Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

JOHN 9:4

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (KJV)

Me es necesario hacer las obras del que me envió, entre tanto que el día dura; la noche viene, cuando nadie puede trabajar. (RVR 1960)

     In context this verse is part of John 9:1-12 the Gospel of John’s sixth sign of Jesus’s miraculous divinity. In it Jesus also lays to rest a popular misconception that all physical ailments must originate because of some personal sin (See the Book of Job). Once Jesus heals the blind man of course the local religious leaders are in their usual uproar. 

     It is something different I want us to look at today, that comes from our main text v.4 and that is the idea that man has a specific work to do and a limited time to do it in. So let me try and break it down: 

I must; This is not a desire or a whim for Jesus it is an obligation, something that must be done no matter the cost. The same held true for Isaiah (6:8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. We to must be ready to do the works God has form us and follow Christ Matthew 16:24-26 no matter the cost. 

work the works; Just as Jesus was sent to earth to work for the father; man since the beginning has been designed for work Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Thessalonica said that if a man does not work (one capable ) he should not eat 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.

of him that sent me; Who are you working for? Yourself, the boss man, some corporate giant? If you call yourself a Christian there can be only one answer to this, the same on Jesus gave God. Again Paul, this time writing to the church in Colossae, stated Colossians 3:23: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

while it is day;  Jesus had a finite (limited) 3 year ministry on earth that was the plan from before time began and there was no regrets on His part.  When is it our appointed time to carry out God’s mission for our lives? How many of us spent a misplaced youth thinking we were going to live forever? We lived life for ourselves and now maybe we are on the second half (or more) of life and we realize we could have done so much more for the Kingdom if we had only repented and work the works; sooner. Today is the day to ask am I doing ‘work the works of him that planned for me’

the night cometh;  I believe this has a two fold meaning. First the Sabbath, we are to honor God one day of the week (for most everyone this is Sunday) and keep it Holy Exodus 20:8-11. Secondly there is the matter of getting older. As I near the age of Social Security it is very evident I can not do the things I used to do even 10 years ago (that misplaced youth catching up). So we must make the best use of the time we have now.

when no man can work; This is a clear reference to death and the grave. Jesus knew His time on earth, His time to work the works; of Him that sent me; were limited and we are no different. No man can avoid death Psalm 89:48 yet there is a very precious promise from God that we can all hold fast to in the Book of Revelation 14:13; And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

     In conclusion I encourage everyone to get busy in the Kingdoms work. That does not mean you have to start your own Ministry, you can get involved in your local Church, help out at the Local Mission, Food Pantry, VA Hospital, Etc. Etc. If you step out and get busy the Holy Sprint will guide you to the proper place to ‘work the works of him that planned for you.’

Alexander MacLaren’s Expositions of Holy Scripture

What does the Bible say about work?