Harvest Day

The Harvest

John 4:31–38 NKJV

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 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! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this 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 labors.”

Pray - Pray - Pray

We see Jesus being asked to eat by the Disciples, but Jesus responses with “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

Jesus had a greater source of strength and satisfaction than the food He ate. Jesus explained to His disciples that His true satisfaction was to do the will of His God and Father.

First and foremost His focus was on doing the will of Him who sent Me. In contrast, Satan is the ultimate example of one who did not want the will of God, but asserted his will against God’s will

Do we have the same will. To do the will of the Father and not be so focused on our own selfish desires?

Jesus is focused on His mission and not Himself. This is a fundamental block for Christians. (Godly focus vs self focus)

There is nothing more satisfying then doing God’s work, but this is counter to our self seeking nature of today’s society.

“The man of the world thinks that, if he could have his own way, he would be perfectly happy, and his dream of happiness in this state or in the next is comprised in this, that his own wishes will be gratified, his own longings fulfilled, his own desires granted to him. This is all a mistake. A man will never be happy in this way.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus would go on to say “and to finish His work”. Jesus wasn’t just doing the work. It was work with an end in mind, to finish.

Have you ever started something and then not finish it?

Where else have you heard similar works? On the cross Jesus said “it is finished” (John 19:30)

John 4:35 NKJV

35 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!

The idea here is crops are planned and then you wait, but the waiting is over, it’s time for work.

As Jesus made this statement the Samaritans were leaving the town and coming across the fields toward him. Remember the woman at the well had gone back into town to tell everyone of Who she had met.

We should believe, they are already white for harvest! “Expect a present blessing; believe that you will have it; go to work to get it, and do not be satisfied unless you do have it.” (Spurgeon)

John 4:36 NKJV

36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

There are three things being pointed out here in this verse by Jesus.

1. Their work in the harvest would be rewarded (He who reaps receives wages).

2. The good of their work would last forever (gathers fruit for eternal life).

3. Every worker in the harvest would rejoice together in the work.

John 4:37–38 NKJV

37 For in this 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 labors.”

The Disciples are being asked to harvest a harvest that they did not plant. These were planted by Jesus and John the Baptist.

We too are so often harvesting someone else’s work. “One sows and another reaps.”

1 Corinthians 3:6 NKJV

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Let us go and plant and water for the harvest is plenty but the laborers few. God will give the increase. We’ve been told to go, don’t worry about the outcome, that’s not for you to control. You plant and water and let God take care of the rest.

God will some day bring all His fruit into the Store House of Love! What a day, what a glorious day that will be!