"Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest" (John 4:35).
Christ came to accomplish the work of His Father (John 17:4). Jesus delighted in obeying His Father’s will. We should too.
Christ came into the world to reconcile people to God, and in this passage we see the fruits of His ministry blossoming in Samaria. This work satisfied Jesus more than any meal of fish and bread. The fruit of His ministry, of His obedience to His Father, was something the disciples were unaware of at this point. They insisted that He eat some food, but the food that gave Christ the most pleasure was beyond anything in the physical realm. It was the salvation of souls.
Jesus told His disciples to look at the people coming from Samaria. This was the harvest, the satisfaction of His soul, the gathering of God’s people into the kingdom. This gathering would consist of people not only from Judea, but from Samaria—even Rome. The harvest would include people from all nations. And it would be up to the disciples of Christ to bring in that harvest, to reap what He had sown.
After testifying to His own work as one who delights in the work of His Father, Christ turned to the disciples and commissioned them to carry on that work as fellow harvesters. The field in Samaria was white, ready for harvesting. The work had been started by Christ and the Samaritan woman. He had proclaimed Himself as the Messiah, and she had gone to the city to tell others the Good News. What had begun by others would be completed by the disciples—this commission would become even more evident after Jesus’ death. Not only would the disciples sow the seeds of the Gospel, but they would reap the harvest beginning in Samaria.
This must have been a great surprise to the disciples, that He would enlarge His kingdom in Samaria. But this just proves that Christ will grow His church in the most unexpected places. And wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, wherever God has opened ears to hear—whether it be in a place like Samaria or even Ninevah—we are commanded to minister to all people, rejoicing with them that they have become joint-heirs in the kingdom of God.
All Christians are called to be sowers (spreading the Gospel) and/or reapers (bringing others into the kingdom). Are you obeying Christ in either of these capacities (according to your gilts or circumstances)? Are you spreading the Gospel or building up disciples? If not, think of something specific you can do and put it into practice.
