The Fields Are Ripe for Harvest

Harvest is a time to celebrate, to give thanks, and to recognise God's goodness in all that He provides. But in John chapter 4, Jesus uses the familiar picture of harvest to teach His disciples something much bigger.

Jesus has just met a Samaritan woman at a well. It's an unexpected encounter, but one that changes her life. Having discovered who Jesus is, she rushes back to her town to tell everyone about Him.

Meanwhile, the disciples are concerned about something rather more ordinary: lunch!

They encourage Jesus to eat, but He replies:

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” — John 4:34

For Jesus, fulfilling His Father's purpose matters more than anything else. And He wants His disciples to share that same sense of purpose.

He tells them:

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

The disciples would have understood the patience required in farming. Seeds are sown, crops grow, and eventually the harvest comes. But Jesus is telling them that they don't need to wait.

The Samaritan woman has already begun sharing the news about Him, and people from her town are coming to see for themselves. The harvest is happening right before their eyes!

Sowing and Reaping

Jesus goes on to explain that His disciples will sometimes reap a harvest that others have worked hard to produce.

And the same is true for us today.

Sometimes we're the ones sowing seeds. We might invite someone to church, offer a listening ear, answer a question, pray for a friend, or simply show kindness when it's needed most. We may never know what grows from those moments.

Other times, we might meet someone whose life God has been working in for years. Others have prayed, encouraged and shared their faith, and we have the privilege of seeing the fruit of their efforts.

But whether we're sowing or reaping, one thing remains the same: we have to be in the field.

Our Harvest Field

At Chilton Hall Community Church, our harvest field is right outside our door.

It's Chilton Hall, Stowmarket, our streets, schools, workplaces, families, friends and neighbours.

Before returning to heaven, Jesus commissioned His followers to go and make disciples. That mission has been passed from generation to generation, through countless ordinary people faithfully sowing and reaping.

Someone, somewhere, played a part in sharing Jesus with the person who eventually shared Him with us.

And now it's our turn.

This Harvest, perhaps Jesus' words are a challenge for each of us:

Look up. Open your eyes. Look at the fields.

The harvest isn't somewhere far away. It's right outside our door.

God has placed us here, in this community, at this time, for a reason.

So let's get out into the field.