[27] Just then his disciples returned 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. Could this be the Messiah?” [30] They came out of the town and made their way toward him. [31] Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” [32] But he said to them, “I have food to eat 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 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.” [39] Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. [41] And because of his words many more became believers.
This is a fascinating encounter on many levels.
• An Israelite talking to a Samaritan woman was forbidden in the Rabbinical teaching.
• Jesus asking for the woman to draw water for him.
• The fact that Jesus knew about the woman’s past life and multiple husbands.
• Her recognition of Jesus as the Messiah (Christ).
• Her testimony about this to the villagers. .
• The disciples on their return commenting on Jesus speaking to the woman.
• The villagers coming to Jesus to see for themselves.
• The dialogue with the disciples about food.
• The dialogue about the harvest being ready.
• Etc
The interesting part for me at the moment is the dialogue with the disciples about food.
Jesus would have been hungry and so it was perfectly natural for them to encourage Jesus to eat. His reply is, at first sight, strange. They were concerned for Jesus’ welfare and need of food. After all they could see this large crowd coming from the village to see Him. It was obviously going to be a busy afternoon so He would need food to keep His strength up for the time ahead. They knew that when Jesus started teaching a crowd, He lost track of time and continued teaching.
I can identify with this very well as I am sure you can as well. During teaching or ministering to people it is very easy to lose track of time and your own physical needs. You are so tied up in what you are doing that you get extra strength. This is when I become so aware of the empowering of the Holy Spirit that I tend to forget everything else.
However here Jesus hasn’t started teaching yet. The crowd is on the way and they can be seen approaching. It was clear it was going to be a long afternoon, so it seemed only reasonable to prepare for what lies ahead and eat something.
Jesus’ reply is, at first glance, a pious rejoinder, seemingly ignoring the approaching circumstances. It is a bit like when someone comes to you with an issue and you utter some innocuous reply like, “God will provide”, when the person needs you to listen and respond with something helpful. Or, the common rejoinder, “I will pray for you”, which often means something like,”please go away, I have important things I need to get on with.”
However in this case with Jesus it is a very clear reminder of what He was about, and in consequence, what we are to be about.
The crowd is approaching and Jesus does something like raise his hands and point out to the disciples that it is far more important to see what is approaching. Their attention needs to be directed to this group of people who are now ready for “harvesting” since they have heard the testimony of the Samaritan woman.
Here is the harvest field ready for them. “Others have planted”, the woman has done that. Now it is up to them to “harvest”.
John 4:35 NIV
[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.
The harvest is right in front of them, the crowd is approaching. Can’t you see it?
Jesus says the same thing to us. The harvest is right in front of us if only we open our eyes. It is all around us in the people we mix with every day, in the casual acquaintances, in our families, in our workmates and in our leisure times.
I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Others may well have “sown”, prepared them by the casual remark, by a testimony or whatever. But they are right there in front of us ready for “harvesting.”
We have the best news in the world. We have the words that rescue people from their sins and can bring them into the Kingdom of light and life.
Why would you not want to share this?
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