In a world filled with distractions and daily routines, it’s easy to lose sight of our true purpose as believers. In John 4:31-42, Jesus calls His disciples to lift their eyes and see the harvest ready for reaping. This powerful message, shared by Pastor Léveillé at FaithWay Baptist Church, reminds us that the time to share the gospel is now. Through the story of the Samaritan woman and the disciples’ preoccupation with earthly needs, we’re challenged to shift our focus to God’s mission. This article explores three key truths from this passage: stopping our waiting, seeing the need, and joining the work to reap eternal rewards.
Stop Waiting and Start Reaching (John 4:35a)
In John 4:35, Jesus says, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?” This was a common proverb in the disciples’ time, reflecting the agricultural cycle in Palestine, where sowing to reaping took about four months. The disciples, returning with food, were focused on physical needs, assuming there was plenty of time to reach others for Christ later. Jesus, however, corrects their mindset. He’s not teaching about farming but about the urgency of their mission. The harvest of souls is ready now, not in some distant future.
Jesus challenges the disciples’ tendency to delay, saying the time to reach people is immediate. Pastor Léveillé draws a parallel to our lives, noting how we can become so consumed with daily tasks that we postpone sharing the gospel. He reminds us that God left us in this world for a purpose: to reach others for Christ. The Samaritan woman, after encountering Jesus, didn’t wait. She left her water pot and ran to tell her town about the Messiah (John 4:28-29). While the disciples were preoccupied with lunch, she was passionate about sharing the Bread of Life. We’re called to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start reaching out today.
Lift Your Eyes and See The Need (John 4:35b)
Jesus continues in verse 35, “Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” As the Samaritan woman ran to the city, people began streaming out to meet Jesus. These were the very people the disciples had passed by while buying food. Jesus wasn’t pointing to a distant cornfield but to the townspeople approaching Him, ripe for the gospel. The Greek word for “look” implies gazing with understanding and amazement, urging the disciples to see the spiritual need right in front of them.
Pastor Léveillé emphasizes that we live in a mission field. The people we encounter daily, at the grocery store, the rink, or the workplace, are not interruptions but invitations to share Christ. He shares a personal story from Montreal, where simply opening his Bible in a coffee shop sparked conversations about faith. The harvest is not across the ocean; it’s at the end of our street. A new subdivision near FaithWay Baptist Church represents a fresh mission field, a reminder that God has placed us where souls need Him. As William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said, “Try tears.” Only when our hearts are burdened for the lost will we truly see the harvest.
Join The Work and Reap The Reward (John 4:35c-36)
Finally, Jesus declares, “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together” (John 4:36). The fields were white, meaning the harvest was urgent. Ripe grain must be gathered immediately, or it’s lost. Jesus assures the disciples that both sowing and reaping yield eternal rewards. Pastor Léveillé recounts how many people he led to Christ were first touched by someone else’s witness, a Sunday school teacher, a parent, or a friend. Evangelism is a team effort under God’s power, where every act of faithfulness counts.
The pastor shares a humorous yet sobering story of a church that dropped their support because another missionary reported larger numbers of conversions. God’s math, however, doesn’t prioritize numbers but faithfulness. Whether we sow, water, or reap, God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). C.T. Studd, a missionary who gave up wealth and fame, said, “I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” His passion for souls inspires us to join the work, knowing that our labour in sharing the gospel will bear fruit for eternity.
Conclusion
Jesus’ words in John 4:31-42 are a call to action for every believer. We must stop waiting for a better time, lift our eyes to see the harvest around us, and join God’s work with urgency. At FaithWay Baptist Church, the commitment to evangelism is evident in their gospel tracts, outreach efforts, and upcoming missions conference. Let’s be faithful in sharing Christ with the next person we meet, knowing that the fields are white already to harvest. May we pray, as Pastor Léveillé did, for a heart passionate about sowing and watering, trusting God for the increase.
