John 4:31-42
Harvest is Ready
Greetings:
THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
The scripture portion for our meditation for this morning is taken from Gospel according to John Chapter 4 verses 31 through 42.
Context:
The Larger Context of this passage is Christ continues his personal evangelism. The immediate context of it is a reference to the story of a Woman in Samaria and the healing of an Official’s Son. We need to note that the land of Israel was in fact the Land of Emmanuel as per Isaiah 8:8, it is not only the place of his birth but the panorama(scene) of his preaching and miracles, crucifixion and death. This land in our Savior’s time was geographically divided into three parts: as Judea in the south, Galilee in north, and Samaria lying between them. The splendour of this chapter is that Christ is at hand in each of these three parts of the land.
John 4:1-3 narrate his Departure from Judea, John 4:4-42 describe his presence in Samaria and John 4:43-45 report his arrival in Galilee. This chapter also very vibrantly and vividly recount the flight of a woman in those days. No, where the writer calls this woman as a prostitute,
I don’t know which commentator and preacher started wrong diagnosis about this entire episode and it is followed for many years. Jesus never said that you are a prostitute or you are a sinner, he never said that you must repent of your sins, whereas he usually did with others, such as he asked Nicodemus to “be born again”(John 3:3), and the woman caught in adultery to “sin no more”(John 8:11).
Do you think that a woman without moral values would be respected by the villagers. So she was a religious lady having the biblical knowledge and the history of her ancestors. She was expecting a messiah and an end to their sufferings. So she was interestingly conversing with Christ.
Then you may think then why John 4:18 says that she lived with five husbands. We need to read it carefully that she lived with five husbands and not with five illegal men, now she is waiting to be married to the sixth man of that house according to the law of Moses, (John 4:18), for clarity kindly read and refer Luke 20:28-32 & Deuteronomy 25:5.
Now let us go to the text of John 4:31-42. For our easy remembrance and understanding; I would like to divide this passage into three sections:
1. The first part of this passage is PREPARATION FOR HARVEST (John 4:31-35)
In (John 4:31) Jesus said “My Food is to do the will of God” Jesus’s heart, mind and soul were filled with the will of God. He learned day by day and moment by moment the will of God and fulfilled it. Knowing and doing the will of God is our strength, our victory in life and also we have meaning for our existence.
The commentator Barnes writes: “Jesus said that my meat was to do the will of God. He came to that place weary and thirsty, and at the usual time of meals, probably hungry; yet an opportunity of doing good presented itself, and he forgot his fatigue (Exhaustion) and hunger, forgot his weariness and hardship, and the wants of nature”.
We need to renew our mind in prayer, fasting, and waiting upon the Lord. Look to God for his directions, leading and guidance. The prayerful life makes our hearts, hands, eyes and minds as that of Jesus. We just need to crucify our self and exhibit the character of Jesus in our day to day life.
In (John 4:35) Jesus said “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” The eyes of Jesus saw the harvest of the souls and communities. When we are closer to the Lord, our eyes become compassionate, it weeps for the poor, needy, downtrodden and oppressed. Our values become God’s values.
The theologian Clark comments: “Let the salvation of souls lie nearer your heart than life itself. Let eating and drinking, labour and rest, reading and thinking, study and prayer, and all things, be directed to the accomplishment of this great work”.
Look at the Field:
Every day we meet people, we go to duty, we go to the office. Our bus, train, our residential areas, and everywhere we are called to sensitize and consciously sow the seeds of KOG.
God saw the sufferings and slavery of Israelites in Egypt, he raised Moses to save them, means to suffer with them, mould them, bring them and lead them to rest. He told Moses that he observed, knew their sufferings, heard their cries. He was not a spectator but involved in toiling experiences of People. He says that I have come down. (Exodus 3:7-9) to save them. As per Philippians 2:6-7, God emptied himself from the loftiness and highness, We need to do that.
God spoke to Judges when the cries of the people came to him(Jud 3:9) and raised committed Judges like Samson, Gideon and Samuel, he also spoke to kings like Saul, and David when people were suffering and going through the terrible life struggles and situations. Our days are not different from them the only model of slavery is changed.
Jesus says in John 4:35. “Still Four months”. There are four months between seed-time and harvest. Jesus speaks on harvest in January. But the beginning of harvest usually fixed from 16th of Nisan (i.e, April) as per Leviticus 23:10; & Deuteronomy 16:9.
Mathew Henry says: Christ compares his work to harvest-work. Harvest-time is a busy time; all must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, so harvest- must be done on time, so the time of the gospel is a season, which if once past, cannot be recalled”. Harvest once last means permanently lost.
We are bound by time, the days of our life are seventy years or perhaps eighty years as per Ps 90:10. those who have crossed the seventies and living eighties must remember that you are swimming in the sea grace of God, be thankful to the Lord and be useful to HIM and to your family.
USE YOUR TIME Profitably don’t waste in the politics of the Church, don’t waste it in front of your TV, don’t waste it in fairy-tale but use the time in preparing others for God and prepare yourself to meet the LORD.
Remember our life has a limited time span, none of us can claim that we are going to live on earth for eternity. Therefore, Redeem the Time, can we redeem?, We can’t stop the watch or the Sun moon and stars as Joshua did. So use the time. Grow in Godliness and Holiness.
