Remember The Ready Harvest

Remember The Ready Harvest

John 4:27-42            

 

Illus. Show of hands…

 

This morning we are going to turn back to John chapter 4, and as we do, we are going to “remember” or review rather, some of the verses that were included in the story we covered last week, but we want to look at a section in the story that centers on our opportunity to evangelize, which is to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our world and people in our lives.

 

Illus. Letter.

 

The title of this morning’s message is “Remember the Ready Harvest.” As I looked at whether to move on into the next section of John 4 where Jesus heals the official’s son, I revisited a section we did not cover in depth last week and was struck personally with the importance of remembering the ready harvest, meaning the people in need of hearing the good news of Jesus Christ in their lives.

We will cover John 4:27-42 this morning, but as a reminder, the context is a conversion story of a Samaritan woman Jesus met at a well in Sychar of Samaria. Jesus met her and through conversation He moved her attention away from her need for physical water, and to her need for living water. Jesus, in a conversation at the well, began by speaking of water, then drilled deeper to her greatest need, living water that can become a fountain springing up to eternal life! In verse 25 the woman told Jesus that she knew the Messiah was coming and would declare all things to the people, and then in verse 25, Jesus said, “I am He, the One speaking to you!”

From verse 8 we know that when Jesus sat down at the well prior to his conversation with the Samaritan woman, His disciples had gone to a nearby city to buy food. Jesus then has the conversation and after revealing who He is to the woman, His disciples return with the food they had purchased.

 

Read: John 4:27-42

 

When the disciples returned, Jesus turned their attention to the ready harvest in front of them. Their minds were on food, and Jesus, just like He did with the water, turns the attention away from physical needs like food, and to the will of the Lord to witness and share the good news! Jesus is pointing them to the call to reach people, and this is an important reminder for us all.

While this was early in Jesus’ ministry…the idea of going out and reaching would only increase throughout the gospels and Bible stories…

 

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 

The 11 disciples are referenced here specifically, but the commission itself is one that is given not only to the 11 disciples, but to all who decide to follow Jesus, including you and I.

This is consistently seen throughout Scripture. In 2 Corinthians 5:19 we read; He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Peter 3:9, tells us the Lord does not want any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 1 Timothy 2:4, the Lord wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

 

Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

 

This morning I want to draw your attention to four important reminders we can pull from this story to help us in reaching others for Jesus.  They all start with the word “remember,” here is the first…

 

1. Remember to Ask Jesus about Seeking and Speaking

 

John 4:27, And at this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What are You seeking?” or, “Why are You speaking with her?”

 

• The disciples had returned from purchasing food and they are depicted as being “amazed” that Jesus was speaking with a woman.

 

• The word “amazed” in Greek is thoumazō, which means to be amazed, or to wonder.

 

• It is a bit of a perplexing situation.

 

• We looked last week and the words of the Samaritan woman when Jesus asked her for a drink, “How is it that You, though You are a Jew, are asking me for a drink, though I am a Samaritan woman?”

 

• The question was do to cultural norms in that day. It was uncommon for a man to speak to a woman in public that he was not related to. Culturally, it was not only uncommon, but often considered unacceptable.

 

• She had her questions to Jesus, “How is it that you are talking to me?”

 

• The disciples seem to have some questions…They are wondering some things. But they don’t ask Jesus, “What are you seeking?” or “Why are you speaking with her?”

 

• Jesus was up to something, He was doing something in that city, but nobody ask Him what He was up to.

 

• When it comes to reaching people for Jesus, it is important to ask Jesus about seeking and speaking.

 

Illus. Why?

 

• The disciples wondered, but their focus, as we will see, was on the food they purchased and will tell Jesus to eat.

 

• What Jesus will show them, however, is that they were missing something…The fields were reading for harvesting.

 

Illus. Who is parked in front of you?

 

• There’s a ready harvest but it requires us to rely on Jesus for who He desires us to seek and speak to and what He wants us to speak about.

 

1. Remember What Is Grown Comes After What Is Sown

 

John 4:28-29, So the woman left her waterpot and went into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a Man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is He?” They left the city and were coming to Him.

• Verses 28 and 29 serve as a bit of a break in the interaction between Jesus and His disciples that picks back up in verse 30.

 

• It seems that the disciples had returned, they saw the end of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman, didn’t ask any questions, but then saw the Samaritan woman leave her waterpot at the well and head to the city to tell people about Jesus.

 

• It is interesting that she left her waterpot there. The conversation early in the chapter was centered on the physical thirst for water.

 

• Jesus pointed her to living water, and noted that it is only the living water He could give that would allow her to never thirst again (John 4:13).

 

• She was quite skeptical at first. She questioned Jesus, challenged Him, tried to redirect Him, asked Him if he was greater than Jacob who gave the well to them? Her mind remained on real physical water through much of their conversation.

