LOOK AT THE HARVEST FIELDS

Passage: John 4:27-38

Key verse: 35b

NIV

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

27 Just then his disciples returned(A) and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.(B) Could this be the Messiah?”(C) 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi,(D) eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat(E) that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will(F) of him who sent me and to finish his work.(G) 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.(H) 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests(I) a crop for eternal life,(J) so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’(K) 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.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

27 Just then (A)his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man (B)who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, (C)“Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, (D)“Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, (E)“My food is (F)to do the will of him who sent me and (G)to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that (H)the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that (I)sower and (J)reaper (K)may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, (L)‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap (M)that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, (N)and you have entered into their labor.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. My food is to do God's will (27-34)

Jesus' disciples were surprised to find Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman. They wanted to ask her what she wanted, and to ask him why he was talking with her, but they didn't ask either question. The woman's thirst was gone--she even forgot her water jar. Jesus' hunger was gone, too. He was satisfied to see God's work in one woman's heart. Jesus came to save sinners and give the water of life to thirsty people. This was God's will. One day he would finish this work on the cross.

2. Look at the fields! (35-38)

The townspeople heard this woman's testimony. They realized that she was different. One person's changed life opened the whole village to the word of God. As the people came out to him, Jesus challenged his disciples to look at the ripe harvest field. Jesus' disciples must be sowers or reapers in the field of the world.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see one person as you do--and to see the harvest field of the world.

One Word: See the harvest fields!