Time for the harvest (3 things)

• 1^st – The Harvest is ripe… vs. 27, 31-38 (4 things)
  • 1^st – The disciples returned from getting food in the city… vs. 27
    • They were AMAZED to see Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman – but said nothing…
      • They did not care what the conversation was about – that did not matter to them…
      • According to ‘Jewish tradition’ you did not talk to woman in public – even our wife!
      • Yet here was Jesus talking not only to a woman – but a Samaritan!
      • Unbelievers are not going to come to church and ‘ask’ us about Jesus…
      • So it is our responsibility to go to them – reach them where they are!
      • If they are hanging out at the store – we can go hang out with them…
      • If they are wandering around the plaza – wander with them…
      • But when we step out to share Jesus with sinners – it will get people talking…
    • At the arrival of the disciples – the woman left and went into the city…
      • I am sure the disciples gave her ‘looks’ – perhaps whispering to each other…
      • She likely felt the uncomfortable at their obvious contempt – so left…
      • People know when you look down on them – are judgmental of them…
      • Jesus was holier than anyone – yet He sat down an ate with sinners – Mark 2:16…
      • In order to reach people with the Gospel – we need to ‘sit down’ and love them!
  • 2^nd – The disciples quickly changed the subject – and urged Jesus to eat… vs. 31-34
    • Jesus was hungry – and had sent them into the city to buy food – but He would not eat…
      • The disciples had made a HUGE mistake – and Jesus needed to correct it…
      • Making mistakes is part of growing in our Christian walk – they are not a surprise…
      • In the same way we learned not to touch a flame – because we got burned…
      • God uses our mistakes as – ‘teachable moments’ – so we learn from them…
    • Jesus told them – I have ‘better food’ to eat that what you brought…
      • The disciples began to ask one another – ‘did anyone bring Him food’…
      • Jesus told them – ‘My food is to FINISH the work of the One who sent Me…’
      • The work Jesus had been sent to do was to save sinners…
      • Luke 19:10 – “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
      • And Jesus would finish THE work on the cross – when He paid the price for sin…
      • Where He cried out the conclusion – ‘It is Finished!’ – John 19:30
        
  • 3^rd – Do not say the Harvest is far off… vs. 35
• The harvest is the world – the multitudes of people who are ready to hear the Gospel…
  • The problem is there is a lack of laborers – not enough people to go and share…
  • Imagine having 10,000 hectares of ripe sugarcane – ready for harvest – but only 5 men…
  • The potential reward is incredible – but not nearly enough labor to harvest it all…
  • The world is ripe – the hunger for the Good News is everywhere – but who will go…
  • Jesus said ‘pray’ – the Lord of the Harvest will send out more laborers – Luke 10:2…
  • Pray for Jesus to send others – NO – pray so that Jesus can send us!
• Isaiah 6:8 – “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”

• But the disciples assumed there was nothing to ‘harvest’ in Samaria…
  • They were looking ‘far off’ to when they would arrive in the Galilee…
  • We often make the mistake of overlooking the opportunities in from of us…
  • In the market buying rice / or riding in a packed tricycle back home…
  • We are so focused where we are going – we forget about the harvest in front of us…
• Jesus was quick to correct them – look up – the harvest is already ripe for the picking!
  • Peter and John where going to the Temple to pray – Acts 3:1
  • They passed by the same beggar who had been lying at the gate for years…
  • But as the beggar looked up – Peter saw what he had missed – the Harvest!
  • Do not miss any opportunity to share Jesus – look up and see the Harvest…
  • We think about Jesus in church – but it is the everyday people that need to hear!
• 4^th – I am sending you into the Harvest… vs. 36-38

• And he who reaps receives wages – the fruit of eternal life…
  • Jesus was willing to ‘work in the field’ right where they were in Samaria…
  • As a result the Samaritan woman had received Jesus as the Messiah…
  • If we step out in our daily life and share the Gospel – FRUIT – people will get saved!
  • People are ready to hear – people need to know about the finished work of Jesus…
  • When our neighbor has a fight with his wife – go and tell them about Jesus!
  • When the woman at the store tells you about problems with her kids – Jesus!
  • We are walking through harvest ripe for picking – time to get to work!
• One man sows – but another man reaps…
  • In the campo – one person might plant the potdan / abuno / hilamon…
    • But another person might come along who was not part of planting…
    • And tapas-carga – they would be the ones bring in the harvest…
  • Jesus was sending the disciples out to ‘reap’ where they had not ‘sown’…
    • I have to imagine as Jesus said this – the crowds came into view…
    • The multitudes coming from the Samarian city of Sychar – wanting to see Jesus…
    • The disciples had done none of the work – but were about to reap the Harvest!
    • Perhaps you share the Gospel with someone – but they do not get saved…
    • You ‘planted’ the seed – but it was not the right time for the fruit to grow…
    • Someone else comes and encourages that person in Jesus – abuno / hilamon…
    • A completely different person tells them about Jesus – tapas-carga – salvation!
    • I Corinthians 3:6 – “[One] planted, [another] watered, but God gave the increase.”
    • You never know how God will use you – plant / water / or harvest…
    • The important thing is to always be ready to share – the Good News of Jesus!

