Jesus often used farming analogies to relate to the people around Him. The harvest is an important time. As He talks to the disciples about being fishers of men and sowing and reaping, they didn’t always understand but the message sunk in eventually. Sometimes he clearly explained his parables as he did to the apostles about the parable of the good soil. In this post we discuss what Jesus said after His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. It’s time for the harvest.
John 4:25-42
The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?” The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.
Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus goes to the least likely people to spread His gospel? And isn’t amazing that the least likely people are the ones who accept Him? Not His own people, but outcasts. Those who were God’s Chosen looked down upon. Not the rich and wealthy, not the religious leaders or the devout followers of Judaism, but Samaritans, and shepherds, and fishermen and tax collectors, lepers, adulterers and sinners. He came to heal the sick, not just physically, but more importantly, spiritually.
I have been watching The Chosen. What a great dramatization of Jesus’ ministry and how He interacted with people. It really brings out the characters of those in His day. It’s worth the watch.
Just a little side note there. Within the story of the woman at the well, Jesus tells a parable (if you could call it that, maybe more of an analogy…a couple of them, actually). First, He talks about spreading the gospel as being food to satisfy and fulfill Him. Then He talks about the harvest. Isn’t it cool how this all ties together? Farmers plant and harvest. Our food is gathered and distributed. The food that comes to us sustains us. God calls some to plant, some to spread the seed and some to harvest. Each of us needs to share His good news with others. We are sowers and reapers. Each person you encounter may already have that seed planted. Others may have talked to them already about Jesus and the Holy Spirit may be speaking to their hearts. Is He speaking to you?
Matthew 9:35-38
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
God is calling for more laborers. How can each of us be fellow workers? Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works so that our Father in heaven may be glorified. Let us honor God as we do what we were meant to do.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
We are God’s chosen to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We are to reflect His light. We are to plant seeds, to reap the harvest, to share God’s grace. We are to be His hands and feet.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
And that is what The Great Commission is all about.
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
My Daily Scriptures 