Our time is a passing clouds, fading flowers, disappearing smoke, running like fast courier and swifter than the weaver’s shuttle – I don’t how many of you are aware of weavers’ shuttle, no one can see the flight of a shuttle only you can hear the sound. So how much we need to be careful, calculative and concerned to spend our valuable time, talents, and money for God’s glory.
Our time is matured, our opportunities are full-grown, our grace is ripe, our doors are open for harvest. So we need to participate in the harvest.
2. The second part of this passage is
PARTICIPATION IN HARVEST
(John 4: 36-38)
Jesus says in John 4:36-37 “The sower and the reaper may be glad together”.
v. 36 refers to the harvest for eternal life: means harvesting souls for KoG. According to Commentator and Theologian Jerome “Harvest is conversion of people”
The Christian life is fellowship, celebrations, rejoicing. None can own the ministry, behind every soul’s redemption two persons are a;ways present: 1. Gospel preacher, 2. Prayer warrior.
Sower and reaper are sharing the blessings are the signs of new age, teamwork is emphasized. Any team sports – can remind us that there are substitutes who never play in the field. But they too receive honours and rewards like the one who toiled in the field, all they did was shouted and gave a round of applause, and supported the players all through the game. Like Moses, Aaron and Ur supported Joshua in the Battle of Amalekites.
Jesus said in John 4:38. “I sent you”. I, the Lord of the whole harvest: "sent you", I sent you to reap,... To preach the Gospel, and to gather souls; it is referring to their mission in Matthew 10:6. Jesus’ mind was filled with mission, this woman became the first missionary, "Christ commissions all the agents—those of the Old as well as of the New Testament." Jesus was a co-labourer, co-worker with disciples. Jesus did evangelism and always understood that he was sent by God. Every Christian needs to understand that “I am sent by God” “Godsent Conscience” is needed for us.
We are constantly reminded that we exist to proclaim the Gospel, through our words, through our actions, through our services, through our worships and works. Our ministry is sowing and reaping, the joy is shared with all.
What to share? Samaritans understood Jesus as the Savior of the World (John 4:41), The Samaritan woman asked are you greater than our ancestor Jacob? The answer is YES. He is greater than Jacob, greater than Abraham, greater than Solomon, even he is greater than all philosophers, all theologians, all kings, all rulers of the world(John 4:12).
We Indians must know that He is greater than all religious heads and founders of Indian religions, he is greater than all gurus and sadhus, he is greater than all Nayanmars, Alwars, and bhaktas. Therefore we need to present our harvest to the Lord.
3. The third part of this passage is PRESENTATION OF THE HARVEST (John 4:39-42)
The scholar Clark in his commentary on John 4:39: comments “This woman was the first apostle of Christ in Samaria! She went and told her fellow citizens about Messiah”. So what we understand is that she brought her natives and relatives, friends and fellow citizens to Christ. Another commentator Barnes writes: “From a single conversation with an individual brought such results, many sinners were converted; many believed on the testimony of that woman; many more came to hear, and believed because they heard him themselves. We should never despair of doing good in the most unpromising circumstances, and we should seize upon every opportunity to converse with sinners.“
Our ministry must be vouched with Baptisms, new additions, new believers. Along with our thanksgiving offertories, we also need to present souls to Christ at least each one should bring one person to Christ in a year.
When I was appointed to Tamil Church knowing their potential, with prayer I presented a challenging vision as “One Village Church in a Year” by the Grace of God we have established three congregations in three years. What would be the best thanksgiving offertory is nothing but bringing and presenting a person whom we brought to the LORD through our prayers and evangelism. We need to take a strong vow to bring at least one person to the LORD by next Thanks Giving service.
If you are led by the Lord:
Think of a friend who was never told the Gospel, think of a relative who never heard the good news, think of a co-employee who never had the opportunity to hear the word.
Right now you can just say to the Lord that you are interested to respond to the call of God. We never intended to share our experience so far. We often think that is not my job. Yes it is our job to share the Gospel.
John 4:40 we read “He stayed there for two days” Our ministry is not playing kabaddi, where you run and touch the people and come back to your position, whereas it is like a test match, You need to stay on and heap up the runs. Our presence is more needed, our life must be studied, our words must be heard, our attitude must be reflected among the new believers.
The verses 41and42 express that “Many more believed” . Samaritans said it is no longer by you but by our own personal experience. The Christian life is not going after preachers, pastors, campaigners, but growing in the world, having deeper conviction, a deeper connection with God, rooted in the word and growing in the Holy Spirit. The word “Soter” (Heb: mosia, saviour) is used only by John for the first time in 4:42 and refers the act of saving in 3:17,12:47.
Illustration:
A girl was studying in a College. She used to travel by a College Bus. Every day she was sitting behind the Driver’s seat. She started to pray for the Driver’s Conversion. She studied there for four years. She kept praying for that driver who was a very strong unbeliever. On her last journey she presented a Bible to the Driver. She wrote a beautiful Gospel letter and left her Phone number with him. Then, she left for Dubai for her work. This driver reads the bible accepted Christ, became a strong believer in Christ, She flew to India to witness his Baptism service. This man called his relative and friends and brought more than 70 of his friends and relatives to Christ.
Shall WE try to BRING at least SOMEONE TO CHRIST…
May God bless you all
Amen.