• 2^nd – Reaping the Harvest… vs. 28-30, 39-42 (2 groups)
  • 1^st – Many of the Samaritans believed because of the word of the Woman… vs. 39-40
    • When she left Jesus she went and told everyone about her conversation…
      • Jesus had seemed to know all about her – ‘told her all that she every did…’
      • She was likely well known in the city for her  ‘many’ husbands’ and ‘loose living’…
      • But how could Jesus – a stranger – a Jew – know all about her life!
      • One very exciting possibility – ‘He might be the Christ – the promised Savior!’
    • One life touched by Jesus – touched countless others…
      • When you plant a seed – you do not expect to just get ‘one piece of fruit’…
      • You plant a seed in the hopes of seeing ‘abundant fruit’ as your reward…
      • When you share Jesus with one person – you touch countless lives…
      • Their family sees the difference in their lives – and start coming to church…
      • Their friends begin to ask questions – and end up getting saved!
  • 2^nd – Many more believed because they heard Jesus… vs. 41-42
    • They encouraged Jesus to stay with them – and He spent two days there…
      • As a result they all had the opportunity to hear Jesus WORD for themselves…
      • As a result there was no doubt – they KNEW He was INDEED the Christ…
    • Talking about Jesus – allows others to meet Jesus personally…
      • One person gets saved – and before you know it – family and friends follow…
      • There is a stir – people coming to church – and it makes others curious…
      • More and more people start to come – they hear the WORD – Romans 10:17
      • Because now they have heard the Word of God – you have a revival!
      • All because someone was willing to look up and see the Harvest!
        
• 3^rd – The challenges of the Harvest… vs. 43-54 (3 things)
  • 1^st – Those who knew us before Jesus… vs. 43-44
    • Jesus passed by Nazareth – and returned to the Galilee…
      • Nazareth is between Sychar and the Galilee – but Jesus did not stop there…
      • Because a prophet is not without honor – except in His own country…
• In Nazareth they knew Jesus and his family – they had seen Him grow up…
• So they could not accept that He was the Christ – the savior of the world…

• A godly man is respected – except in his ‘home town’…
  • It is always interesting for me to return to my hometown…
  • I have been a pastor for over 10 years – traveled to more than 30 countries…
  • But in my hometown I am still the little boy who always got into trouble…
  • The problem is that they saw me grow up – they know who David was…
• What people so often do not want to see – is who God has made us to be!

• The hardest people to reach – are your family and friends…
• The problem is they know you to well – your mistakes / flaws / and sins…
• When we share Jesus with them – they are quick to remind us of them all!
• What they miss is that all that we were is gone – Psalms 103:12
• We are no longer defined by our past/mistakes – instead by Jesus who is in us!
• II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
• Do not give up on your family and friends – they might give you a hard time…
• But in due time – as they see Jesus in you – they might just ask what happened…
• Then you can give them the same hope that God has given to you!

You never know – there might still be a Harvest there after all!

2^nd – Those with an ulterior motives… vs. 45-48

When Jesus arrived in Galilee – they gladly received Him…

They had been at the Passover festival – and seen the miracles of Jesus – John 2:23

From there he went to Cana – where He had turned water into wine…

While there a certain nobleman from Capernaum came to see Jesus…

He begged/pleaded with Him to come quickly and heal his dying son…

Jesus reputation had quickly spread – and this man wanted His help!

But he was not interested in the Gospel message – forgiveness of his sins…

He was only after what Jesus could do for him now – getting what he wanted…

There are many people who only ‘look to Jesus’ to see what they can get…

They are only interested in what Jesus can give to them here an now…

They are looking for money / food / physical healing – not for eternal life!

Jesus replied – ‘unless you see signs – you refuse to believe’…

The idea is – unless they got what they wanted – they would not listen to Jesus…

The message of the Gospel of Jesus is not about what we can get in this life…

God does not promise us wealth in this world – He promises us eternal wealth!

So if we are we only hanging around to see what we can get from the Lord…

Thinking that we can profit from God – what happens when we find we cannot…

3^rd – Loving in spite of ulterior motives… vs. 49-54

Jesus told them man – go home – your son lives…

The man believed – and when he arrived back in Capernaum – his son was better…

He asked when his son began to recover – they told him the evening before…

He knew it was at the exact same time Jesus told him his son lived…

As a result he – and his whole house – believed in Jesus!

Just because someone has ulterior motive – does not mean we do not help…

So if someone is hanging around – and we know they have ulterior motives…

Love them anyways – help them in any way you reasonably can…