood。 His disciples were privileged to be laborers together with God。 They were coworkers with Christ and with the holy men of old。 By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost； thousands were to be converted in a day。 This was the result of Christ's sowing； the harvest of His work。
In the words spoken to the woman at the well； good seed had been sown； and how quickly the harvest was received。 The Samaritans came and heard Jesus； and believed on Him。 Crowding about Him at the well； they plied Him with questions； and eagerly received His explanations of many things that had been obscure to them。 As they listened； their perplexity began to clear away。 They were like a people in great darkness tracing up a sudden ray of light till they had found the day。 But they were not satisfied with this short conference。 They were anxious to hear more； and to have their friends also listen to this wonderful teacher。 They invited Him to their city； and begged Him to remain with them。 For two days He tarried in Samaria； and many more believed on Him。
The Pharisees despised the simplicity of Jesus。 They ignored His miracles； and demanded a sign that He was the Son of God。 But the Samaritans asked no sign； and Jesus performed no miracles among them； save in revealing the secrets of her life to the woman at the well。 Yet many received Him。 In their new joy they said to the woman；
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〃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。〃
The Samaritans believed that the Messiah was to come as the Redeemer； not only of the Jews； but of the world。 The Holy Spirit through Moses had foretold Him as a prophet sent from God。 Through Jacob it had been declared that unto Him should the gathering of the people be； and through Abraham； that in Him all the nations of the earth should be blessed。 On these scriptures the people of Samaria based their faith in the Messiah。 The fact that the Jews had misinterpreted the later prophets； attributing to the first advent the glory of Christ's second coming； had led the Samaritans to discard all the sacred writings except those given through Moses。 But as the Saviour swept away these false interpretations； many accepted the later prophecies and the words of Christ Himself in regard to the kingdom of God。
Jesus had begun to break down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile； and to preach salvation to the world。 Though He was a Jew； He mingled freely with the Samaritans； setting at nought the Pharisaic customs of His nation。 In face of their prejudices He accepted the hospitality of this despised people。 He slept under their roofs； ate with them at their tables；partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands；taught in their streets； and treated them with the utmost kindness and courtesy。
In the temple at Jerusalem a low wall separated the outer court from all other portions of the sacred building。 Upon this wall were inscriptions in different languages； stating that none but Jews were allowed to pass this boundary。 Had a Gentile presumed to enter the inner enclosure； he would have desecrated the temple； and would have paid the penalty with his life。 But Jesus； the originator of the temple and its service； drew the Gentiles to Him by the tie of human sympathy； while His divine grace brought to them the salvation which the Jews rejected。
The stay of Jesus in Samaria was designed to be a blessing to His disciples； who were still under the influence of Jewish bigotry。 They felt that loyalty to their own nation required them to cherish enmity toward the Samaritans。 They wondered at the conduct of Jesus。 They could not refuse to follow His example； and during the two days in Samaria； fidelity to Him kept their prejudices under control； yet in heart they were unreconciled。 They were slow to learn that their contempt and
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hatred must give place to pity and sympathy。 But after the Lord's ascension； His lessons came back to them with a new meaning。 After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit； they recalled the Saviour's look； His words； the respect and tenderness of His bearing toward these despised strangers。 When Peter went to preach in Samaria； he brought the same spirit into his own work。 When John was called to Ephesus and Smyrna； he remembered the experience at Shechem； and was filled with gratitude to the divine Teacher； who； foreseeing the difficulties they must meet； had given them help in His own example。