The Harvest is Ready
October 20, 2021
Commentary
When the disciples returned with food they were amazed to find Jesus conversing with a Samaritan woman (v. 27). Their return apparently ended the conversation between Jesus and the woman. All evidence indicates she was beginning to drink of the Living Water (v. 25). The woman left her water pot and went into the village to share her new faith (v. 28). She told them that she had met “a man who told her about all the things she had ever done” (v. 29). Then she asked a question, “Could this be the Christ?” Just as Jesus had captured her attention by curiosity, so she raised these people’s curiosity. Her face must have reflected her inner conviction. As a result, she persuaded a whole group of people to go with her to see Jesus for themselves (v. 30). If we are going to convince people to come to the Lord, we must portray genuine enthusiasm for what He has done for us.
After the woman had left, the disciples urged Jesus to eat with them. They knew He must be hungry (v. 31). But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (v.32). They thought he was talking about literal food, and they wondered where he had gotten it (v.33). Then He told them, “My food … is to do the will of Him who sent me” (v. 34). Jesus did need physical food to live, but His greatest desire and passion was to do God’s will.
Jesus had a vision of a world to be harvested for God. He said, “Now lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are already white unto harvest!” Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” If Jerusalem is our city, Judea our state or country, and Samaria our neighboring states and country, what then is our “uttermost part of the earth” today? I would argue that it is Asia, where 60% of the world lives and yet only 10% of the missionaries serve. What am I going to do about that need?
Application
If I see ten men trying to move a log and nine of them are on one end, leaving just one on the other, which end should I go to? The best way to move the log is to distribute the load.
John 4:27– 38 (NET)
27 Now at that very moment his disciples came back. They were shocked because he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, “What do you want?” or “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Messiah, can he?” 30 So they left the town and began coming to him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 So the disciples began to say to one another, “No one brought him anything to eat, did they?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work. 35 Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest! 36 The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. 37 For in this instance the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”