June 19
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ONE SOWS AND ANOTHER REAPS
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”– John 4:35-38
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The symbolic meaning of harvest in Scripture encompasses two main areas: God’s provision for us and God’s blessing for others. An article from gotquestions.com says that throughout the Bible, the harvest carries spiritual significance. It is used in parables (Luke 8:4–8) and as a metaphor for spiritual growth and health (2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18). The harvest has always been a beautiful and important part of life on earth, the time when the year’s work bears fruit and the people are fed. It is symbolic of bounty, health and abundance. Israel celebrated the time of the harvest with a feast, appropriately called the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16).
Previous verses relate Jesus talking to the woman of Samaria. What was Jesus talking here of in verse 17 that one sows and another reaps? He purposely passed by well because he knew that the Samaritan woman would be there. The sower here is Jesus. He was sowing spiritual salvation to this woman who was looking for something to fill her life. Jesus offered salvation to her and defied the gap between Jews and the Samaritans. He tells his disciples that He began to do the work of his Father, that is to bring salvation, even to these lost Samaritans. Jesus tells them to continue to harvest that which he has started. In other words, he is asking his disciples to open their spiritual eyes and behold what he already begun and reap the spiritual harvest of his purpose to save all of mankind. Jesus has labored and he wants his followers to reap what he has done.
Spiritual growth is something that the Lord expects us to walk into. It is sad to watch many Christians not be concerned about their own progress in intimacy with the Lord. We sometimes forget that our role here on earth is to continue bring people to know Christ and make disciples of all nations so we can bring glory to God.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think John used harvest in this story as a comparison to spiritual growth?