 

• Then, Jesus reached deep into to her life, to her deepest desire, for love. She then opens up to Him and responds to Him, learns that He is Messiah.

 

• And at that point, what seemed impossible at the begging of the conversation, ends up happening…She left her water pot.

 

• Filling that water jug was the whole reason she was there, but she leaves it behind. She had found something better, someone better, she had found living water and her focus changed.

 

• What she found was much better than that waterpot!

 

• Immediately she went into the city. She would be back after telling others that they too much come and see Jesus personally!

 

• Something changed in her. It was just one conversation with Jesus, that was all it took for Him to reach her and change her life!

 

• When Jesus was hung on the cross there were soldiers who crucified Him. Earlier that day they were mocking Him, they put a crown of thorns on Him, and spit on Him…As He carried His cross, they led Him to the site of His crucifixion…As He was hung on the cross they watched Him (Matthew 27:1-54).

 

Matthew 27:54, Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

 

• They did not say that when He was with them. But as they watched Him, seeds were being sown in them.

 

• Seeds get sown, but it takes time for them to grow!

 

• The things people see, the things they hear, the testimonies that get share, sow a seed in people.

 

• And the seeds that we see that are grown only come after seeds first being sown.

 

• Many hesitate to evangelize because they may not see the see that they sow become fully grown in one conversation, or interaction. But it is important to know that in order sees to become grown, they must first be sown.

 

• According to the 2024 study don’t by Grey Matter of over 1,000 adults, on average they find 3.4 influencing factors…I have heard of other studies citing more.

 

• What is important to know, is that first seeds must be sown.

Illus. A to Z?

John 4:37, For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’

Illus. Thirsty.

 

Matthew 5:13(a), 14-16, “You are the salt of the earth” … “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 

III.  Remember to Prioritize His Plans

 

John 4:31-33, Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?”

 

• While the conversation and focus of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman was centered on water. The focus of Jesus’ conversation with the disciples is centered on food.

 

• That seems to be their focus. Jesus was tired from the journey and sat down by the well. They were on the journey with Him, so, they too were likely tired, but also hungry.

 

• Food seems to be what was on their mind throughout the chapter up to this point.

 

• When they saw Jesus they were wondering what he was doing talking to the Samaritan woman. They weren’t sure, but their first words to Him when she went away was, “Rabbi, eat something!”

 

• Jesus’ response was “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

 

• The disciples began talking to themselves, “did anyone bring him something to eat?”

 

John 4:34, Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.”

 

• When Jesus made this statement, He was not saying that that really spiritual people don’t need to eat food. He is not saying that there is no need for food, or that someone should starve if they are preaching the gospel.

 

• What Jesus is saying is that he finds fulfillment, delight, and satisfaction in doing the will of the Father.

 

• Remember, in the beginning of chapter 4, the words we got about Jesus’ trip to Samaria was that He needed to go through there (Vs. 4).

 

• What we know is that geographically, Jesus didn’t “need” to go through Samaria. In fact, most avoided Samaria. But Jesus needed to go there because He had a divine appointment there, he was going to meet the Samaritan woman.

 

Illus. Thinking, planning, preparing, enjoying.

 

• Jesus was mindful, thoughtful, and satisfied in a seeing a changed life.

 

• In Luke 2:49 He said that He must be about His Fathers business!

 

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 

• In other words, Jesus has made disciple making, our business!

 

Illus. Make Plans.

 

1. Remember That Right Now is the Right Time

 

John 4:35-38, Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have come into their labor.”

 

• In verse 35, Jesus turns the disciple’s attention to sowing and reaping in fields.

 

• There was a saying in those days, “four months and then comes the harvest.”

 

• In other words, you sow the seeds, the rain comes, in and four months, the harvest will be ready, you will be able to reap the harvest at that point.

 

• So there was working, and then waiting. And more waiting. And more waiting…Four months of waiting.

 

• But Jesus, speaking not of the physical fields but the spiritual ones, says there is no more waiting, the harvest is ready.

 

• When the harvest was ready in the wheat fields, the heads of grain would turn white…That means they were ripe, they were ready.

 

• Jesus says the harvest it ready!

 

• As Jesus was saying this, many Samaritans who heard the testimony of the Samaritan woman were coming to meet Him. Many believe that Jesus may have even been pointing to them as they were coming.

 

• In verses 39-42, we see many of the Samaritan believe as they come to meet Jesus…and hear from Him personally, not just the Samaritan woman’s testimony…

 

• The fields are ripe, they are ready, not is the right time to reach out, now is the right time to harvest!

 

Illus. Don’t wait.

 

 

Illus. Timing matters.

 

Matthew 9:36-38, Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

 

Illus. Responsibility.

 

John 4:27-42