Scripture
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Reflection
This account follows the dialogue Jesus just had with the Samaritan women (John 4:1-30). Jesus just declared to the Samaritan women she too can inherit eternal kingdom since Jesus said in verse 23 the hour has come where true worshipers will worship God in Spirit and in truth. Thus, by making this analogy (as seen in today’s verses) of sowing and reaping, Jesus is declaring to His disciples, the time is now that all people, like the Samaritan woman, has access to salvation. The one who sows or tells people about the Good News, and the one who reaps or experiences someone coming to faith, share both equally in the harvest. Jesus is also telling His disciples through this analogy that they (the disciples) are the ones who will experience the reaping part.
Often, we would tell someone about Jesus and we never get to see them come to faith, or only for someone else to experience the reaping part. But be encouraged, Jesus is telling here, we all share equally in the harvest. Don’t focus on what other people experience, but focus on what God has entrusted to you right now.
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What does this passage tell you about humanity?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How can you apply this message in an area of your life that needs transformation?
- Is there anyone you think should hear or will benefit from this message? Go and tell them.
Prayer
Stop and pray for someone who is near to you right now, someone you can see.
