20. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.”
21. Jesus said, “Believe me, woman. The time is coming when neither in Jerusalem nor on this mountain will you actually worship the Father.
22. You Samaritans worship something you don’t understand. We understand what we worship, because salvation comes from the Jews.
23. The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him.
24. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25. The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming.” (Messiah is the One called Christ.) “When the Messiah comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26. Then Jesus said, “I am he—I, the one talking to you.”
27. Just then his followers came back from town and were surprised to see him talking with a woman. But none of them asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28. Then the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She said to the people,
29. “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Do you think he might be the Christ?”
30. So the people left the town and went to see Jesus.
31. Meanwhile, his followers were begging him, “Teacher, eat something.”
32. But Jesus answered, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33. So the followers asked themselves, “Did somebody already bring him food?”
34. Jesus said, “My food is to do what the One who sent me wants me to do and to finish his work.
35. You have a saying, ‘Four more months till harvest.’ But I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields ready for harvest now.
36. Already, the one who harvests is being paid and is gathering crops for eternal life. So the one who plants and the one who harvests celebrate at the same time.