John 4:35b – Ripe for Harvest

“…open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”  John 4:35b

In Jesus’s last words on earth He commissioned His followers to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matt. 28:19). This great commission really begins when Jesus directs His disciples to, “open [their] eyes and look at the fields!” Jesus tells His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, but He begins by calling His followers to open their eyes and look around them. Not to a distant land, but to the people right in front of their eyes who are ready to hear about their Savior.

The disciples were concerned for Jesus’ need to slow down and eat something, but Jesus saw a person in need and had compassion on her. The Samaritan woman at the well needed Jesus as much as anyone, and Jesus took the time to speak with her. When Jesus saw the Samaritan people, He had compassion on them. He knew their need for Him and He could see their readiness to receive Him. Because of this, He took the time to speak with them, “he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers,” (John 4:40-41).

When Jesus tells us to, “open our eyes and look to the fields!” He is reminding us to take our gaze off ourselves, so we can see the people around us who are ready to hear the Gospel. When He says, “They are ripe for harvest,” He means they are ready to receive His Good News and be gathered into the family of believers. To be used by God in this way, we must have compassion for the lost. When Jesus taught and proclaimed the Good News, He “saw the crowds, [and] he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd,” (Matt. 9:36). And just like the lost of our day, they likely did not know the extent of their need. But Jesus knew that they were vulnerable sheep without a shepherd, being harassed by the evil one, and helpless to save themselves. We must submit our hearts to God and allow Him to change us to have compassion for the lost and boldness to spread His Good News.

The greatest gift every believer has ever received is their salvation through belief in Jesus and the resulting purpose, joy, peace, and contentment that flows from a knowledge of being fully loved, fully redeemed, fully known, and promised to be made new. In His great love for us, Jesus lets us deliver that same gift to others. We did not make the gift or purchase it on our own, but Jesus lets us be the ones to deliver it. Let us open our eyes and see the people all around us who are ready to hear the Gospel and experience the relief and joy of knowing Jesus.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for having compassion on us, help us to have compassion for others. Help us to boldly spread your Good News and to do your work.