“35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already the One who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that whoever sows and whoever reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor” John 4:35-38.
It seems that the experience at the well in Samaria has inspired Jesus to present a vision for the world that will be harvested for God. He refers to an old Jewish proverb: if you sow seed you must wait at least 4 months before you hope to reap a harvest. Then Jesus calls them to look around at all the fields that are now white for harvest and calls them to harvest now. Simply put Jesus is calling us all to wait no longer but harvest all who are ready to follow Christ today! The people from town who came out to see the man who knew all about the life of the woman at the well — these people came dressed in their typical traditional long white robes. And when Jesus sees them streaming across the fields in white he says: Look at the fields — they are white for harvest. This means that the one who sows can rejoice with the one who harvests. Jesus is saying that God’s time is here because Jesus is here. The Golden Age has arrived.
Jesus is telling His disciples — and you and me — that He is doing the sowing and now it’s our time to harvest. The seeds will be sown on the cross, seeds of God’s love and power, and now is the time, now is the day for all of to go out into the world and harvest what he has sown. That is why Jesus gave us the church — the Christian church is the gift of God where evangelists will be sent out to harvest, to call all to follow Jesus Christ.
So what Jesus is saying to us all is to see the opportunity that is your life and to do everything possible to bring those who are sensing God’s presence in their lives — to call them to follow Christ! What a tragedy it will be for each of us to fail to reap Christ’s harvest! We must hear in Jesus’ teaching a challenge not to rely on our own efforts and merits,
but to see the entire church that has been at work and continues to work for Jesus Christ. Rely on Jesus and His faithful Spirit-filled followers who are mighty workers for Jesus! Do all you can do be holy so Jesus may use you too, and do not worry if you ever see the harvest. Someday the harvest will be completed, so do your part. Repent, pray, read and meditate on the Scriptures, and help others hear the voice of God and see His loving presence in their lives.
Oh dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Help me to live in such a way that you use all my waking days and hours to serve you and the people you bring into my life. And this I pray in Your holy name, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
From the Bible:
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16:15-15.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” 1 Peter 4:8-9.
“My heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” Romans 10:1.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” 1 Peter 4:10.
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” Mark 16:15.
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